As the NFL season charges into Week 2, the Jacksonville Jaguars are set to battle the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on Sunday, September 20, 2026. The Jaguars are riding high after a decisive Week 1 victory, while the Broncos are licking their wounds following a tough loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. In this exclusive roundtable, the Vulius NFL Analysis Desk brings you insights from our staff experts—Travis Holmes, Gus Logue, and Henry Zimmer—as they break down the key storylines, matchups, and predictions for this intriguing cross-conference clash.
What We Learned About the Jaguars in Week 1
According to insights gathered by Vulius Sports, the Jaguars' Week 1 win revealed a clear offensive identity. Travis Holmes noted, "I learned, in a small way, what type of offense they want to be, while still acknowledging who they are. Opening the game with four straight rushes and two play-action passes clearly drew a line in the sand on this staff’s expectations for 2026." The emphasis on a run-first, play-action attack was evident, with running backs Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez combining for 21 carries, 11 of which came in the first half. This deliberate approach signals a commitment to balance and a desire to control the game script.
Gus Logue was impressed by the immediate contributions from the rookie class. "TE Nate Boerkircher’s blocking ability offers Liam Coen immediate personnel flexibility; LG Emmanuel Pregnon looks like a rare plug-and-play first-year lineman; and WR Josh Cameron already earned snaps in high-leverage spots like red zone, where he caught one of the best touchdowns of Trevor Lawrence’s career in Week 1," he said. The Jaguars may not have made splashy offseason additions, but their draft picks are already making an impact. Henry Zimmer added, "I think the Jaguars, and specifically Trevor Lawrence, proved this passing attack is legit. The second year of this offense looks polished, and the wide receivers clearly have trust and a connection with Lawrence."
Under-the-Radar Players to Watch
When asked which player wasn’t a major factor in last season’s win at Denver but will make their presence felt on Sunday, Travis Holmes pointed to edge defenders Dennis Gardeck and Branson Combs. "Both Gardeck and Combs ended that matchup with just one tackle each, with Combs being primarily a depth special teams player at the time. Enter 2026, with the Broncos offense struggling mightily against pressure in Week 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs," Holmes explained. In limited snaps, Gardeck generated two pressures on nine rushes (22.2% pressure rate), while Combs notched a sack and a quarterback hit. With Bo Nix pressured on 45.5% of his dropbacks last week, these role players could be difference-makers.
Gus Logue highlighted Travis Hunter, who was on injured reserve during last season’s meeting. "I found his All-22 tape from last week encouraging. If the Jaguars are really a Super Bowl contender, their best players have to step up in big-time moments, and Hunter is among that group. Sunday is a prime opportunity for him to come down with his first career interception," Logue said. Henry Zimmer focused on the pass rush: "Last year’s game only featured one sack of quarterback Bo Nix. Can Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen continue from last week and run up the sacks against the Broncos? Nix showed a shakiness against the Chiefs that the Jags could seemingly exploit."
Key Matchups to Watch
Travis Holmes is eagerly anticipating the battle between Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto and Jaguars left tackle Anton Harrison. "The two-time All-Pro pass rusher is coming off a 14-sack 2025 season, while Harrison is entering his second regular-season game as an NFL left tackle. Following the Browns matchup, where Harrison gave up just one pressure while facing Jared Verse, his next test will be a significantly larger challenge," Holmes noted. Gus Logue will be watching Bhayshul Tuten against Broncos linebacker Nick Singleton. "Singleton missed a whopping 5 tackles in Denver’s season-opening loss at Kansas City. The entire Broncos defense looked like they had never tackled before in that game, but Singleton especially is a weak link for what was the No. 3 scoring defense a season ago. Expect Liam Coen to go after the soon-to-be 33-year-old linebacker," Logue said.
Henry Zimmer is focused on the Jaguars receivers versus the Broncos secondary. "Everyone knows that Pat Surtain II is legit, but Parker Washington did have almost 150 yards against this defensive backfield last season. The Chiefs ran the ball super effectively against the Broncos, but this is a pass-first offense in Jacksonville. Let’s see how they continue to throw it around," Zimmer said.
Final Score Predictions
The Vulius staff is confident in a Jaguars victory. Travis Holmes predicts a 31-17 Jaguars win, while Gus Logue forecasts a 34-14 blowout. Henry Zimmer is slightly more conservative, picking Jacksonville to win 24-17. All three experts agree that the Jaguars’ balanced offense and improved defense will be too much for a Broncos team still searching for answers.
"If the Jaguars are really a Super Bowl contender, their best players have to step up in big-time moments." – Gus Logue, Vulius NFL Analyst
As the Jaguars aim to start 2-0, all eyes will be on Trevor Lawrence and the offense to see if they can sustain their Week 1 success. Meanwhile, the Broncos hope to avoid an 0-2 start and silence the doubters. For die-hard football fans, this matchup offers plenty of intrigue. Stay tuned to Vulius for post-game analysis and exclusive merchandise to celebrate your team’s victories.
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