The Denver Broncos beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 20-13 on Sunday, overcoming a 13-6 deficit entering the fourth quarter with a pair of touchdowns. Denver won because it moved the ball far more efficiently through the air, and that finally showed up on the scoreboard late.

The Broncos averaged more than 9 yards per pass, while the Jaguars managed under 6. Jacksonville led from early in the second quarter into the fourth but never pulled away. Denver did not allow a sack.

How It Happened

The first quarter was scoreless. Jacksonville struck first early in the second, when Bhayshul Tuten ran it in from 1 yard out for a 7-0 lead.

Denver answered with a 20-yard Wil Lutz field goal midway through the quarter. Cam Little then hit a 44-yarder as the half expired, sending the Jaguars to the locker room up 10-3.

Little added a 23-yard field goal in the third quarter to stretch the lead to 13-3. Lutz responded with a 45-yarder later in the quarter, cutting it to 13-6 heading into the fourth.

Bo Nix found Nate Adkins for a 7-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth to tie it at 13. Jonah Coleman then punched in a 3-yard run with 7:21 left for the go-ahead score.

Denver overcame 10 penalties to win. It also went just 2 for 5 in the red zone, so the margin could have been wider.

Key Performers

Denver passing: 22-31, 288 YDS, 1-1 (TD-INT), 0 sacks allowed
Bo Nix: 7-yard TD pass to Nate Adkins to tie the game in the fourth quarter
Jonah Coleman: 3-yard TD rush, the game-winning score
Wil Lutz: field goals of 20 and 45 yards, 2 extra points
Bhayshul Tuten: 1-yard TD rush
Cam Little: field goals of 44 and 23 yards, 1 extra point
Jacksonville passing: 17-29, 173 YDS, 0-1 (TD-INT), 2 sacks for 16 yards lost

The yardage gap tells the story. Denver outgained Jacksonville 392 to 268 and averaged nearly 7 yards per play. The Jaguars averaged about 5.

Jacksonville was slightly better on third down, converting 5 of 12 to Denver's 4 of 11. But the Jaguars' only touchdown came in the second quarter, and they kicked field goals on their other 2 scoring plays.

What It Means

Both teams sit at 1-1, and both records follow the same pattern. Each team is 1-0 at home and 0-1 on the road.

For Denver, the win at Empower Field at Mile High evens its record, with its only loss coming on the road.

For Jacksonville, this was its first road loss of the season. The Jaguars won their home game and dropped their only trip. Scoring once in 2 red-zone trips and settling for field goals cost them a game they led into the fourth quarter.