Turnovers key as Broncos defense delivers 20-10 win over Jaguars

A quick glance at the boxscore, and one might come to the conclusion that it was the Jacksonville Jaguars who came out on top against the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

The Jags lead Denver in first downs by nearly a 2-to-1 margin, they converted 6-of-18 third downs compared to the Broncos 1-of-13 effort, and they rush and passed for more yards (154 and 179, respectively).

Even in punting, Jacksonville’s 8 punts grossed and netted more yards (46.1 and 41.1 yards, respectively) than Denver’s 11.

The Jaguars possessed the ball nearly 10 minutes longer than the Broncos.

But Denver came up winners in perhaps the only two categories that mattered: turnovers and final score.

“We knew coming in here that we needed to play great defense; win the turnover battle and win the field position battle against this team,” head coach Gary Kubiak said after the game.

On Sunday Denver forced three turnovers against Jacksonville, including a 51-yard pick six from Bradley Roby that put the Broncos up 17-3 late in the third quarter.

After the game, Roby said he anticipated the throw and jumped the route, but he credited pass rusher Von Miller with creating the pressure that forced an errant throw from Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles.

“It’s always huge to get points off a takeaway and a big momentum swing. It demoralizes the opponent. That’s what the defense loves to do,” Roby said. “I don’t know where we’re ranked but we have to be up there in defensive touchdowns.”

Before Sunday’s game, only the San Diego Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs (4 each) had more defensive touchdowns than Denver, which grabbed it’s fourth with Roby’s score.

The pick six was also Roby’s second defensive score of the season, making him just the ninth Broncos player to have multiple defensive touchdowns in a season.

Roby’s score went with another interception by Chris Harris Jr. and a game-sealing fumble recovery by Shane Ray.

Couple those takeaways with no giveaways ended up a recipe for getting rookie Paxton Lynch his first career win in his second start.

“We came into the game knowing we had a shot if we didn’t turn the ball over especially when you have a defense as good as you have on the other side of the ball,” Lynch said after the game. “You always have a chance to stay in the game as long as you don’t hurt yourself, and that’s what we did.”

“It wasn’t pretty but we still came out with the win.”

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.