Broncos Rally Past Jaguars 20-13 as Waddle, Coleman Spark Second Half Comeback

Denver Overcomes Early Deficit

The Denver Broncos erased a 13-3 deficit with a 17-point second-half surge Sunday, defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars 20-13 and snapping Jacksonville’s nine-game regular-season winning streak. Denver improved to 1-1 after another comeback victory, while the Jaguars also fell to 1-1. The Broncos had 11 one-score wins and 12 comebacks last season, and they again showed their ability to close out a tight game.

The comeback was fueled by trade acquisition Jaylen Waddle and rookie running back Jonah Coleman, who bounced back after quiet performances in Denver’s season-opening loss at Kansas City. Waddle caught eight passes for 138 yards, a dramatic improvement from his one-catch, 2-yard debut with the Broncos.

Coleman, a fourth-round pick from Washington, stepped into an expanded role after J.K. Dobbins and R.J. Harvey were sidelined by hamstring injuries. He delivered the biggest play of his young career when he scored on a 3-yard touchdown run with 7:21 remaining in the fourth quarter, breaking a 13-13 tie.

Waddle and Coleman Deliver When Denver Needed Them

Denver opened the game slowly despite Waddle’s 49-yard reception that moved the Broncos to the Jacksonville 1-yard line. They settled for Wil Lutz’s 20-yard field goal instead of finding the end zone.

Quarterback Bo Nix also threw an interception in the end zone, setting up a 44-yard field goal by Jacksonville’s Cam Little as time expired in the first half. The Jaguars carried a 10-3 lead into halftime. Jacksonville extended its advantage early in the third quarter after the Broncos defense stalled the Jaguars at the Denver 5-yard line. Little converted a 23-yard field goal to make it 13-3.

Denver responded with its most important stretch of the afternoon. Nix connected with Nate Adkins on a 7-yard touchdown pass, and the Broncos defense later created another opportunity when cornerback Riley Moss intercepted Trevor Lawrence late in the third quarter. That turnover helped Denver pull even.

Broncos Defense Closes the Door

After Coleman’s touchdown put Denver ahead, the Broncos defense forced Jacksonville to punt. It was a significant response from a unit that struggled with tackling in Week 1, when it missed 28 tackles against Kansas City. The Broncos offense then took over and effectively ended the game. Denver used the final 4:41 of the contest while Jacksonville burned all three of its timeouts but never regained possession.

Coleman was central to the closing drive, carrying six times for 31 yards. His biggest run was a 12-yard gain in which he stayed in bounds and slid down at the Jacksonville 18 just before the two-minute warning. The play allowed Denver to continue draining the clock and put the finish in Nix’s hands.

Jacksonville had one final opportunity after Little missed a 54-yard field-goal attempt wide left in the fourth quarter, but Denver’s defense held firm. The Jaguars had entered the game having won nine consecutive regular-season games by a combined 177 points, including a 34-20 victory over Denver in December. This time, the Broncos controlled the decisive moments and finished the comeback.

Jaguars and Broncos Look Ahead

Jacksonville will host the New England Patriots next Sunday as it looks to rebound from its first regular-season loss in nine games. Denver will return home for a Sunday night matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, carrying momentum from a comeback that showcased major contributions from Waddle, Coleman and a defense that found a way to close the game.