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The Denver Broncos’ season opener exposed a defensive problem that could follow them straight into Week 2. The 31-10 Monday night defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs was supposed to be an opportunity for this defense to prove itself. Instead, it became a showcase for everything Denver cannot afford to repeat. Now comes Trevor Lawrence and a Jacksonville Jaguars offense that just scored 34 points in Week 1. The Broncos have barely had time to diagnose the wounds from Monday night, and their next opponent arrives carrying precisely the kind of versatility that can attack every weakness exposed in the opener.

Nightmare openerMandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Denver’s season opener against the Chiefs quickly devolved into a painful reminder of the brutal margins in professional football. Vance Joseph’s defense ultimately succumbed in a disheartening loss. The biggest problem was the inability to contain Kansas City’s rushing attack. Kenneth Walker III exploded for a career-high 173 yards and two touchdowns. Kansas City finished with 220 rushing yards. Patrick Mahomes added three total touchdowns in his return from knee surgery. Denver, meanwhile, produced only 176 total yards and converted just two of 12 third downs. Bo Nix was pressured on 45.5% of his dropbacks.

The Broncos’ defensive issues went well beyond one bad pursuit angle or one missed tackle. Kansas City consistently manipulated the front with its formations and Walker’s ability to turn small openings into enormous gains. Denver’s pass rush also failed to create the kind of consistent disruption expected from them. And now comes Lawrence.

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Vertical fire

Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars arrive in Denver with an offense capable of attacking precisely the uncertainty Kansas City created. Lawrence could hardly have looked more comfortable in Jacksonville’s Week 1 victory over Cleveland. He completed 18 of 23 passes for 245 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. The Jaguars also moved the football effectively enough on the ground to prevent Cleveland from simply selling out against the pass.

If Joseph responds to Walker’s performance by flooding the box with additional defenders, Lawrence can punish isolated coverage. Jacksonville enters Week 2 with Brian Thomas Jr, Parker Washington, and Jakobi Meyers providing three distinctly different receiving profiles. Brenton Strange gives Lawrence another useful target in the middle of the field.

The Broncos cannot simply protect against one area. If they play conservatively, Jacksonville can methodically move the chains. If they bring extra pressure, Lawrence can attack the space behind it.Jacksonville has the perimeter weapons to turn anything into explosive gains.

Jacksonville’s physical backfield

The problem does not disappear when Lawrence hands the ball off. Jacksonville’s Week 1 rushing numbers were not spectacular at first glance. Still, the Jaguars finished with 126 team rushing yards. Bhayshul Tuten, Ameer Abdullah, and Chris Rodriguez Jr combined for 121 yards on 25 carries, averaging 4.85 yards per attempt.

That becomes particularly important after what happened against Kansas City. Denver cannot afford another game in which its linebackers and edge defenders repeatedly overrun plays and leave enormous cutback lanes. Zach Allen, Malcolm Roach, and Nik Bonitto must maintain gap integrity. Otherwise, Jacksonville will keep finding the same weakness.

The Jaguars also have another weapon that complicates matters: Lawrence’s mobility. Bootlegs and movement throws can force edge defenders to hesitate, creating additional space for the running game. The Broncos therefore have to defend both the quarterback and the running back on the same play.

Patrick Surtain II

One encouraging element from Denver’s opener was the continued presence of Patrick Surtain II as a lockdown presence on the perimeter. Of course, Jacksonville’s offense presents an uncomfortable strategic question: What happens when the Jaguars simply attack away from him?

Lawrence has enough receiving options to do exactly that. That would put enormous pressure on Denver’s other defensive backs and linebackers. The Broncos cannot allow Jacksonville’s complementary receivers to turn routine completions into explosive plays. They also cannot afford communication breakdowns. Lawrence will punish that severely.

Vance Joseph needs answers nowRon Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The encouraging news for Denver is that it is only one game. The concerning news is that the next opponent presents many of the same questions in a different form. Joseph has to get his defensive front playing with greater discipline. The edge defenders need to set firmer boundaries. The linebackers have to tackle more consistently. Their secondary must communicate really well.

The Broncos also need to decide whether they trust their front four to generate pressure without excessive blitzing. Against Kansas City, Mahomes was able to operate without facing the relentless disruption. Against Lawrence, that cannot happen again. A quarterback entering Week 2 after throwing four touchdowns without an interception is not the player you want dictating the game from a clean pocket.

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