Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-17 · by Arnie Stapleton The Associated Press
The Denver Broncos are focusing on correcting their defensive issues after allowing Kenneth Walker III to run rampant in their opening loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Defensive end Zach Allen acknowledges that stopping runners like Walker is correctable and emphasizes the importance of addressing this weakness before facing the undefeated Jacksonville Jaguars, who have won nine consecutive regular-season games. The upcoming game will see a clash between Denver’s defensive backs and Jacksonville’s receiving corps, testing both teams’ abilities to bounce back from their Week 1 performances.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-18,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Denver Broncos face the Jacksonville Jaguars this Sunday at 4:05 p.m. EDT, after suffering a disappointing loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in their season opener. The Broncos' defense struggled significantly against Kenneth Walker III of the Seattle Seahawks last week, allowing him to score three rushing touchdowns and gain over 100 yards. This defensive lapse was particularly noteworthy given the Broncos' traditionally strong defense.
The Jaguars, who beat the Cleveland Browns convincingly in Week 1 by a score of 34-10, have won nine straight regular-season games with an impressive scoring differential of 177 points against their opponents during that streak. The Broncos aim to address these defensive issues ahead of the game, focusing on correcting mistakes and preparing for Jacksonville's formidable offense.
With the Jaguars boasting a strong record and high-scoring ability, the upcoming match presents significant challenges for Denver as they look to improve their performance and bounce back from last year’s loss against Jacksonville at Empower Field.
Written for “Broncos Defensive Strategy Adjustment” on 2026-09-18,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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No political leaning scored for article 17193 · logged 2026-09-18
The Denver Broncos have too many things to correct from their opening-week stumble to concern themselves with exacting any sort of revenge for their blowout loss at the hands of the Jacksonville Jaguars last December.
asserted
Broncos → have → Jaguars
Defensive struggles were a league-wide issue in Week 1 as offenses lit up the scoreboards, tying the record for the highest-scoring opening week in NFL history.
asserted
offenses → light → history
But the Broncos’ inability to get reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III to the ground was especially glaring because Denver’s defense has long been one of the stoutest in football.
asserted
defense → get → football
“I mean, it was definitely a big factor,” Denver defensive end Zach Allen said.
asserted
Allen → mean → ?
“It’s very correctable, so that’s the good news.
asserted
that → ’ → ?
And knowing the guys we got, it’ll get addressed, it’ll get fixed.
asserted
it → know → guys
“We’ve bounced back from bad losses the last few years, and we play a really good Jacksonville team this week.
asserted
we → bounce → team
So, it’s going to be its own challenge.”
asserted
it → go → ?
Jacksonville (1-0) has won nine consecutive regular-season games and owns a 177-point scoring differential over its opponents in that span.
asserted
Jacksonville → win → span
That’s the highest point margin in the NFL over that span by more than 80 points.
asserted
That → ’ → points
That included a 14-point win at Denver last December that snapped the Broncos’ 11-game winning streak.
asserted
that → include → streak
“I know they want some revenge,” Jaguars cornerback Jourdan Lewis said.
asserted
Lewis → know → revenge
“And coming off of a loss like last week, we’re going to get their best ball.
asserted
we → come → ball
We just got to go out there and execute, play to our standards and understand that we’re playing a (ticked) off team, which is good because that challenges our standards.
asserted
that → got → standards
Need to know
Jacksonville (1-0) at Denver (0-1)
When/where to watch: Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EDT, CBS
Latest odds: Broncos by 2 1/2
Against the spread: Jaguars 1-0, Broncos 0-1.
Last week: Jaguars beat Browns 34-10; Broncos lost to Chiefs 31-10.
Last meeting: Jaguars beat Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High 34-20, on Dec. 21, 2025.
Series record: Tied 7-7.
asserted
Jaguars → need → Dec.
This premier matchup pits Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers, Brian Thomas Jr. and Josh Cameron against Patrick Surtain II, Riley Moss, Ja’Quan McMillian and Jahdae Barron.
asserted
matchup → pit → II
Jacksonville’s passing attack was strong against Cleveland but the real test comes Sunday when the Broncos try to bounce back from their poor performance at Kansas City.
asserted
Broncos → come → City
Stats and stuff
—After tallying a franchise-record 68 sacks last season, the Broncos sacked Patrick Mahomes just twice in the opener.
asserted
Broncos → tally → opener
Both of those came from DE Zach Allen.
asserted
Both → come → Allen
—With an extra point in the opener, Broncos K Wil Lutz became the third kicker to convert 100 consecutive PATs since the extra point was moved back to the 33-yard line in 2015, joining Justin Tucker and Tyler Bass.
asserted
point → become → Tucker
—Broncos TE Evan Engram matched his 2025 total with a TD catch last week when he led Denver with 43 yards receiving.
asserted
he → match → receiving
Engram spent the 2022-24 seasons with Jacksonville, totaling 234 catches for 2,094 yards and nine touchdown receptions.
asserted
Engram → spend → yards
—Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence threw four TD passes against the Browns last week and completed 18 of 23 passes for 245 yards for a 150.6 passer rating.
asserted
Lawrence → throw → rating
Against Denver last December, Lawrence threw for 279 yards and three TDs and added a touchdown run.
asserted
Lawrence → throw → run
—Jaguars DE Josh Hines-Allen had five tackles, 1 1/2 sacks, a tackle for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery last week.
asserted
Allen → have → loss
—Third-year LB Ventrell Miller led Jacksonville in Week 1 with nine tackles, a career-best two tackles for loss and his first career sack and forced fumble.
asserted
Miller → lead → loss
The Aporia
