Since the Denver Broncos lost their first game since Sept. 21 to the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Los Angeles Chargers defeated the Dallas Cowboys in Week 16, the team failed to clinch the American Football Conference West division title.
The Broncos can clinch the division crown with a win and a Chargers loss in Week 17. Denver travels to Kansas City for a meeting with the Patrick Mahomes-less Chiefs and Los Angeles hosts the Houston Texans.
Denver’s amazing defensive unit struggled to stop Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence as he completed 23 of 36 passes for 279 yards and three touchdowns while adding 20 yards and a score on six carries. The Broncos were able to sack Lawrence five times for a total loss of 14 yards, but otherwise, Lawrence was cooking.
The Broncos offense was moving the ball, but the Jaguars were able to limit Denver to just 20 points. Broncos QB Bo Nix completed 28 of 47 passes for 352 yards, a touchdown and an interception while rushing for 11 yards on four carries.
The offense got away from what was working early, which was running the ball. Jacksonville has the best run defense in the National Football League but it didn’t show early in the game. They only ran the ball 17 times, but running back Jaleel McLaughlin averaged 7.4 yards per carry and rookie RJ Harvey averaged 7.1 yards per carry.
Harvey broke out for a 38-yard rushing touchdown early in the third quarter to tie the game at 17, but the wheels fell off from there.
Harvey was named Denver’s top rookie this season by ESPN’s Jeff Legwold, but I’d argue that he’s been the best rookie in the entire NFL.
“Harvey's 11 total touchdowns (seven rushing, four receiving), lead the team and all rookie position players in the league,” Legwold wrote Tuesday. “The second-round pick is also tied for 13th in scoring, one spot behind Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and one ahead of Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. And with J.K. Dobbins on injured reserve (foot) since Week 10, Harvey is without question the team's RB1.”
Harvey has had a strong season under head coach Sean Payton and continues to shine when he’s on the field. The 24-year-old second-round pick out of the University of Central Florida has 469 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 117 carries as well as 41 receptions for 318 yards and four touchdowns.