Analysis: Courtland Sutton’s return-to-form game is career-best and helps Broncos move to 2-0

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — If Broncos receiver Courtland Sutton has the kind of career he and those around him anticipate, there will be longer catches and bigger wins and more game balls.

But Sunday might always stand out because it may be the start of something.

The start of Sutton returning to No. 1 pass-catcher status.

The start of him assembling another Pro Bowl season.

And the start of him showing management he merits a long-term contract.

In the Broncos’ 23-13 win Sunday over Jacksonville, Sutton — after only one catch in the season opener at the New York Giants — set career highs in catches (nine) and yards (159), including receptions of 33 and 55 yards that led to touchdowns.

“He’s back,” coach Vic Fangio said.

And right in time.

The Broncos won’t have receiver Jerry Jeudy for another 3-5 weeks after his high ankle sprain sustained last week, so they needed Sutton to assert himself. Request granted and challenge accepted.

“My coaches always say, ‘Each play has a life of its own,’ and if you have that mindset, you’ll look up at the end of the day and the stats will take care of themselves,” Sutton said.

The stats were terrific; his previous high yardage game was 120 in the 2019 opener at Oakland and his high-reception game was seven in the same loss to the Raiders.

Sutton’s two splash plays were needed as the Broncos fell behind 7-0 and committed multiple careless penalties. But the defense adjusted and flummoxed Trevor Lawrence (114 yards passing and two interceptions), moving Fangio’s record against rookie quarterbacks to 19-9.

The Broncos are 2-0 for the first time in three years, erasing the stench of the last two awful Septembers (combined 0-7).

They have scored 50 points in Weeks 1-2, confirming the faith general manager George Paton had this offseason in the young group of skill-position players.

And they have allowed only three touchdowns in wins over the Giants and Jaguars, proof that using so many resources on defense has paid an immediate dividend.

Yes, before you say it, we know the Giants are chasing their collective tail in the NFC East and the Jaguars have lost 17 consecutive games dating back to last year.

But so what? The Broncos have played the schedule assigned to them by the NFL and conducted their East Coast business like any potentially good team does … by posting two double-digit wins.

“By no means did we play (perfectly) and we’re going to have to play better,” Fangio said. “But eventually, when you play good defense, which we did minus the first drive, and your offense is moving it … you’ll eventually plow your way through it.”

If the Broncos can plow their way through the New York Jets in next week’s home opener, then things will get really exciting.

Simply put, beating the Giants was fine, but they couldn’t afford to erase it by losing to Jacksonville.

The Jaguars hung tough early, leading 7-3 late in the first half. But then Sutton went to work.

On third-and-6 from his 24, Sutton kept the drive alive with a 16-yard catch. Two plays later came his first big strike.

Sutton ran a crossing route and as quarterback Teddy Bridgewater extended the play, Sutton turned up the field to create separation from safety Rayshawn Jenkins for a 33-yard gain.

“Teddy being Teddy and finding a way to get the football to (me),” Sutton said. “No play is dead until they blow the whistle.”

The Broncos took the lead for good three plays later when receiver Tim Patrick was completely uncovered for a 12-yard touchdown.

Leading 10-7 to start the second half, Sutton helped put the game away. On second down from the Broncos’ 28, Sutton simply ran by cornerback Chris Claybooks on a post route that gained 55 when Bridgewater dropped the pass into his hands.

“We needed that one,” Sutton said. “My mindset when the ball is in the air, ‘Teddy is giving me an opportunity to make a play for the offense and for the team.’ We don’t get too many plays in a game — this isn’t like college with 80-90 snaps — so you need make the most out of them.”

The Broncos made it 17-7 two plays later on tight end Noah Fant’s 14-yard touchdown.

From there, all systems, except for the mostly dreadful special teams, were in cruise control. But minus Jeudy, the return of Sutton being Sutton was the main takeaway from the win.

Outside linebacker Von Miller, a veteran of an ACL recovery, said it felt “amazing” to see Sutton play so well.

“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 you mentally to say, ‘I’m back and I can do it,’” Miller said. “For him, having success on game day goes a long way.”

Road warriors

The Broncos are 2-0 for the 27th time in franchise history, with 12 of those teams going on to reach the postseason. This is just the fourth time, however, that the Broncos have begun a season with back-to-back road wins. Here’s a look at how the previous three fared:

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