GAME RECAP
• The Jacksonville Jaguars fell to the Denver Broncos, 23-13, in Week 2 at TIAA Bank Field. With the loss, the Jaguars are now 13-14 in franchise history in home openers.
• The Jaguars defense held the Broncos to 2-of-11 on third down (18.2 percent), marking the lowest third down percentage the defense has posted since Nov. 5, 2017 against Cincinnati.
Player Notes
• QB Trevor Lawrence finished 14-of-33 for 118 yards and one TD, a 25-yard TD to WR Marvin Jones Jr. in the first quarter. Lawrence became the first player in franchise history to throw at least four TDs in their first two career starts. Through two games, Lawrence is 42-of-84 passing for 450 yards and four TDs.
• DE/OLB Josh Allen posted the 15th sack of his career on Jacksonville’s first defensive drive. He is one of two players in franchise history to total 15.0 sacks through their first 26 career games and now has 9.0 sacks in 12 games at TIAA Bank Field.
• RB James Robinson recorded 64 scrimmage yards (47 rushing and 17 receiving) in Week 2 against Denver. Robinson now joins the following running backs as the only players in NFL history to tally at least 50 scrimmage yards in their first 16 career games: Saquon Barkley, Le’Veon Bell, Ezekiel Elliot, Matt Forte, Eddie George, Edgerrin James, Marshawn Lynch, Alfred Morris and LaDanian Tomlinson. His active streak of 16 games with at least 50 scrimmage yards is the fourth-longest in the NFL.
• Jamal Agnew’s career-long 102-yard kickoff return touchdown was the sixth return touchdown of his career (four punt returns, two kick returns) and the longest kick return in franchise history. Since entering the league in 2017, he leads the NFL in return touchdowns. Agnew’s 102-yard return was the first kick return TD by the Jaguars since 2016 when WR Marquise Lee returned a kick 100 yards for a touchdown against Houston on December 18.
• WR Marvin Jones Jr. caught six passes for 55 yards, including a 25-yard TD on the team’s opening drive. Jones now has caught at least one pass in 99 consecutive games, which is tied for the sixth-longest active streak in the NFL. He has 53 career receiving TDs, which ranks tenth among all players since he entered the NFL in 2012. Jones has caught a TD in each of Jacksonville’s two games this season.
• S Andrew Wingard tallied a team-high eight tackles, including his second career sack. Wingard, a native of Arvada, Colo., has started both games for the Jaguars this season and recorded 13 total tackles.
JAGUARS HEAD COACH URBAN MEYER
Jaguars vs. Broncos
Postgame Media Availability
Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021
URBAN MEYER: I just want to thank our Jaguar fans. It’s been a long haul in Jacksonville. But we appreciate them being here, and we have a saying around here, we’re going to own it, and we are going to own it, but I speak on behalf of our players that that was good. We go up 7-3 or 7-0 and they’re standing behind our defense, helped our defense, and from myself, our staff and our players, thanks for being there. Don’t give up on us. Hang in there with us. We’re going to get better. The one thing about Jacksonville and the 904, go to sleep knowing there’s not going to be any group work harder to get this thing flipped.
Q. Do you feel like you got outcoached today?
URBAN MEYER: Outcoached? I don’t know if I got outcoached. We lost a game. That’s a good question. I’ve been asked that question before. We lost a game.
Q. Trevor mentioned that the team doesn’t feel like it’s a talent issue, but now at 0-2, does that make it a coaching issue?
URBAN MEYER: It’s an us issue. We have to make some plays. We have to do a lot of things better as a team, and that includes when I say team, it’s always us. The one thing I’ll never do is take a player and do that or a coach and do that. But do we have to get better? We’re 0-2. You made that point. We have to do we — when I say we, I’m talking about the whole team has to do a lot of better things.
Q. What did you see out of Trevor today? Fantastic opening drive, and then it just seemed like for the rest of the day, whether it was a little too much pressure, receivers not getting separation or just maybe him being a little bit off on some throws?
URBAN MEYER: I talked with him after the game and he made it — On Thursday he was 25 of 25 or 26 of 26, had a great Thursday practice and he kind of felt Laviska came on and looked his legs were getting back underneath him. I saw what happened in the first drive as I saw during practice. But after that, like you said, it was just 100 and a handful of yards. I see a very good leader. I see obviously an exceptional talent and a guy that the game is hopefully going to start slowing down more and more as he gets more reps.
Q. Marvin Jones said he felt like the offense was in a lull after the first drive. How do you prevent those lulls in the future?
URBAN MEYER: I think we had a couple dropped passes on some key situations that would have kept the chains moving. Also we’d like to have a little more balance. It seems like we’re dropping back a little bit too much, especially when you’re facing Von Miller and Chubb and those guys. The easy answer is make more plays and get guys in position to make more plays. That’s an easy answer. It’s hard to execute, obviously.
Q. Were you at least impressed with the functionality of it? At least it looked function at out there in terms of penalties and false starts and that stuff for the most part?
URBAN MEYER: Yeah, it was a cleaner game, but it better be a cleaner game, and we worked real hard at that. I will say that our defense, you kept — just if the offense would have made some plays late in the first quarter or if we would have hit those field goals and then late in the second quarter made a couple more plays because we had decent field position, just going into halftime would have been a different story if you’re coming out. Then obviously they scored right away the second half. Our defense had some big stops. If offense just would have made a few more plays.
Q. Concern level for Josh Lambo?
URBAN MEYER: Well, concern, but I made a comment that the one thing I admire about him, first of all he’s had a very good career, and he works his tail off. I’m not giving up on Josh Lambo. If he didn’t work hard, wasn’t a professional about everything he does, yeah, I’d have a problem with him, but he’s missing some kicks, and as a professional he’s got to make those kicks. I have confidence he will.
Q. You mentioned needing to be more balanced. Do you need to call more run plays, or is it putting yourself in a position to be able to be more balanced?
URBAN MEYER: I think it’s both. I think when you call the run plays you’ve got to get a little more positive yardage, but I thought at times we were running the ball decent today. When the score is tight you can be very balanced, and then you start getting behind a little bit and you have to start scoring points.
Q. How much of the play calling and game plan is still about you and Bevell learning Trevor as much as him learning the game?
URBAN MEYER: I think that’s a great point. There’s still — I think it’s him learning how to play the style of offense that we’re playing, and I know for his career that’s going to be the best thing to do. When I made that decision to hire Bevell and Brian Schottenheimer, a lot went into that decision. To run a spread offense, I don’t know. I think he needs to become a professional quarterback. That also includes some spread elements in it, which we do. So it’s going to be a combination of both, and I know that’s the right thing for him and his career and his future.
Q. Was CJ Henderson pulled or hurt in the second half?
URBAN MEYER: Hurt. Hip flexor.
Q. What do you do with Josh? Do you let him work to the side? Do you think someone needs to push him? How do you handle that?
URBAN MEYER: I’m not sure yet. It’s just all fresh. We just lost the game. I know he’ll be out there working again. I don’t know what the plan is as far as bringing someone else in.
Q. What did you see on Jamal Agnew’s kickoff return for a touchdown?
URBAN MEYER: I saw the guy that we went out and got him because that’s a big part of — we haven’t been able to get him loose in punt return, and that’s really where he’s dynamic, too. I know this as a fact after coaching special teams my entire career is that if they know there’s a guy back that can do it, you block that much harder, and they know he can do it now. That’s going to be on tape. Chapelle did a great job running down the field and leading that block, so that was great. There’s a lot of fight in this team. This team is — there’s 15 games left, and my goal, our goal is to have the strongest locker room that you can possibly have. I feel like it’s extremely strong right now. Players are pissed. Players want to win. Players are sticking together. That’s the best part of our team, the best part of our organization right now is what’s in that locker room.
Q. Not that you haven’t been 0-2 in your coaching career before, but how do you keep things heading in the right direction with you and your staff?
URBAN MEYER: Oh, it’s just the loyalty amongst each other and not let the nonsense start to seep in– I’ve seen nonsense seep in to organizations when you’re 2-0 and I’ve seen it when you’re 0-2. Well, I guess I haven’t seen it when you’re 0-2, but I’ve seen it when you lose a game. We can’t allow that. The good thing is I don’t see that happening. If I do, I told the players and staff that’s the one thing that will not be tolerated with the Jags is nonsense. I see 0.0 of it. A bunch of good players, good guys and coaches working their tails off.
Q. What was AJ Cann’s injury?
URBAN MEYER: His hamstring tightened up.
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JAGUARS QB TREVOR LAWRENCE
Jaguars vs. Broncos
Postgame Media Availability
Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021
Q. Could you talk a little bit about why things seemed to go so awry after such an efficient, perfect opening drive?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: Yeah, I think it’s a combination of a few things, just some ill-timed errors on everyone really. It was different people each time, we had a turnover and another one at the end, so that’s on me, and some penalties, whatever it may be. Just bad timing for those things to happen. And then Denver played off that momentum and put a few scoring drives together. I think we were in the game the whole game. Really first half should have had the lead. Then after that I didn’t think we kept playing like we did in that first quarter. Just figuring out what that is, what’s happening in that 2nd and 3rd quarter that we can get better at. Obviously I’ll have to go back and watch the tape for some of it, but for me, same thing. Two turnovers, got to get better at that. [Patrick] Surtain made a great catch on the go-ball, so that’s one of those he made a great play. It happens. But the other one was a bad decision by me. Just keep taking care of the ball. I thought we did a great job up front. The guys blocked really well. Only one sack. Protection was good all night. We ran the ball efficiently. I think we were over 4 yards a carry, so that was good to see.
But just continually putting these drives together to stay in the game because you could see we were that close today and just kind of got out of the game towards the end and they ran with it. But I think we’re close, and obviously it’s not what anybody wants to see and it’s frustrating and disappointing, but we’re going to stick together, and I really feel like we’re close. We’ve got good enough players to win these games. We’ve just got to keep going to work.
Q. You’ve never lost back-to-back games in your life, now 0-2 in your NFL career. How are you dealing with that?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: Yeah, I hate losing, like I said last week, so it’s not fun, obviously. But at the same time you’ve got to — you’ve just got to realize we’re getting better, and each week we’ve got to keep getting better, and it’s a long season. We’ve still got 15 more games, kind of like I said last week. That’s the mindset in the locker room, too. Everyone is frustrated. Everybody is disappointed. Obviously we worked our tails off to win this game, and we felt like we were prepared. Just got to keep getting better, though. We’ve got to make the play when our number is called and didn’t do that well enough today.
Q. Are the misses just a matter of you and the receivers just not being on the same page? TREVOR LAWRENCE: Typically no. I think it’s just a lot of things. I missed a few throws. We didn’t have really many drops today, so I think they did a good job. Denver did a good job contesting a lot of the throws. They mixed up their coverages well. I thought I saw it pretty well, too, and I think we just got behind the sticks a little bit as the game went on. You saw the first drive, we stayed in 2nd and 3rd and short, and I don’t know however many yards on the first drive, we go down and score. Then after that we get a penalty or we’d have two incompletions back-to-back, then we’d be 3rd and 10 or whatever, and just getting behind. It’s really hard against a good defense to convert 3rd and 10 over and over again. That’s one thing. Just got to keep getting better. I thought we were better today than last week for sure, but just got to keep getting better.
Q. What was it about the first drive that made things look so smooth and easy? TREVOR LAWRENCE: I don’t know. I mean, I thought we were just all playing well, playing confident. We were seeing it, communicating. I thought we continued to do that throughout the game. It’s just like little — like ill-timed errors, like I said. Something happens on like a 2nd and long or a 3rd down that would have been a conversion, like that’s just hard to recover. We had a few of those down the stretch. Obviously like I said, the turnover that gave them the ball at midfield, defense did a good job. Can’t remember if we held them to a field goal or what happened there, and then obviously the other turnover we were still in the game and Surtain, like I said, made a great play. I think the defense, we put them in a hole a few times again today, and they played well. We got to keep putting these scoring drives together to give us a better chance and didn’t do that down the stretch.
Q. When you see them dropping seven or eight into coverage, what does that mean to you? TREVOR LAWRENCE: Use my legs. You saw a few times today, had a 4th down conversion and then had a 2nd and 10, 3rd and 10, can’t remember on the other one where I scrambled for a 1st down, so that was something I wanted to get better from last week and I thought I did, so that was a positive. They did a really good job of having two safeties and then matching underneath playing man. They did a really good job with that. Made it harder for some of our concepts. I thought we were kind of picking them apart on that first drive. Had a great drive, but then after that started playing a little tighter, and then as the game went on, playing softer when we had to take some shots, obviously, kind of what happened on that go ball. But yeah, like I said, using my legs. I thought that’s one thing when they’re dropping seven or eight that you have to do and did that a little bit.
Q. From your perspective, how much is the play calling about you and the coaches still learning each other?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: I mean, maybe a little, but not much I don’t think. It’s just hard when — you saw like the first drive, that was kind of our plays that we were going with to start our openers, if you call it, whatever, except for the 3rd downs. He did a good job calling those. We were rolling, did great with those. It’s just hard when we kind of put Coach Bev in a bad spot when you get down. Same thing second half when you’re down a couple scores and the clock is running, you’re in the fourth quarter, you’ve got to take shots and push the ball downfield, so he doesn’t just have the whole playbook open at that point. It’s hard. We’ve got his back. He’s got our back. We’ve all just got to get better. It’s not one certain thing, it’s just all of us continuing to play well. All of us are having bright spots throughout the games, but just play after play, being consistent.
Q. You had a lot of bright spots you were looking at. Is there a particular moment or play or even idea that you can take into practice as an overall theme to get ready for next game? TREVOR LAWRENCE: Yeah, we’ll watch it and we’ll find those things. I thought we made some good plays, like I said, especially on that first drive. After that we didn’t do as much as we needed to do on offense throughout the game. But we made some plays, and the good thing is, bright spot is for sure that we really have good enough players to win these games. We’ve just got to play better. It would be a different story if we felt like they were better than us, but I just really feel like both of these games, we had a chance if we played better, and obviously a lot of people say that, but just got to do it.
Q. Do you get any sense at all out of anybody that confidence is a little shaken, and what would be some of the signs of that?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: No, I don’t feel that at all. Obviously I kind of came almost straight in here, talked to the guys for a second, but I thought we had a lot of confidence coming into this week, and even the locker room, guys picking each other up. It’s a long season. We’ve got 15 more games. I think our mental space is really good right now, and we’ve just got to keep plugging in and going to work. It’s not based on what happens in the game. Okay, we win the game, so we’re going to have a great week next week, get ready to play the next one, or we lost the game, whatever, we’re not going to try to win the next one. It doesn’t change. We’ve just got to keep going back to work and staying together, and I think we’re doing a good job of that.
Q. Can you describe what you saw on the touchdown to Marvin, how that opened up for you? TREVOR LAWRENCE: Yeah, just a one-on-one match-up on the outside. We felt like going into this game, as much disguise as they did with the secondary, that was one of the spots that we could try to attack was the one-on-ones outside away from the cover two side and kind of just what we were thinking. Marv did a good job holding his grass, gave him a chance, he made the play. That was awesome to see. Got to do more of that, and that’s me, too. I’ve got to be more accurate. We’ve got to make more plays downfield. But yeah.
Q. Was the first drive all the scripted plays you guys went to the game with, and was there just a different level of comfort with those plays going in?
TREVOR LAWRENCE: I mean, I wouldn’t say that. Obviously we felt good about them and we executed them well. I don’t think it really had anything to do with just the fact that those were scripted because a lot of the 3rd downs, I think we had three or four 3rd downs on that first drive and we converted all of them, and those are always — those aren’t scripted, you don’t really script 3rd downs; you’ve got to react. I don’t think it’s really the fact that they were scripted, I just think it’s the level of focus we’ve got to maintain throughout the whole game. Like I said, we’ve got to watch it. I can’t really analyze everything right now until I see it all. Just got to play better.
Q. What did you say to Josh Lambo when you went over to him after he missed the second field goal? TREVOR LAWRENCE: Just keep going, man. It’s going to happen. All of us have made some mistakes. I’ve had quite a few the first two weeks, so just to let him know I had his back. It’s all good; go make the next one. I know as a kicker that’s tough. Everything is kind of on you making that kick. I know how he feels. So just letting him know we’ve got your back no matter what happens good or bad. We’re all in it together.
Q. How difficult is it for you to just process back-to-back losses like this? You haven’t experienced this before in your football life. Do you just attribute it to, hey, people told me the NFL was going to be a tough transition and the growing pains and all that? How are you processing this? TREVOR LAWRENCE: I think I’m processing it as good as you can. Obviously you want to win. Like I said, you work all week to win, and when you don’t, it’s disappointing. I feel like I’m in a good spot. I’m the same person, same mindset. Nothing has changed. Making sure I keep my confidence every week is big, and I think I have that. We’re going to get better. We’re close. Obviously last week and this week doesn’t look great when you look at the numbers, but I really feel like we’re close and we’ve just got to make some more plays and stick together.
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JAGUARS CB SHAQUILL GRIFFIN
Jaguars vs. Broncos
Postgame Media Availability
Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021
Q. This week coming up is going to be a big one for the leaders; now what?
SHAQUILL GRIFFIN: Same mission still applies. We’ve got to stick with it. We’ve got to continue to believe, have faith. The main thing is we can’t point any fingers. We’ve got to make sure we all stick with each other because we’ve still got a long season left. The main thing I don’t want guys to do is start giving up now, you know. The main focus is stay in it, continue to believe. I’ve got to be able to trust you guys on offense, I got to be able to trust everybody on the defense, I got to be able to trust everybody on the special teams that I know you’re going to have my back from first quarter to the end of the fourth. I don’t need no waiver. We might bend but we never break, and that’s the main message. I came in after the game, as soon as we came in the locker room, I went around the whole locker room saying to the ones who had their head down, stay in it, continue to believe, because once it turns around, once it clicks, I need everybody on board. That’s my message going around the locker room, and I’m going to stick by it.
Q. So you sense that this kind of a start can lead to that, so you’re trying to be proactive? SHAQUILL GRIFFIN: Oh, most definitely. I feel like for defense-wise, I felt like we made a huge step from game 1 to game 2 when it comes to communication, getting the call out on time, being able to play fast. The main thing now is let’s get the turnovers and make the plays we need to make. We’ve got to do better with that. We’ve got to start getting the ball more in practice so that it can turn over into the game. I feel like we did better with sticking with our job. Coach Cullen did an amazing job making sure the calls — I feel like his play call was amazing this game. I made sure I told him that right after the game, that was perfect, every situation was great. Now let’s build off of it, let’s continue to build off that, let’s continue to get this defense together. We’ve just got to start getting turnovers, continue to help the offense out.
Q. Was it frustrating to you, you almost had a pick there and kind of — going from the Houston game you also came close to getting one there too?
SHAQUILL GRIFFIN: Yeah, so a tad bit frustrating. I don’t know what happened. When I punch the ball up I try to be gentle, I try to make sure it lays in my hands, and as soon as I hit the ground it just bounced up. And then I had another one — I think the ball is mad at me. I’m going to go grab a football and take it over, lay with it, talk to it, pray with it, figure out something because something isn’t right because usually if it’s going to touch my hands, I’ve got to keep it. But like I said, I’ve got to start doing more in practice, catching the ball in practice, get used to it, so when football is in the air I know they’re mine. That’s something I’ve got to focus on and do better with.
Q. Have you seen the replay of that?
SHAQUILL GRIFFIN: Actually, just seen it maybe a couple seconds ago and it was still frustrating.
Q. What do you have to do to practice catching those balls?
SHAQUILL GRIFFIN: Whatever it takes. They’d better put a mat down or something so when I fall — I’ve got to do something. I’m going to figure it out.
Q. Shaq, throughout the game the defense definitely kept you in it. How do you use that to keep the heads up in the locker room?
SHAQUILL GRIFFIN: The main thing is, like I said, the defense is focus on the defense. If we can do that, you’ve got our quarterback Trevor, understand, we’ve got your back no matter what; do whatever it takes to get the offense together. The receivers, we got your back; do whatever it takes to get this offense going. And the defense, focus on defense. Focus on doing your job. Let’s make the plays we need to make. Let’s work on getting turnovers because we still have room to grow. We still have to get better. Let’s focus on us, focus on us, just the defense. Whatever your job is, be great at that. You can’t be great at your job if you’re figuring out what the offense is doing. That’s not what they got you here for. Focus on your job, focus on what you need to do and let’s get better at it.
Q. What does it do for your job knowing that you pretty much always have either a rookie or second year guy backing you up?
SHAQUILL GRIFFIN: Yeah, you know, I make them feel comfortable. Understand it’s the same game plan. It might be different guys, but you’re here for a reason. We brought you here for a reason, so you must be good, you must be elite. Keep it that way. You’ve got to have that type of respect and confidence for yourself. You’re not here for no reason. My main thing is how can I slow this game down for them. Talk to them. Let them know what could possibly happen. You know, we got a turnover. Okay, you could get possibly a shot, could be a fade; be ready for it. Slow this game down for you now, so my main thing is throughout each play we talk, and every now he’ll walk over and we’ll have a little conversation. Sometimes we might have a conversation about nothing, but it gets you to calm down because in that game when it moves so fast, you’re starting to overthink. You start overthinking, you can’t do that. My main thing is making them feel comfortable because I know how I was my rookie year playing against — playing with Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor. Yeah, I was a nerve wreck. Every now and then you come by, you got this; watch out for this play; if you see this, this might happen. Okay, cool. Then they calm down a little bit. Same thing, same thing that I was taught, doing the same thing here. I walked up to them today, I said, I’m proud of you. A lot of stuff went down, CJ Henderson went down, you stepped up in a big way, but we’re going to need you like that. We’re going to need that. It don’t matter how many plays, how many snaps we take, we’re going to need you. I’m really proud of him, and we’ve got to continue to move forward and get better.
Q. Do you feel like you need to say something to Josh Lambo? Encourage him? How do you deal with that situation with a kicker?
SHAQUILL GRIFFIN: When it comes to encouraging Lambo, he’s just got to understand that he knows — I went up to him today. He knows I’ve got his back. I feel like there’s nothing more that I can say because he knows his job. So it’s no reason for me to be like, oh, man, you — you know your job. You know why you’re here. Whatever you need to do, fix it. I don’t have to yell at you or motivate you to do more. If you want to be great, go be great. Go fix it. It’s nothing more to be said. As a leader I got your back. Prove us right, the reason why we have you here. There’s nothing else to be said. He knows what he needs to do to get better, and he knows what he needs to do to make sure he makes these kicks, so there’s nothing more to be said. He knows I got his back.
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JAGUARS WR MARVIN JONES JR.
Jaguars vs. Broncos
Postgame Media Availability
Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021
Q. After the first drive, the offense didn’t really move the ball much. What changed?
MARVIN JONES Jr.: We just had a lull. We just had lulls. I think it was a common theme after that drive in the second and third quarters. It’s just something that we need to figure out and we have to find that energy and that spark and keep it. So yeah, I think that’s what it was.
Q. When they’re dropping that many DBs back, how much of an issue was it on the opening play just trying to get separation?
MARVIN JONES Jr.: I think we had early success and it impacted the way that they played. I think they changed and started going zone [coverage] instead of going man [coverage]. They did drop them back, but we still have to make our plays. Like I said, last week I feel like we all had a hand in it, and we just need to find a resolution and just keep pushing forward because when we do have those good drives, we’re virtually unstoppable. We just need to be in that mode for four quarters, and I think the outcome is always going to be good.
Q. You described it as a lull in the offense; how did QB Trevor Lawrence handle that lull? MARVIN JONES Jr.: I think he always – one thing that sticks out about Trev [Trevor Lawrence] is he always has that same energy. It’s tough; sometimes it’s unexplainable. We don’t want to be in those situations. But we just have to figure it out. He was even keeled in that first drive, and the same throughout the game, but we have to just find it and get better.
Q. Can you take us through your touchdown catch?
MARVIN JONES Jr.: It was a great throw, a great throw by [Trevor]. He went into the huddle and was like, ‘Let’s get it,’ and we got it. He placed it perfectly, and I did the easy thing and just ran under it and caught it.
Q. When you say “lull,” can you be a little more specific about what you’re talking about? Was it mental, physical?
MARVIN JONES Jr.: Not necessarily mental or physical or anything, because the drive before, boom, we went out in our first –I don’t know how many plays it was, but we went right and scored. It could be a mixture of things, just a penalty, field position where we start, if we back ourselves up a little bit, that always changes the play call, changes mentality and stuff like that. But we have to be an offense that – nothing matters because you’re going to go through the ebbs and flows of the game and we have to be the type of offense that if something bad happens, something is negated, it doesn’t –it’s just water off the back. We have to really tune in and be the offense that we know we are and have some success.
Q. How close do you guys think you are to that?
MARVIN JONES Jr.: I think we’re pretty close. You know, after this game, obviously our defense, they did a good job holding them, and we have to capitalize. But I think we’re very close and I think you can see what we could be as an offense if we do what we did for four quarters. I think we’re really close. We have a good team and I know just even judging off the locker room right now, we believe that we are a very good team, and nobody doubts that in our locker room. So, that’s all that matters, and we have to push forward and go from there.
Q. Building off of that, there were a few times today Trevor and the receivers had miscues, overthrows. Based on your experience, what does the timetable look like for a quarterback and receiver to get to the point where, ‘Okay, I know what he’s about to do here?’
MARVIN JONES Jr.: We’ll get to that point. And that’s the thing, we’re still working through it, and that comes in practice. And that’s not a problem because we have good plays in practice and we just have to keep going. It’s a process. Sometimes it’s a process and we did miss a few between both of us, receivers and him, and that’s something that we go and we correct it, and it’s going to be great once we get it all figured out. But I mean, as you can see, we had some great plays, we had some not-so-great plays. So, that’s not something that I am or anybody else is worried about. We’ll get it done for sure.
DraftScripts by ASAP Sports
BRONCOS HEAD COACH VIC FANGIO
Jaguars vs. Broncos
Postgame Media Availability
Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021
Q. Did you make any adjustments after the first drive, or did you play better?
COACH FANGIO: A little bit of both. Mainly we played better. I called it a little different after that, but not drastically different.
Q. What did you think of WR Courtland Sutton’s performance? I saw you shared a moment. COACH FANGIO: It was great. There’s a lot of big plays in every game, the catch he made in the first drive of the second half there for the big one was critical. I felt they were outplaying us at the ball, both sides of the ball, their DBs against our wideouts and our DBs against their wideouts. We needed to flip that and that was an exclamation point, flipping it.
Q. WR Courtland Sutton looked like he’s not all the way back, then we looked up, he had a career day. Is that part of what you’re watching or what do you see?
COACH FANGIO: No, he’s back. He’s back.
Q. WR Courtland Sutton had one catch last week. Do you feel like that sort of got the rust out even though he was running routes?
COACH FANGIO: Yeah, last week, it wasn’t like we weren’t looking for him or he wasn’t open or anything like that. It’s just the way the plays went last week with the reach for Teddy [Bridgewater] and the play design. I knew he was ready for a big game. I didn’t know if it’d be today or next week or the following week, but I knew he was ready for a big game.
Q. CB Pat Surtain II got his first start, how do you evaluate his first start?
COACH FANGIO: Well, that was a hell of a pick. Not many corners can make that play. At best most of them get a breakup, but he got the breakup and the pick, so that speaks volumes about his ability and the PI. But overall, I think he played well. I wasn’t watching him every play obviously, but we like him.
Q. What do you say about the number of penalties today?
COACH FANGIO: The penalties [were] way out of whack. I think we had ten of them. We emphasize, I think to the point of nauseam, if anything I emphasize it too much. We have to cut those out, especially the ones that are unnecessary: false starts, offsides, post-whistle penalties. Those are just bullshit. We’ve got to eliminate them.
Q. To follow that up, also some inefficiency on third down, but the fact you’re able to overcome those things on the road what does that say about the team?
COACH FANGIO: By no means did we and we’re going to have to play better. But when you’re eventually playing good defense, which we did minus the first drive, and your offense is moving it, and they were moving it, we weren’t getting points every time, but I never felt like we were stymied, that we couldn’t move it, you’ll eventually plow your way through it.
Q. You mentioned false starts, a couple of those on punts and the kickoff return late, what do you say about that?
COACH FANGIO: The kickoff return was disappointing, obviously. From my vantage point which wasn’t a great one looked like we had a chance to tackle them real early and everybody went by right by him. That guy’s a hell of a returner [Jaguars WR Jamal Agnew]. He’s one of the top five returners in the league, but obviously it’s a problem. [It’s] not one that we haven’t addressed. We went out and got some guys, claimed at the final cut down to help us with special teams. We played Josey Jewell on special teams, and he got hurt on a special teams play. So, it’s been addressed. We just need to keep sawing wood at it.
Q. You’re 2-0 coming back home, full capacity for the first time since the pandemic. What do you expect?
COACH FANGIO: I expect an electric stadium, so buckle yourself down. That stadium is going to be alive and well. I mean I think Denver sports fans, particularly the Broncos because they’re the number one passionate team in the city, but even the sports fans of Denver are fantastic. That the Rockies are fifth or sixth in attendance with [the fact that] they haven’t had a chance this season, speaks volumes about the sports fans in Denver. I can’t wait to get there, but I’m going to try to calm myself down and put in a good solid week of work.
Q. QB Teddy Bridgewater was 26 of 34. How impressed are you that he doesn’t panic, see any panic on those plays where protection breaks down or coverage?
COACH FANGIO: That’s a great quality to have at all positions, especially quarterback, especially cornerback, and he has it. It’s just in his DNA. I’d like to tell you that we have coached that into him, but we didn’t. We got it when we signed him and that’s who he is.
Q. Do you think when you made the trade working through the preseason that QB Teddy Bridgewater would having that big a role this early?
COACH FANGIO: I think your quarterback has to have a big role. Name me any successful team where the quarterback’s not playing a big role in it. At this point we’re 2-0, we’ve been successful, and he’s had a big role in it. The days of winning without your quarterback playing a big role, unless you’re just so, so dominating on defense and the kicking game, those years are going to be far and few between.
Q. When RB Javonte Williams has a 16-yard run like that where he breaks multiple tackles, what is it like on the sidelines watching that?
COACH FANGIO: It’s fun. I like watching him play and run the ball. There’s a guy with calmness. He is as calm as Teddy [Bridgewater] is but he’s not the quarterback, so you don’t notice it. He’s playing a position that involves hitting and getting hit and breaking tackles, so it’s not as evident. But this guy for a rookie is really calm and nothing’s too big for him.
Q. After today’s big performance by QB Teddy Bridgewater, do you think that label of him as a game manager, that silly reputation, has been fully shed?
COACH FANGIO: I don’t know. That’s up to you guys. But if he keeps game managing victories, we’ll all love it. He’s just a damn good quarterback and if you just go back in his career, he was the starting quarterback of a playoff team in Minnesota, had the catastrophic injury in practice just dropping back, he basically lost two years to his career because of that injury, ends up in New Orleans as a backup, gets five
wins, pays the entire last year in Carolina, started off very well, now he’s here with us, so he had that big hole in between.
Q. I know you haven’t watched film, but what do you think of the offensive line’s play, especially on the run game?
COACH FANGIO: I had a feeling it was pretty damn good. Couple of the sacks we gave up, I know one for sure, was one of theirs where we were trying a special play and they were in the best defense they could be in for it, which made it extremely hard, and we had a sack that way. But I thought our protection overall was good and I thought our run blocking was solid.
Q. How confident are you that G Graham Glasgow will be cleared to play next week? COACH FANGIO: Pretty confident. I’m not a doctor, but I’ve been led to believe that.
Q. Who received game balls?
COACH FANGIO: Courtland [Sutton], [Pat] Surtain [II] for his first pick, and Kareem Jackson for his 20th pick in his career.
Q. Following up on the Kareem Jackson play that happened right in front of you, what did you that? COACH FANGIO: It was a great play. They tried a special play there. They tried a gadget type play where they’re hiding the tight end through the line, and he breaks out late up the field. He saw it, made the play. I’d like to tell you it was a great call by me, but it wasn’t. He just made a great, great play.
Q. Is OLD Bradley Chubb’s injury on the same ankle he’s been bothered with?
COACH FANGIO: I’m pretty sure of that but I can’t swear to that.
Q. The team is 2-0 going back home, is enough there in terms of third down penalties that guys won’t rest on the good start to the season?
COACH FANGIO: I hope not. I mean ten penalties is way too much for us. Historically, we’ve been one of the lightest penalized defenses in the NFL. Some of them are going to happen but right now we’re having too many of them.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
BRONCOS QB TEDDY BRIDGEWATER
Jaguars vs. Broncos
Postgame Media Availability
Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021
TEDDY BRIDGEWATER: It’s great coming out today, coming away with another victory. Great to be in the locker room right now. Great to be a part of it. Talked about sacrificing, I think we did a great job of doing that today. Came out here a day early. Guys are away from their families. I’m a Florida guy. Couldn’t really see my family while out here.
But we all came together and made a decision it’s about one thing, coming out here and winning. We did a good job of doing that. Of course, when you watch games, you go back, there’s some room for improvement. But the best feeling right now is we played this game to win.
I think we were 2-for-11 on third down. Every week something is going to come up where it’s like, man, you were great in one area, improve in one area. It’s all about finding a way to win.
Kevin did a great job. The defense came away with a couple turnovers. We can’t give up a special teams touchdown. Can’t keep settling for field goals and these drives.
But the feeling in the locker room, don’t want to take it away from the guys. A lot of room for improvement. Great team win. Can’t wait to get back home. 2-0, get to play in front of a packed Denver Broncos stadium. I get to experience it this time playing for the Broncos. I experienced it the year the Broncos won a Super Bowl. I was with the Vikings. I can tell you right now, it’s not a fun sight. Looking forward to that.
Q. Courtland Sutton, a career high today, catches and yards. How impressed were you with it and how good did it feel to get him involved?
TEDDY BRIDGEWATER: It was great seeing Court going out there and making plays. We did a great job just calling shots, giving those guys a chance. And we knew that it was going to be a game where those guys came up to play some man. We did some single-high coverage and we told our guys you’ve got to win the one-on-one battles
That’s all around — up front, offensive line, win the one-on-one battles — wideouts and tight ends and halfbacks, gotta win the one-on-one battles. And Court had a career high today. Great to see that. You talk about Court, how hard he’s worked. The sacrifice he’s made to get back to this point, a Pro Bowl receiver and we saw that today. So hopefully we just keep building, continue to get all those guys going. Each one of those guys coming to make big plays for us. Just keep going.
Q. You got greedy, you could have stayed underneath but you stayed with Courtland. Is that just part of it — we gotta stay with it?
TEDDY BRIDGEWATER: Yeah, our guys just give them a chance. And the one early I overthrew him a little bit. The second one we just missed. And then I just came back and said, man, I’m not going to throw it too far or underthrow it. Gonna give him a chance, put enough air under it. He ran under it, made a great play. That’s what those guys are capable of doing in that room. Today Court got to put it all on display. And next week it will be Tim, KJ, all those guys.
Q. You talked this week about being greedy on offense and getting out to a fast start. You didn’t get out on that fast start. Did you feel you were more greedy on offense today?
TEDDY BRIDGEWATER: Yeah, definitely. I think we got out to a fast start. But not fast enough. If we could have responded with them scoring the touchdown with our own touchdowns, then you could talk about getting off to a better start. I think room for it, but just keep putting an emphasis on starting fast being greedy. And hopefully get out on the first drive … just punch them in.
Q. You talked about being a Florida guy not able to see your family. How much of a drag is it or continue to be where you and everybody else going to work during the pandemic?
TEDDY BRIDGEWATER: It’s definitely a grind still going to work during the pandemic just because you don’t want to be the guy and you don’t want to be selfish and bring in anything within the locker room. So coming down here, we talked to the guys further this week. And K-Jack, he played in Houston. He would always come play at Jacksonville. He mentioned this was the one game when he was in Houston that he would always bus up about 60 people to come to the game. I had about 60 guys who would have liked to come to the game, Simmons, different guys.
And we just came together as a group, and we just said we’re coming here for one reason and that’s to win. We can get back to our families — hopefully our families will understand. If they come to the game and I was able to run over to my mom and toss her the ball after the game, couldn’t touch her or anything.
But it’s a huge sacrifice that we make daily. And it’s good to see that when we sacrifice we get rewarded for it.
Q. Javonte had a third down run where he was like this because he saw —
TEDDY BRIDGEWATER: I bingoed it. I just knew it was a touchdown. We checked into the perfect call. Handed it off, we blocked it well. Got the first down. I thought it was house call.
Q. He had that 16-yard run where he ran through tackles. What kind of momentum does that give the huddle watching him do that?
TEDDY BRIDGEWATER: Ton of momentum. Talking about a guy scrambling, he was scrambling there on that run, breaking tackles, keeping his balance. It was great to see the guys really fed off. You could hear the energy, see the energy on the sideline and it’s contagious.
Q. Nick said he’s as calm as you. Do you sense that in the huddle with him?
TEDDY BRIDGEWATER: Yes, he’s definitely as calm as me. And it’s a little scary, because you’ve got two calm people. You don’t know what’s on their mind. But he’s a guy, comes to work every day. He’s the same guy. He have a bad run, he’s the same guy. Breaks one for 16 yards, he’s still the same guy. That’s what you love to see, a guy who can stay in the middle, not get too high, not too low.
Q. What’s your perspective of Pat Surtain’s interception, from where you were sitting, the play that was kind of to get the ball back —
TEDDY BRIDGEWATER: Pat, that was a crazy play. It was impressive for him to really come down in bounds with it. Made it look like he was a receiver or something. But that’s just the abilities that a lot of these guys on the team have. And all it takes is opportunity, ball in the air, always talk about the ball in the air belonging to the Denver Broncos on offense. Same thing on defense. Ball is in the air, we think it’s our ball. Pat did a great job coming down with the pick stopping their drive. They might have got a penalty on that drive and had a little momentum. But Pat put an end to it.
Q. How much is the most comfortable you’ve felt during your career? You’ve been to Pro Bowl, you led the Vikings to the playoffs and the Saints to a 5-0 record. Watching you out there, you’re in full control. Is this the most control you’ve felt in your NFL career?
TEDDY BRIDGEWATER: That’s a good question. I just wake up every morning and I appreciate the opportunity to go to work every day with that group of men in that locker room. And all I want to do is give them my best. And me at my best is being comfortable. I’m comfortable around these guys. It’s a group of men who want to win. A group of men who work hard. Tough circumstances. And I’m glad to be a part of it. This organization, we appreciate just the way the players run. Should we be rewarded — not rewarded but we get Ruth’s Chris catered to the hotel last night. It’s great to see they’re investing in their players and guys take notice of it. We just come together and come together for one common goal and that’s to win.
Q. How much does it help the balance of the offense to be able to pass successfully out of three tight end packages but then also run the ball well when you go through one?
TEDDY BRIDGEWATER: Helps a lot. Keeps teams off balance. You protect yourself, play calling-wise. You can hide tendencies, things like that. I think the group that we have, the tight ends, running backs, receivers, offensive line, everyone understands that everyone is a valuable part of this offense. Everyone is an asset. As long as everyone keeps that mindset, it’s a recipe for success. Just gotta continue to work at it every day, continue to get better.
Q. The touchdown to Tim on that crossing route, what about the design for Pat that allowed him to break through like that?
TEDDY BRIDGEWATER: It was a great design. Talked about motioning Tim over. We got a good tail on the motion. We knew that it would be some traffic for them to have to go through if we ran Tim back across the field. Just great play calling. Guys did a great job of executing, getting spaced up. Tim scored a touchdown and did a celebration in honor of Jerry.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
BRONCOS TE NOAH FANT
Jaguars vs. Broncos
Postgame Media Availability
Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021
Q. Take us through the touchdown, how the play developed and you breaking the tackle? NOAH FANT: Yeah, I was just a little out, 5-yard out route. Caught it and was able to break the tackle, get into the end zone. Hopefully can have more of those through the season.
Q. Breakthrough game for Courtland. How cool is it to see him do those Sutton-type things? NOAH FANT: It was great. I told him after the game I was super happy for him. Good to see him back in form. Nobody doubted that he was. But he got in a groove today and it was good to see. So everybody is super happy for them. And hopefully he can keep that up.
Q. Doing a lot of things right as an offense, but how and where do you think this unit can get even better in the coming weeks?
NOAH FANT: Eliminating the dead drives. We had a couple of drives that were important that we either stalled out or had to punt or whatever it may be. So eliminating those drives and just constantly trying to get points especially in crucial parts of the game. I think that’s where we can take another step and really put daggers in teams late in the game with scoring drives.
Q. You guys ran a lot of three tight end stuff in the first half. What do you like about that personnel group in terms of the matchup you can personally get?
NOAH FANT: It’s great. Good to have tight ends on the field. Doesn’t really present any different of a matchup, kind of, because a lot of times teams present a safety or somebody against me. Some teams try to match a linebacker up on me. But at the end of the day, we’ve still got three receivers, receivers out there that can catch the ball, make plays, can do big things. It’s always good having those guys out there, Erik and Albert, to help and to do good things. It also makes it easier to run out of that personnel also. Line guys up tight and get going.
Q. What’s it going to be like going home, not only that, but 2-0 in front of that crowd, going to be almost a calendar month since you played there?
NOAH FANT: It’s going to be great. We’re excited as a team. Obviously we’re improvement-driven. We think we can be a lot better. But we’re excited to go back home. Excited to put on a show for the fans and you’ve got the Jets coming that are a good team and excited to play against them. So we will see everybody when we get there.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
BRONCOS S KAREEM JACKSON
Jaguars vs. Broncos
Postgame Media Availability
Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021
Q. Kareem, after the first drive, what were the key adjustments made?
KAREEM JACKSON: Just to get off on third down, I think we had maybe two or three third downs there. I think it was third and short. Another third down, they hit the tight end on the seven route. Just to communicate, get off on third down. We felt like, not that — with that first drive we didn’t execute. Moving forward, I think we did a better job executing and everybody just communicating and getting off on third down.
Q. What did you see on your pick, Vic [Fangio] said it was a gadget play, something you saw? KAREEM JACKSON: So, we called the tight end high play. Just everybody kind of went left to boot and saw the tight end. Kind of gave me a chance to get back into play. I’m not sure who he was pumping to but gave me a chance to get back in play and kind saw it and was able to make a play. So, it’s always huge if anybody can make a play, get extra possessions to the offense. Offense did a great job today moving the ball, racked up a ton of yards. Put points up. Kept us off the field. And at the end just kind of keeping us off the field. Teddy [Bridgewater] had tremendous command on the offense. And those guys did a great job today.
Q. What about Pat’s [Patrick Surtain II] interception, how impressed were you by him in his first start today?
KAREEM JACKSON: It was huge. Pat played some hell of good ball today. Tried to communicate with him. Told him to play to his strengths. There’s a reason why he’s here. There’s a reason why he went, I think, 9 overall. So from his first day here, I’ve always been impressed with what he’s been able to do. Taking in our defense and playing in multiple spots, for him to come in today and play the way he played, definitely impressed by it. Not surprised. For me, myself I definitely hold him to a high standard. He’s been able to exceed that every day, day in, day out. And he played some hell of good ball today and looking forward to seeing what he can do the rest of the year.
Q. What kind of confidence does this team have?
KAREEM JACKSON: We’re a confident group. Definitely want to start the year off the way we started it. Everybody wants to be 2-0. But for us it’s all about practicing that way day in, day out. One foot in front of the other. We’ve got to be able to go out throughout the week and practice the way we want to play. As a group and all three phases, I think we’re playing some pretty good ball. We’ve just got to continue to be consistent.
Q. Teddy said you and Justin [Simmons] talked about you don’t — as much as you like to bring family up, be around people, you made a decision you can’t risk that; is that part of the maturity of this group you guys set an example as leaders?
KAREEM JACKSON: We came a day early. We talked amongst the players. Definitely had to make some sacrifices being here. I think New Orleans came the week before. They had a few positive tests. Just like you said, the maturity of this group. As a group, we have goals in mind. And for us to be able to accomplish those goals, we have to make sacrifices. And I think we did a great job of that as a team this week.
Everybody making those sacrifices to stay in, not see family, because at the end of the day it’s a business trip. We came here with one goal in mind. We were able to accomplish that. So definitely proud of this group for the way we handled it coming here and move on to the next week.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
BRONCOS OLB VON MILLER
Jaguars vs. Broncos
Postgame Media Availability
Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021
Q. How’d it go?
VON MILLER: Great team win today. Teddy [Bridgewater] and the offense were on fire. Courtland Sutton, Courtland is back. Yeah, everybody played well – Javonte, Melvin [Gordon II], offensive line blocked solid. Defense, other than that first drive, we settled down and we were able to play well. Pat Surtain got his first pick today. I told y’all, I love that guy. And the way he caught it, too, ugh, [he] got the knee in. [He] probably could have played receiver, too. Kareem [Jackson] had his 20th interception today. It was a solid day, a solid day for everybody.
Q. You’ve been through Courtland’s injury and come back. What does that first breakthrough game feel like?
VON MILLER: It feels amazing. You’re reassured in the offseason and you’re reassured during OTAs and training camp, but there’s nothing like having success in the game, for the mental. Mentally, you can say ‘I’m back, I can do it.’ So, we all know he can do it. For him, I’m sure, having success on game day goes a long way.
Q. We don’t know the extent of the injury yet, but how much does it stink seeing OLB Bradley Chubb go down?
VON MILLER: Yeah, it sucks, man. Bradley, he’s been doing everything he can possibly do to play. Probably if it was anybody else you’d probably—if No. 55 was anybody else other than Bradley Chubb, he probably would have sat out this game. Chubb has been doing everything he can possibly do to come back. It’s a really, really tough injury. To see him get to a point where he’s comfortable enough to play, and then he gets hurt, it’s tough. We have to go back to the drawing board and see what we can do to get him help.
Q. What was the biggest difference after that first drive, you guys really bottled Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence?
VON MILLER: You know how it is in the NFL, it’s just—those guys are a great team, really. They’re full of talent. [They’re] going to make plays, we’ve just got to respond. We’ve got to respond and push through adversity and that’s what we did.
Q. Today you had ten penalties, you give up a special teams touchdown, and you still win by double digits?
VON MILLER: Ten penalties? I contributed to that.
Q. You had one. Is that a sign of the growth of the team, that you can overcome, especially on the road and starting with the quarterback?
VON MILLER: It’s so early to jump to conclusions. I know we’ve got a tough squad in there. We got some tough, hard-nosed coaches. And I think it really bleeds out on our team and the personnel that we have. And we just keep on fighting, we just keep on fighting no matter what adversity that we’re presented with. We got the win today. We’re just going to keep on pushing to see what we can do next week.
Q. How much a part of that is QB Teddy Bridgewater? Where it just feels like the game is –it feels like it’s control with him.
VON MILLER: You all are watching the same game that we watch. You see the poise, he really doesn’t get flustered. He’s always aware of the situation, he’s always aware of what he needs to do and he does it. We just want to keep doing it. We’re following Teddy, he’s our leader. And he’s leading the offense. We had 391 yards worth of offense. It was an incredible day and Teddy did an incredible job.
Q. No CB Ronald Darby, no ILB Josey Jewell, no OLB Bradley Chubb after halftime. How much did your depth come to show today?
VON MILLER: Honestly, it was tough. [General Manager] George Paton has done an incredible job of building this roster up. And every single player we’ve got on the team has a purpose and they have George Paton’s touch on it. It’s always good to have corners. Pat Surtain had his first start today. His first start, [he] had an interception. It was a great day. George has been doing a great job of building this team up and it showed what type of depth that we have.
Q. Did ILB Justin Strnad handle the calls when he came in?
VON MILLER: No, it was still A.J. [Johnson], it was still A.J. But [Justin] Strnad is capable of it too. We’re all excited to see Strnad play as well. He’s done an incredible job, working back from injuries well. And for him to get some playing time and some game reps was good.
Q. It’s been a while since you’ve been in Mile High as a player for a regular season game. It’s been a while since all the fans have been back. How cool will it be for you?
VON MILLER: It’s going to be cool. It’s going to be cool. We love Broncos country, Broncos country loves us. It’s going to be great arriving there 2-0. I know the fans can appreciate that. We’re just going to keep trying to ride the wave. Doesn’t really matter who we’re playing against, we’re playing against ourselves. If we can play our best ball, I feel comfortable with our odds in any game. We’ve got a great squad, we’ve got great fans. It’ll be good to get back in Mile High and play in front of those guys. I know it’s going to be rocking and I’m looking forward to it.
Q. How much does life change when you’re actually playing with the league defensively and you get fresh with these long ball control drives with the offense?
VON MILLER: It’s great. It’s great. You really don’t try to put too much into it. You don’t really try to hang your hat on—the offense is going to go in there and do it. You just want to wait for your time to get out there whether it’s a punt, a kick, a field goal, whatever. We just want to go out there and do our part, play solid defense. We did that today. We had two interceptions and a sack. It feels great, great team ball. It feels pretty good.
Q. When they flipped you to Bradley Chubb’s side, are you just as comfortable or do you have to [adjust]?
VON MILLER: I’m comfortable on both sides. It’s just me, I’ve played both sides throughout my career. I had sacks on both sides. I’ve had success on both sides. I like to give them a different look. I don’t like for them to always say he’s going to be on the left side or he’s going to be on the right side. Even if it’s just a couple of plays over there, or it’s a couple plays on the left, I just try to mix it up. I can play both sides. I just want to give them a different look. It felt to me that they were running the ball more to the right side. I wanted to get over there and kind of throw a wrench in there. It probably didn’t do much from their point of view. But I just still wanted to get a look. I can play both sides and whatever I’m called to do.
Q. It’s only two games into the season, but the offense and defense is running on all cylinders. You dominated on time of possession again today. Do you feel like this is the best Broncos squad since the Super Bowl team?
VON MILLER: This is a great team that we’re able to field. We want to keep going. Really just getting behind comments like that and starting to believe stuff like that, it’s going to take us out of our rhythm. We’ve been fighting hard to get to this point. We’ve been fighting hard. We’ve overcame so many losing situations. I don’t remember the last time we’ve been 2-0. We just want to keep pushing. It’s not really about who we’re playing against, it’s not really about what type of game. We started out 7-3 starting the game, and we just kept pushing. You could see the fight in all the guys. You could see the fight in all the coaches. They continue to be aggressive and calling all types of plays, and we just kept fighting. It’s a different team for sure. I’ve been saying that since OTAs. It’s a very different team. I’m excited to see what we’re going to do and we just want to keep pushing. We have a Jets team coming in here, a great rookie quarterback., he’s super sharp. Here’s Pat Surtain right here.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
BRONCOS CB PAT SURTAIN II
Jaguars vs. Broncos
Postgame Media Availability
Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021
Q. Take us through the interception.
PAT SURTAIN: I was off and I sort of read the quarterback. I opened up and made the play, a 50/50 ball. And we needed it.
Q. You said this week that you were approaching it like a normal week. Anything surprise you from your first start, or were you pretty comfortable out there?
PAT SURTAIN: I was pretty comfortable. They ran some double moves early on that that I could fix, just fix my eyes on some of the plays. But other than that, I think we prepared throughout the week. I prepared well. Showed it in the game.
Q. No points allowed from the defense after that first drive. What was the key to bottling them up? PAT SURTAIN: The main key was focusing our eyes, make sure our eyes were good. Flying around to the ball. Getting pressure. Making plays on the ball. That was our key thing going on going into the second half.
Q. Did you think they were pushing you a little bit given it was your first start? Did you think they would come at you a little bit?
PAT SURTAIN: Yes, definitely. Going out there, my first start. I was expecting that going into the game. They were going to try me early. I just had to make up for it.
Q. To get a game ball after your first start, what does that mean?
PAT SURTAIN: It means a great thing, just going out there, doing what I need to do for the team, making plays out there. It was a tremendous feeling.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
BRONCOS WR COURTLAND SUTTON
Jaguars vs. Broncos
Postgame Media Availability
Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021
Q. Vic [Fangio] and Von [Miller] said he’s back. Did it feel that way today?
COURTLAND SUTTON: You get into a rhythm. You kind of just take each play as it comes to you. And that’s the stats and everything, they take care of themselves, at the end of the day if you go out there take each play as it comes to you, my Coach always says each play has a life of its own. If you have that mentality, that mindset, at the end of the day you look up and the stat like I said the stats will take care of themselves.
Q. Frustrating start, you got held once, interfered once, no calls?
COURTLAND SUTTON: Oh no. You’ve got to play through it. If they call it, they call it. If they don’t, it is what it is. It’s not like I can go out there and yell at the ref and then they will throw the flag two plays later. It is what it is. You take the game as it comes to you. And the ball finds you in crazy ways throughout the game. And you can’t dwell on the things that happened in the past. You go to snap clear and keep it moving.
Q. I’m sure you probably know this, but tomorrow marks the one year anniversary of your injury last season. Can you kind of reflect on this last year and what it means to have a game like this? COURTLAND SUTTON: Man, you know, to even just be able to go out and practice is a blessing. I thank God every day that I’m in the position I am in right now because there’s a lot of hard work that went into it. And a lot of support staff from the trainers, my family, my friends. I’ve had a lot of people in my corner supporting me throughout the whole process. And to be able to go out there and compete in games, it’s just a blessing. I take each play as opportunity to go be me and just grateful.
Q. Two big plays you had. Could you talk about the first one, 33-yarder where Teddy [Bridgewater] stepped up in the pocket, kind of feather-touch passed to you, was that a scramble on your part? COURTLAND SUTTON: No, it’s Teddy being Teddy. Teddy finding a way to get the ball to us. No play is dead until they blow the whistle. Especially with Teddy, he always finds a way to get the ball to somebody down the field. And us as pass catchers, it’s upon us to give him a target to throw the ball. It’s just happy that he found me.
Q. And that 55-yarder, the deep one, is that the one where —
COURTLAND SUTTON: Oh, yeah, we needed that one. I feel like my mindset whenever the ball goes in the air, this opportunity — Teddy’s giving me an opportunity to go make a play for the offense for the team and when the ball’s in the air, we don’t get too many plays in a game. It’s not like where we get 80, 90 snaps. You get opportunities and you’ve got to make the most of them as they come to you in the game.
So, I appreciate Teddy giving me the opportunity to go make that play. Just continuing to build on that.
Q. Von was talking about how happy he was to see you out there. Noah [Fant] was talking about it. You get a game ball; what does it mean to get all that support?
COURTLAND SUTTON: It’s amazing. When your peers see the hard work that you put in. Von isn’t unfamiliar to hard work and the rehab process. He went through the same thing pretty much what I was going through last year, the hard work to be able to get back. It’s fun to watch him be able to go out there have the success he’s having. He’s Von Miller. He’s still out there being him, making plays. It’s fun to watch. And I’m grateful for my teammates. They’re some of the ones who push me, continue to push me as we have been to practices, going into the game, just having confidence and faith in me that I can go out there and be who I am and play at a high level.
Q. What do you expect to see at Empower Field next week 2-0 with a crowd that hasn’t been able to be in that place?
COURTLAND SUTTON: 75,000, that’s the — 80,000. 80. 80 is the max. Whatever the capacity is, I’m going to say about a thousand over the capacity, and I’m just excited that we’re bringing a 2-0 start to Empower Field. Broncos Country is going to be loud. I already know — I don’t expect anything less. One of the best places to play ball in. And I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be a lot of fun. I hope Bronco country shows up and shows out.
Q. Two full games with Teddy, what have you learned about him since the preseason? COURTLAND SUTTON: I’ll say no play is dead. Teddy is going to find a way to get the ball to us. He’s going to find a way to go out there, put us in position to go be successful. Just sitting out there watching him, he’ll change a play, we’ll be, like, we’ve never practiced that. But he’s sees something we might not see, to have a vet like that who sees the game at a different level than anybody else, you know, it’s exciting. It brings juice to us because we know that he’s always going to make sure we’re in the position to go have success.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
