Broncos scouting report: How Denver matches up against Jaguars and predictions

Broncos (1-0) astatine Jaguars (0-1)

When: 11 a.m., Sunday.

Where: TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, Fla.

Radio/TV: 850 AM, 94.1 FM/KDVR-31.

Weather: Scattered thunderstorms with a precocious of 85.

Broncos-Jaguars series: Broncos are 5-6 successful 11 games; Jaguars won 26-24 successful past meeting, Sept. 29, 2019, successful Denver.

Key matchup

CB Pat Surtain II versus WR DJ Chark

Making his archetypal NFL commencement successful spot of the injured Ronald Darby, Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II volition beryllium tasked with covering a Pro Bowl wideout who already turned successful a large crippled successful Week 1.

Surtain figures to beryllium connected Jacksonville’s D.J. Chark for overmuch of the day, a matchup that volition determine however good and however rapidly rookie backmost Trevor Lawrence tin settee successful against the Denver secondary. Safety and squad skipper Justin Simmons is assured the rookie volition travel through.

“(Surtain) has proven that helium tin play astatine the highest level with the champion of them his full shot career,” Simmons said. “He’s got guys similar Kareem (Jackson) and maine to beryllium capable to benignant of nonstop postulation and marque definite he’s comfortable. Communication is going to beryllium the biggest happening that keeps him astatine ease… We’ve got to beryllium capable to marque definite that we’re doing each that we tin to assistance him.”

Chark had 3 catches for 86 yards and a touchdown past week, portion Surtain played lone 16 antiaircraft snaps successful the triumph against the Giants, and was burned for a touchdown by wideout Sterling Shepard.

Surtain said Shepard’s 37-yard catch-and-run TD successful the 2nd 4th past Sunday, which gave New York its lone pb of the game, was a learning moment.

“I should’ve known that way was coming based connected his stem,” Surtain said. “I could’ve squeezed it and initiated (the contact) earlier and conscionable had tighter sum connected it.”

Coach Vic Fangio is assured Surtain volition play that indispensable choky sum connected the extracurricular against Chark, who dominated successful 2019 with a 1,000-yard receiving play earlier injuries constricted him to 13 games and 706 yards past year.

“(Surtain) did bully (against the Giants),” Fangio said. “There weren’t a ton of plays, but I was pleased with his play overall.”

Who has the edge?

Quarterback

Teddy Bridgewater was crisp successful his Denver debut, throwing for 264 yards, 2 TDs and nary picks successful a triumph implicit the Giants. Meanwhile, Trevor Lawrence threw 3 interceptions successful his dud of an NFL debut, a nonaccomplishment to Houston. Edge: Broncos

Running back

Both teams person a susceptible one-two punch, with Melvin Gordon/Javonte Williams highlighting Denver’s backfield other the combo of Carlos Hyde/James Robinson for Jacksonville. But Denver has much accomplishment astatine the position. Edge: Broncos

Receiver/tight end

The Broncos are without No. 1 WR Jerry Jeudy, who suffered a precocious ankle sprain past week. But KJ Hamler, Tim Patrick and Courtland Sutton tin prime up the slack. The Jaguars diagnostic DJ Chark and ex-CU prima Laviska Shenault Jr. Edge: Broncos

Offensive line

Broncos close defender Graham Glasgow is “iffy” to play, per manager Vic Fangio, meaning Netane Muti is successful enactment for his 2nd NFL start. Jacksonville’s beforehand is anchored by seasoned near tackle Cam Robinson, who started each 16 games successful 2020. Edge: Even

Defensive line

Shelby Harris and the Broncos’ “bunch of dawgs” did good against New York, arsenic Saquon Barkley was held to 26 yards rushing. Meanwhile, Jacksonville’s antiaircraft beforehand got pushed astir via 160 rushing yards by Houston past week. Edge: Broncos

Linebacker

Von Miller returned with a vengeance past week with 2 sacks. Bradley Chubb (ankle injury) volition beryllium connected a drawback number if helium does play. One of the Jaguars’ champion players is Myles Jack, who had 118 tackles past twelvemonth and 9 successful Week 1. Edge: Broncos

Secondary

Denver volition miss Ronald Darby, who’s connected injured reserve with a hamstring issue. That means rookie Pat Surtain II volition instrumentality connected an elevated role. Jacksonville’s secondary is anchored by information and Ralston Valley merchandise Andrew Wingard. Edge: Even

Special teams

The Broncos’ sum was coagulated successful the triumph implicit the Giants, and Brandon McManus made some his tract extremity attempts. Jacksonville’s kicker Josh Lambo is reliable too, arsenic helium led the league with a 97.1% tract extremity complaint successful 2019. Edge: Even

Tale of the tape

* Through Week 1

By the numbers

77.8% — Teddy Bridgewater’s completion percent from Week 1, which ranked archetypal among each AFC quarterbacks successful Week 1 and besides represented the highest completion percent for a QB’s debut successful squad history.

3,272 — Even erstwhile galore of the Broncos’ antiaircraft starters came disconnected the tract successful garbage clip past week astatine MetLife Stadium, information Justin Simmons did not. That fig remains the longest progressive drawback streak among NFL antiaircraft players.

1 — The magnitude of regular-season losses Jacksonville QB Trevor Lawrence has suffered passim his career, including precocious school, assemblage (where helium mislaid 2 playoff games) and pro. The Broncos look to treble that full Sunday.

33 — During Vic Fangio’s two-plus twelvemonth tenure, the Broncos’ antiaircraft enactment ranks archetypal successful the NFL with that galore passes defensed. Shelby Harris (seven passes defensed successful 2020) volition effort to rattle Lawrence (who is 6-foot-6) with that technique.

18-9 — Fangio’s grounds against rookie quarterbacks arsenic an NFL caput manager and assistant. The Broncos were 2-1 against rookie signal-callers past year, defeating the Chargers’ Justin Herbert successful Week 8 and the Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa successful Week 11.

Betting/fantasy

Line: Broncos -5.5

The Broncos’ discourtesy took a portion to find its bushed against the New York Giants, but erstwhile it did, Bridgewater & Co. demonstrated the quality to enactment unneurotic long, sustained drives. Denver should beryllium capable to bash that again successful Jacksonville, and with the Broncos owning a wide vantage erstwhile connected defense, they should triumph by astatine slightest a touchdown to cover.

Prop bet: Longest reception implicit 21 1/2 yards (minus-115)

Bet the over. Even without Jeudy, the Broncos are susceptible of large gains done the air, and Bridgewater volition surely effort to instrumentality different heavy changeable to KJ Hamler aft the second dropped a 50-yard touchdown past week. If there’s thing the Jaguars’ disfigured opening nonaccomplishment proved, it’s that Urban Meyer is going to continually inquire Trevor Lawrence to travel up with chunk passes.

Fantasy play: WR Tim Patrick

With Jeudy sidelined, look for the reliable Patrick — who didn’t person a driblet connected 79 targets past year, and had 4 catches and a TD against the Giants — to rack up receptions. Patrick is susceptible of heavy strikes and reddish portion TDs, and Bridgewater volition support looking his mode arsenic Courtland Sutton continues to get backmost to himself and Hamler settles into the NFL.

Post predictions

Mark Kiszla, columnist: Broncos 24, Jaguars 17

This week it’s Trevor Lawrence who’s the young backmost blessed to ticker Teddy Bridgewater and larn the finer points of playing the presumption astatine the NFL level.

Kyle Newman, bushed writer: Broncos 31, Jaguars 21

Trevor Lawrence alternates betwixt looking dynamic and mislaid arsenic the Jaguars bounce retired to an aboriginal lead, lone for the Denver secondary to crystal the crippled with a brace of second-half interceptions. And Teddy Bridgewater continues to beryllium reliable, portion rookie Javonte Williams rushes for his archetypal 100-yard game.

Ryan O’Halloran, bushed writer: Broncos 30, Jaguars 17

Trevor Lawrence throws 2 interceptions (one by rookie cornerback Pat Surtain II) arsenic Vic Fangio continues to marque beingness miserable for rookie quarterbacks and choky extremity Noah Fant posts his 3rd vocation 100-yard receiving game.

Sean Keeler, columnist: Broncos 23, Jaguars 20

A steadfast Vic Fangio defence against Trevor Lawrence successful his 2nd NFL commencement down center? On paper, it should beryllium nary contest. But there’s the humidity. And the vigor — particularly the vigor Urban Meyer’s been taking. A tilt that should beryllium a blowout mightiness extremity up feeling much similar an escape.