Jaguars at Broncos, 2:25 p.m., Sunday, CBS, KCNC-TV 4, 850 AM, 94.1 FM
THREE THINGS TO WATCH
1. End the skid. The Broncos are riding a seven-game losing streak dating back to last season. They haven’t tasted victory since Dec. 2, 2018 (24-10 at Cincinnati). Beating Jacksonville would give his first head-coaching win and the franchise its 500th. A good sign? The Broncos were installed as 3-point home favorites.
2. Quick game. The Jaguars’ defense enters Sunday following a nine-sack drubbing of Titans’ quarterback . A knock on Broncos QB Joe Flacco has been that he holds onto the ball too long. A designed quick-passing game, more early separation by wide receivers and improved offensive line play is the recipe to keep Flacco from getting battered.
3. Get the QB. Linebacker Von Miller didn’t take questions at his weekly news conference and instead issued a 12-second statement before walking off the podium. He better let his play do the talking instead because Miller’s statistics over Denver’s 0-3 start don’t say much, either. Zero quarterback hits and zero sacks.
GAME PLAN
When the Jaguars run
Jacksonville led the NFL in average rushing yards two seasons ago but has seen its ground game struggle ever since. Running back Leonard Fournette has not exceeded 70 yards or 15 carries in a game. Much like the Broncos, playing from behind has hampered Fournette’s production. Denver’s run defense was a mixed bag last week at Green Bay, allowing 77 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The Broncos have done well to limit chunk-yardage rushing plays but stopping Fournette will be a challenge.
Edge: Broncos
When the Jaguars pass
Gardner Minshew Mania is in full effect and the only thing more impressive than the rookie quarterback’s style and confidence is his completion percentage: 73.9. The Jaguars don’t have a prototypical No. 1 wide receiver with five players having recorded 10-plus catches. Minshew’s accuracy and decision-making (one interception) makes this passing offense dangerous. Denver’s secondary was bolstered last week by additional snaps for cornerback De’Vante Bausby over Isaac Yiadom. That alone won’t solve the myriad issues that allowed Green Bay’s to flourish last week.
Edge: Jaguars
When the Broncos run
The Broncos were wise to make running back the focal point last week with a career-high 21 carries and a pair of rushing touchdowns. Yet Lindsay’s longest run on the season is just 9 yards and he needs to pop for bigger gains to help take the offense off life support (seven consecutive games with less than 17 points scored). Splitting carries with continues to give the backfield needed balance. Jacksonville’s defense stymied Titans running back Derrick Henry, holding him to 44 yards on 17 carries. A fast start for Denver would go a long way to establishing the run Sunday.
Edge: Even
When the Broncos pass
Jaguars’ cornerback Jalen Ramsey has been excused from team activities as he attends the birth of his second child. He’s also demanding a trade. His anticipated absence would be welcome news for the Broncos considering Ramsey’s reputation as a top cover corner. The Jaguars have not recorded an interception this season. Quarterback Joe Flacco is completing 69% of his throws. But he has as many interceptions as passing touchdowns (two) while wide receiver expressed frustration with only a pair of catches at Green Bay. But the real key on Sunday? No Ramsey.
Edge: Broncos
Special teams
Kicker Brandon McManus has missed extra points in consecutive games. It seems Denver was wise handing return duties to wide receiver Diontae Spencer, who ran a kickoff back 60 yards at Green Bay. Jaguars’ field goal kicker Josh Lambo hit twice from 40-plus yards last week and is 6-of-6 on all attempts this year. Jacksonville has done little to impress in the return game.
Edge: Even
POST PREDICTIONS
Ryan O’Halloran, beat writer
Jaguars 20, Broncos 17
The Broncos get a sack and an interception (but don’t stop the game to recognize the occasions). Quarterback Gardner Minshew leads Jaguars down the field for a winning field goal in the final minute.
Season record: 2-1
Kyle Fredrickson, beat writer
Broncos 27, Jaguars 21
Cornerback Chris Harris returns a fourth-quarter interception for a touchdown to temporarily extinguish the dumpster fire that this season has become.
Season record: 2-1
Mark Kiszla, columnist
Broncos 24, Jaguars 13
At last! In Game 4, the Broncos play to their full potential on offense and defense, filling the home stadium with joyous sounds of Rocky Mountain thunder. But should Broncos flop and lose to lowly Jacksonville? There is no bottom to how low Denver can go in 2019.
Season record: 2-1
