Both rosters are still built to win now. Payton signed an extension and has made no secret he's chasing a Super Bowl after Denver's run to the AFC title game, while Jacksonville's coming off a 13-4 season that ended one win short of a deep playoff push. This is two good teams checking in on where they stand three weeks into the year.
The Jaguars swept last year's series, and the December meeting wasn't close — Jacksonville put up 34 in Denver and never really let the Broncos back in it. That loss came in the middle of an 8-game win streak that carried Coen's team to the AFC South title, and it's the kind of result that sticks with a home crowd until they get a shot to answer it.
Brian Thomas Jr. is the swing piece for Jacksonville. His numbers cratered in year two — nearly 600 fewer receiving yards than his rookie season — and fixing that connection with Lawrence has been the offseason's biggest storyline in Duval. On the other side, Pat Surtain II just got a raise for a reason: he's the guy tasked with taking away whichever Jaguars receiver is clicking that week.
J.K. Dobbins is back in Denver and says he wants to be the league's top back, which matters more with Harvey's availability uncertain into camp. If both backs are healthy by September, that backfield gives Nix a run game to lean on while his ankle gets tested in live snaps for the first time since the injury.