2026 Week 2 Recap: Four Key Takeaways from the Broncos’ Gritty 20-13 Victory Over Jacksonville
The Denver Broncos desperately needed to bounce back after opening the 2026 season with an ugly 31-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
They did just that Sunday afternoon. Denver overcame a 13-3 deficit to defeat the Jacksonville Jaguars 20-13, scoring 17 unanswered points in the second half to even its record at 1-1.
It was far from a perfect performance, but the Broncos made enough plays when they mattered most to erase a double-digit deficit and secure their first victory of the season. Here are four key takeaways from Denver’s gritty Week 2 victory over Jacksonville:
1. Bo Nix and the Broncos’ Offense Found Another Gear in the Second Half
For much of Sunday afternoon, it looked like Denver was headed toward another frustrating offensive performance.
The Broncos managed just three points in the first half and entered the third quarter trailing 10-3. The Jaguars then extended their lead to 13-3 on their opening possession of the second half.
From there, everything changed.
Denver responded with three consecutive scoring drives, scoring 17 unanswered points to erase the deficit and take a 20-13 lead. Wil Lutz cut the deficit to seven with a 45-yard field goal before Bo Nix led a 64-yard touchdown drive that tied the game at 13.
The Broncos then took their first lead of the afternoon on their next possession.
What made the comeback particularly encouraging was how Denver responded after falling behind by double digits. Rather than allowing Jacksonville to control the game, the Broncos found a way to settle down offensively, sustain drives and put pressure back on the Jaguars.
Denver then finished the job, controlling the clock on its final possession and allowing the defense to stay off the field.
There are still plenty of things for the Broncos to clean up. Denver struggled in the red zone early and committed 10 penalties for 53 yards.
But unlike Week 1, the Broncos found a way to make the necessary adjustments and execute when the game was on the line.
That may ultimately be the most important takeaway from Sunday’s victory.
Denver was down 13-3 in the third quarter, yet the Broncos never panicked. They kept fighting, made the plays they needed to make and finished the game with 17 unanswered points.
It was not pretty.
It did not need to be.
After a disappointing Week 1 performance, Denver showed some of the resilience it will need if it hopes to make another deep playoff run.
2. Jaylen Waddle Went Off in His Empower Field Debut and Showed Great Chemistry with Bo Nix
Jaylen Waddle’s Broncos debut could hardly have gone much worse.
His Empower Field debut could not have gone much better.
After catching just one pass for two yards on three targets in Week 1, Waddle exploded against Jacksonville. He caught eight passes for 138 yards, leading Denver in both receptions and receiving yards.
Waddle’s biggest play came in the second quarter, when Bo Nix escaped pressure and launched a 49-yard pass down the field. Waddle made an impressive grab at the 1-yard line, setting the Broncos up for a short field goal.
That play was a preview of what was to come.
Waddle and Nix appeared to be on the same page throughout the afternoon, with Waddle consistently finding openings down the field and Nix showing a willingness to give his new wide receiver opportunities. Nix finished 22-of-31 for 288 yards and a touchdown, while Waddle accounted for nearly half of his passing yards.
That kind of production is exactly what Denver envisioned when the Broncos acquired Waddle from the Miami Dolphins.
It is obviously too early to draw sweeping conclusions from one game, but Waddle’s Week 2 performance provided an encouraging glimpse of what he and Nix could become together. After barely making an impact in Week 1, Waddle immediately looked like the dynamic weapon Denver expected him to be.
3. Jonah Coleman Delivered When the Broncos Needed Him Most
Jonah Coleman did not have a spectacular statistical afternoon.
He did not need one.
The rookie running back carried the ball 10 times for 39 yards, but his most important carry came with 7:21 remaining in the fourth quarter. With the game tied at 13, Coleman powered into the end zone from three yards out to give Denver its first lead of the afternoon.
The touchdown was the first of Coleman’s NFL career and capped the Broncos’ 17-point second-half comeback.
Coleman then came up with another critical play on Denver’s final possession. With just over two minutes remaining, he broke off a 12-yard run to give the Broncos a fresh set of downs and allow Denver to bleed the remaining time off the clock.
That run effectively put the game in the Broncos’ hands. Denver was able to keep possession for the remainder of the game and secure the 20-13 victory without giving the Jaguars another opportunity to respond.
That is exactly the kind of contribution the Broncos needed from their fourth-round pick.
Coleman may not be the centerpiece of Denver’s offense, but his ability to make plays in critical moments could become increasingly valuable as the season progresses. Sunday’s performance was not about piling up impressive numbers. It was about making the plays the Broncos needed when the game was on the line.
4. Denver’s Defense Got the Better of Trevor Lawrence This Time Around
The Broncos’ defense had plenty to prove after getting gashed by Kansas City in Week 1.
It responded with a much-needed bounce-back performance against Jacksonville.
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence completed 17 of 29 passes for 189 yards, no touchdowns and one interception against Denver on Sunday afternoon. More importantly, Jacksonville managed just three points after halftime as the Broncos’ defense repeatedly came through when it needed to.
The Jaguars’ opening possession of the second half provided a perfect example. Jacksonville drove all the way to the Denver 5-yard line, putting the Broncos’ defense in a difficult spot. Instead of allowing the Jaguars to extend their lead with a touchdown, Denver stood tall and forced Jacksonville to settle for a field goal.
That kept the deficit at 13-3 and gave the Broncos’ offense a chance to mount its comeback.
Riley Moss then came up with the defense’s biggest play when he intercepted Lawrence late in the third quarter. The turnover gave Denver possession and helped set up Bo Nix’s seven-yard touchdown pass to tight end Nate Adkins, which tied the game at 13.
After Lawrence’s interception, the Jaguars possessed the ball just two more times. The first drive ended with a missed field goal, while the second ended with a punt.
That represented a significant improvement from Week 1.
The Broncos’ defense allowed 268 total yards and held the Jaguars to 95 rushing yards while limiting Lawrence to a 63.7 passer rating.
After struggling to contain the Chiefs’ offense in the season-opener, Denver’s defense showed that Week 1 did not have to become the standard for the unit moving forward.
The Broncos still have plenty to improve upon, but their defense made the critical stops it needed to make Sunday. Most importantly, the unit prevented Jacksonville from turning a promising red-zone opportunity into a touchdown and gave the offense the opportunity to complete the comeback.
After a frustrating opening week, Denver delivered a much-improved performance on Sunday.
The victory was not dominant, and the Broncos still have plenty to clean up. But overcoming a 13-3 deficit, scoring 17 unanswered points and finishing the game the way Denver did is a significant step forward from Week 1.
At 1-1, the Broncos head into Week 3 with plenty of questions still to answer – but also with their first win of the season and some legitimate reasons for optimism.
