Through the Years
Through the Years: Broncos vs. Jaguars
Go back through the years with photos of the Broncos' battles against Jacksonville dating back to 1995. (AP Images and Broncos photo archive)
Rookie RB Terrell Davis ran for 84 yards on 21 rushes and caught one pass for 12 yards, and QB John Elway threw for 286 yards and four touchdowns in the franchise's first game against the Jaguars, an expansion team in 1995.
With 84 yards, Davis passed 1,000 rushing yards in his rookie season. As the scoreboard photo shows, he was the lowest-drafted player in NFL history to amass 1,000 rushing yards in his rookie season. Davis would increase his numbers in the following seasons with 1,538 rushing yards in 1996, 1,750 in 1997 and 2,008 in 1998.
An 11-point fourth-quarter deficit would prove too much to overcome for the Broncos as they fell to Jacksonville at home in a disappointing playoff defeat. A touchdown pass from John Elway to Ed McCaffrey narrowed the deficit to three points, but Jacksonville recovered the onside kick and ended the game on kneeldowns. Revenge for this would be on the minds of Broncos players a season later when they faced the Jaguars again in the playoffs.
In one of the Broncos' most lopsided playoff victories, Denver trampled the Jaguars on the strength of their running game. Starting running back Terrell Davis ran for 184 yards and two touchdowns and his backup, Derek Loville, added 103 yards and two touchdowns. All told, Denver crushed Jacksonville with 310 rushing yards.
The defense also held its own, styming Jacksonville's offense with one interception, one forced fumble and three sacks. A year after falling to the underdog Jaguars in the playoffs, the Broncos refused to falter again. This game started a "revenge tour" in the playoffs for Denver. In the rounds to come, the Broncos traveled to Kansas City and Pittsburgh for rematches of games they lost in the regular season for a shot at redemption and at the team's first Super Bowl title.
After a 4-12 first season, the Jaguars made the playoffs in four consecutive seasons. They were no easy opponent, as evidenced by the 1996 playoff game, but the Broncos dispatched Jacksonville as easily in 1998 as they had in the 1997 playoffs. In a 24-point second quarter, the Broncos ran away from the Jaguars with a 41-yard touchdown pass from John Elway to Ed McCaffrey and two rushing touchdowns from Terrell Davis.
En route to his 2,008-yard MVP season, Terrell Davis ran for 136 rushing yards against Jacksonville.
Though the Broncos held QB Mark Brunell to just 115 passing yards, Jacksonville ran for 153 yards and three touchdowns, which powered them to their second win of the series. First-year starter Brian Griese struggled with two interceptions, but he also threw for two touchdowns and 275 yards.
In a tough defensive battle, the Jaguars won despite having just eight first downs. Three came on the game's lone touchdown drive, which began at the Denver 32 after a 50-yard punt return. Though Jason Elam connected on two field goals, he missed a 51-yard go-ahead try in the third quarter. On the Broncos' final drive of the game, Jake Plummer drove the Broncos to the Jacksonville 23, well within field goal range, but on third-and-9, RB Quentin Griffin fumbled an aborted snap and the Jaguars recovered, effectively ending the game.
Jake Plummer connected with tight end Dwayne Carswell for two touchdowns in the second quarter and the Broncos defense held Jacksonville to just seven points for the win.
Carswell was a one-time Pro Bowler in 2001, but 2005 was his final season. His two touchdowns against Jacksonville were his only ones that season.
The Broncos struggled to gain 47 yards on the ground while Jacksonville had 186 on the road at Invesco Field at Mile High.
Jacksonville outgained the Broncos by nearly 100 yards and had one fewer turnover as RB Maurice Jones-Drew led the Jaguars with 125 yards and two touchdowns.
By the same score as the previous matchup, the Broncos fell to the Jaguars for the third consecutive time. RB Knowshon Moreno ran for 60 yards and a touchdown.
The Broncos ended a three-game skid to Jacksonville in 2013 behind the arm of Peyton Manning (295 yards, two touchdowns) and the legs of Knowshon Moreno (42 yards, three touchdowns).
The Broncos also hounded the Jaguars into two interceptions, one from linebacker Danny Trevathan and one from cornerback Kayvon Webster. Jacksonville also had two fumbles and was sacked twice.
