The Denver Broncos got a badly-needed win over Jacksonville, and it was keyed by their new receiver and running back.
The Denver Broncos had a breakout performance of sorts on offense in their 20-13 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Jeff Legwold of ESPN cited two players as the keys. New receiver Jaylen Waddle had a big day, and rookie running back Jonah Coleman chipped in with some solid running to go with what the Broncos got from lead back J.K. Dobbins.
It was much-needed. The Broncos offense was close to non-existent in their loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, and they looked stodgy early against the Jags. It took a while to figure out a working formula and 20 points won’t win a lot of games, but at least it’s a start.
Per Legwold, Waddle finished with eight catches for 138 receiving yards, including a 49-yard catch in the second quarter and a key 29-yard reception on the Broncos' final possession when they were able to seal the win. They turned to Coleman to carry the running game when it was time to close out Jacksonville.
Waddle’s performance was truly impressive. He had the most receiving yards by a Bronco in a single game since Jerry Jeudy had 154 in the 2022 season finale. It was also the most receiving yards by a Broncos player in his home debut since Rick Upchurch had 153 back in 1975.
Coach Sean Payton called the win “significant,” and he cited Waddles’s explosiveness and ability to run after the catch as well. The coach added that the Jags are a zone coverage team by nature, but the Broncos were able to catch them in some man looks. Payton also talked about Waddle’s “kind of infectious” approach as he also went with the “good teammate” cliche.
Coleman’s performance is a slightly different matter. He entered the game after Dobbins suffered a hamstring injury in the third quarter, which points to a Broncos weakness that really wasn’t addressed all that well.
The rookie was ready for his opportunity, and he noted that Dobbins always “preaches” that to him. He showed promise, but the Broncos still have a situation at running back, but it’s tough to conclude that he’s the answer right now.
The real answer was quarterback Bo Nix. He looked passive against the Chiefs, and against Jacksonville the offense showed the same level of inconsistency that kept the Broncos from making it to the Super Bowl. Then he showed up in the fouth quarter and delivered his usual assortment of highlight-reel plays, and based on the early returns it’s clear the Broncos will go as far as he can carry them.
