In Week 4, Jacksonville travels to Denver to face the Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High at 4:25 p.m. EDT. The game will be broadcast regionally on CBS, locally on WJAX-47. Here are notable stats and quotes surrounding Sunday's matchup:
Like a Fine Wine:DLCalais Campbellearned AFC Defensive Player of the Week after posting 3.0 sacks against the Titans in Week 3. On Thursday Night Football, Campbell became the only player 33-or-older to post at least 3.0 sacks in a single game over the last three seasons and his 28.0 sacks with the Jaguars (2017-19) are the third-most during that span. The four-time Pro Bowler is from Aurora, Colo. and graduated from Denver South High School. Campbell and his CRC Foundation announced their new charitable initiative prior to the season, Calais' Season of Giving, a fundraising campaign based on Calais' on-field performance with an opportunity for fans to play along. In advance of this week's game, Campbell and his CRC Foundation are donating $20,000 to local Denver charities, including $5,000 each to the Beckwourth Outdoor Education, the Denver Police Athletic League, the Hiawatha Davis Rec Center and the Rose Andom Center.
Quotable:"Playing in Denver is always special for me because it means I get to play in front of the city that helped mold me into the man I am today. When I decided to make 2019 my 'Season of Giving' it only made sense to include Denver charities that either impacted me directly or are doing great work to serve those in need. I get to live my dream of playing in the NFL and when I step onto the field Sunday to play the Broncos, I'll be reminded that I couldn't have done it alone. I was one of many young people who relied on Denver-based community after-school and sports programs and this is just simply my way of saying thank you." – DL Calais Campbell
Immediate Impact:The Jaguars rookie class has played 863 total snaps in 2019, the second most in the NFL (Miami, 931). Additionally, Jacksonville's 2019 draft class has started 11 games: DE Josh Allen(three), OL Jawaan Taylor(three), LB Quincy Williams(three) and QB Gardner Minshew II(two).Rookie free agent S Andrew Wingardhas competed on defense and special teams for the Jaguars and will be making a return close to home as his high school (Ralston Valley in Arvada, Colo.) is fewer than 15 miles from Empower Field at Mile High. Wingard is the only rookie free agent on the active 53-man roster who participated in Jacksonville's 2019 training camp.
Quotable:"I think it's great [when our rookies contribute], especially in these big games. They are all big games, but sometimes when the lights are on and you are the only show on, it's big. It started right off the bat with Andrew [Wingard] running down the field and creating that turnover … It's good. I think it's a great deal of energy when there are a lot of guys making plays around and people are sharing in that. I think it helps your football team. I think when you are relying on one, two or three guys, then obviously you are putting a lot of stock in that. Our young guys are coming around. I really love the draft class that we had this past year. I think they are doing a heck of a job contributing, which sometimes is not easy and obviously the more they contribute, the better off, we will be." – Head Coach Doug Marrone
Elite Company:Through the first three weeks of the season, three NFL players have thrown for at least 200 yards with a passer rating of at least 95.0 in each of their first three games: Jaguars QB Gardner Minshew II, 2018 NFL MVP QB Patrick Mahomesand 2017 NFL MVP QB Tom Brady. Minshew is one of four rookie QBs to see game action this season, joining Cardinals QB Kyler Murray(first overall), Giants QBDaniel Jones(sixth overall) and Patriots QB Jarrett Stidham(fourth round, 133rd overall). Minshew leads all rookies in completion percentage (73.9), passing TDs (five) and passer rating (110.6).
Quotable:"The kid has a lot of self-confidence. He has a lot of great demeanor, meaning he shows real good energy. If he does something well, you'll see him pump his fists on the field, but by the time he comes over to the sideline, he's moved on, he's ready to go. 'Hey, I have to do this better. Hey, this happened on the fourth play of that series. Hey, did you guys see this the way I saw it?' He's really good at communicating, and I think he's really good at preparing himself and I think that he's really good at making sure that there are no surprises out there for him. And that's just a guy that has a maniacal work ethic." – Head Coach Doug Marrone
Sacksonville:Through the first three weeks of the season, the Jaguars are tied for the NFL lead with 13.0 sacks and their 9.0 sacks against the Titans were the most in a single game by any team in 2019. DL Calais Campbellled the way with 3.0 sacks, while DE Josh Allenand DE Dawuane Smooteach recorded 2.0 sacks a piece. On Sunday, the Jaguars look to capitalize against a Broncos offense that has allowed 11.0 sacks this season.
Quotable:"Only thing I can say [about our defensive line] is elite greatness. I don't even want to talk about myself. I'm talking about my guys, Calais [Campbell], Abry [Jones], Josh Allen just dogs all around the defensive line. I don't feel like we have any starters, I feel like our whole defensive line are starters and everybody can fill in and come in and make plays … Sacksonville's back baby! It's back." – DE Yannick Ngakoue
A blast from the past:On Sunday, the Jaguars returns to the site of one of the team's most legendary victories in franchise history: a 30-27 win against the Broncos in a 1996 AFC Divisional playoff game. The win was one of the biggest postseason upsets in NFL history as the Broncos were at home and considered Super Bowl favorites. Denver initially jumped out to a 12-0 lead, but Jacksonville scored 20 unanswered points, highlighted by a 31-yard TD pass from QB Mark Brunellto former WR and current WRs Coach Keenan McCardellto put the Jaguars ahead 20-12. WR Jimmy Smithalso caught a touchdown for the Jaguars and Jacksonville advanced to the AFC Championship game for the first time in franchise history.
Quotable:"They (the Broncos) were dead-set on being Super Bowl champions. They felt like they had a great team. We felt a little discredited. We had veterans, guys who had played in some big games, some rivalry games. We had veterans who were like, 'Don't worry about it. Relax. Let's go. Just keep playing football.' We didn't get rattled; I guess it was because we weren't supposed to be there." – WRs Coach Keenan McCardell
Every week during the 2019 season, Jaguars Public Relations Assistant David Wolf will write five key stats with supporting quotes about the Jaguars' upcoming game. A Chapel Hill, N.C. native, Wolf joined the Jacksonville Jaguars in May 2018.
