The Broncos offense took a big step forward in the final quarter of SundayâÂÂs home game against the Broncos.
After being limited to 16 points through the first seven quarters of the season, the Broncos found themselves down 13-3 to the Jaguars in the fourth quarter. They responded with a pair of touchdown drives in the fourth quarter to take a 20-13 lead over the Jaguars and then put together an impressive four-minute offense to run out the clock on their first win of the season.
Quarterback Bo Nix converted one third down with a 29-yard strike to wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and rookie running back Jonah Coleman picked up another one with a 12-yard run that forced the Jaguars to use their final timeout. Coleman was pressed into duty with RJ Harvey inactive and J.K. Dobbins leaving with a hamstring injury, and the fourth-round pick came through with one more big run to allow the Broncos to run out the clock.
Coleman also scored the go-ahead touchdown run with 7:21 left to play. It was his first NFL score and he finished the day with 10 carries for 39 yards.
That score came after Jaguars kicker Cam Little missed a 54-yard field goal and the first Broncos touchdown came after cornerback Riley Moss picked off Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Waddle had two catches on that touchdown drive and finished the day with eight catches for 138 yards.
ThatâÂÂs the impact Denver was looking for when they traded for Waddle this offseason and it helped get Bo Nix on track after a bad interception in the end zone to kill a first half scoring chance. Nix finished 22-of-31 for 288 yards and a touchdown to tight end Nate Adkins.
Neither team scored in the first quarter, but the Jaguars got a touchdown to open the second quarter and took a 10-3 lead into halftime. They extended it to 13-3, but the interception and missed field goal opened the door for the Broncos. DenverâÂÂs defense forced a punt after ColemanâÂÂs touchdown put them ahead and the offense was able to slam the door.
ThatâÂÂs a good development for offensive coordinator Davis Mills and the Broncos will now turn their attention to a Sunday night game against the Rams. The Jaguars will try to stop the bleeding at home against the Patriots.