NDING CHAMPION BRONCOS
JAGUARS RETURN TO EVERBANK FIELD FOR THREE DECEMBER HOME GAMES
JACKSONVILLE – As the calendar turns to December , the Jaguars ( 2-9 ) return to EverBank Field for three home games this month starting with today ’ s meeting with the defending Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos ( 7-4 ).
Home cooking could be what the doctor ordered for the Jaguars , who will try to snap a six-game losing skid and finish the 2016 season strong .
This is the first meeting between the Jaguars and Broncos since Week 6 of the 2013 season , when the Broncos defeated the Jaguars 35- 19 in Denver .
THE JAGUARS
So far in 2016 , quarterback Blake Bortles has completed 60 percent of his passes for 2,749 yards , 20 touchdowns and 13 interceptions , but the raw stats tell only part of the tale . Last week Bortles led three touchdown drives , including an opening possession touchdown for the first time since Week 2 of the 2015 season . He flashed with some big throws in key situations , but also used his feet to convert multiple times , and finished as the team ’ s leading rusher with 81 yards on eight carries .
As an offense , the Jaguars ran for 183 yards , the second-best total of the season . Running back Chris Ivory showed promise with 44 yards and a touchdown on nine carries , but he left the game on the third offensive possession with a hamstring injury .
Wide receiver Marqise Lee has been a bright spot for the offense . After two injury-marred seasons , Lee has been healthy in 2016 and has touchdown receptions in back-to-back games . His 46 receptions and 581 yards receiving are second on the team behind Allen Robinson , who has 53 catches for 591 yards .
Veteran tight end Marcedes Lewis is out for the season with a calf injury , and sixth-year tight end Julius Thomas missed last week ’ s game with a back injury . Second-year tight ends Ben Koyack and Neal Sterling and rookie tight end Alex Ellis each contributed in last week ’ s game , helping the Jags to a high rushing total .
The Jaguars did not turn the ball over last week , but as has been the case a majority of the season , the defense did not take the ball away either .
The Jaguars defense has been the strength of the team in 2016 , with the unit ranking sixth in the NFL overall , and third-best against the pass . The defense has kept the Jaguars in games late and gave the offense opportunities in late-game situations . With an NFL-low seven takeaways , the Jaguars defense must improve this number going forward .
Defensive tackle Malik Jackson , a free agent pick-up from the Broncos in the offseason , is playing at a high level . Last week Jackson had two sacks against the Bills , his first multisack game of the season , and finished with five tackles and two tackles for loss . For the season Jackson has 11 quarterback hurries , tied for the team high with rookie pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue .
Ngakoue has come on strong , leading all NFL rookies with 6.0 sacks , also a team best in 2016 .