Broncos are bracing for physical contest

ENGLEWOOD • Football is a contact sport, and some teams relish that contact more than others.

Games against the Jacksonville Jaguars are guaranteed to be tough and physical. The Denver Broncos found that out last year when the Jaguars ran 47 times for 186 yards in a 23-14 win at Invesco Field at Mile High.

"They manhandled us last year," coach Mike Shanahan said.

Linebacker Boss Bailey knows he'll have plenty of black-and-blue marks come Monday after this Sunday's game against Jacksonville. He's looking forward to it.

"Absolutely, you have to love that," Bailey said. "That's what football is all about. If you don't like the contact, don't like the physical part of the game, you don't belong in it. Kick the ball or something."

Jacksonville is nasty on both sides of the ball. The defense consistently ranks well against the run, although this year it's slipped to 15th in the NFL in run defense. Even against the pass, they bring some toughness.

"They are going to get after you," quarterback Jay Cutler said. "They are going to press you and get in your face. They blitz a lot and when they play zone, their front four are still getting pressure."

Offensively, they like to pound the ball with their running back tandem of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. The team's grinding style results in a lot of close games.

Jacksonville's five games have been decided by an average of 4.2 points, with all five decided by no more than a touchdown. The Jaguars assume they'll be in a battle every week.

"Every game for us is going to be a dogfight," Taylor said. "We know it. That's just the way we're built. Just to slug it and grind it out for 60 minutes. We take pride in that."

The Broncos realize what kind of game they're in for but said preparation isn't any different against such a physical team.

They do think they're better off for this type of game than last year, especially after a hard-fought 16-13 win over the Buccaneers last weekend.

"All offseason we talked about being more physical in the run game and I think it paid off (against Tampa Bay)," cornerback Dre Bly said. "Nobody's been giving us a chance defensively, but we believe in ourselves."

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