Broncos lean on defense to aid Paxton Lynch, hold off Jaguars
JACKSONVILLE - There are no style points in December, even if the game is played in Florida.
Despite getting severely outgained by the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars, the Denver Broncos left EverBank Field here Sunday afternoon with the only thing they showed up to get: A victory.
The Broncos won, 20-10, thanks to another pick-six by cornerback Bradley Roby and a safe, but turnover-free performance by rookie quarterback Paxton Lynch.
The afternoon became even better than the 70-degree, sunny, early December weather in northern Florida as the Miami Dolphins also got thwacked by Baltimore, 38-6. The Broncos improved to 8-4 while the Dolphins slipped to 7-5.
With four games remaining, the Broncos currently have the No. 6 and final AFC playoff seed. Up next is a game against the 6-6 Tennessee Titans in Nashville, followed by contests against 10-2 New England, 9-3 Kansas City and 9-2 Oakland.
The game here wasn’t too far off from the game plan of Broncos’ head coach Gary Kubiak. Lynch didn’t take many chances while completing 12 of 24 passes for only 104 yards – but no interceptions and no fumbles.
That wasn’t much but it was better than 19 of 42 for 181 yards and two interception passing line of Jacksonville’s disappointing quarterback Blake Bortles. The Jacksonville quarterback also fumbled away his team’s last chance with less than 2 minutes remaining. The hapless Jags fell to 2-10.
The Broncos didn’t give Lynch much support in the running back other than one big series from backup Kapri Bibbs, who then left with an ankle injury.
The key was the return of Denver’s dominant defense, in particular their No Fly Zone secondary. Roby’s second pick six of the season – a 51-yard return midway through the third quarter – gave the Broncos a 17-3 lead. Broncos’ cornerback Chris Harris Jr. also came up with a big interception to snuff out a promising Jacksonville drive late in the first half.
The defense was able to hang on from there, no thanks to the Broncos’ offense. The Jaguars finished with 333 yards in total offense and 19 first downs while the Broncos only mustered 206 yards and 10 first downs.
Lynch was starting for the second time in place of the injured Trevor Siemian, who was out with a sprained left foot His favorite target was Demaryius Thomas, who had six catches for 61 yards.
Bibbs had 49 yards on five carries in the first half but didn’t play in the second half because of an ankle injury.
Starting tailback Devontae Booker only had 35 yards rushing on 18 carries.
Klis writes for KUSA, a TEGNA property.
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