DENVER, Colo. – Senior writer John Oehser, senior correspondent Brian Sexton and team reporter Kainani Stevens offer quick thoughts on the Jaguars’ 34-20 victory over the Denver Broncos in a 2025 Week 16 game at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colo., Sunday

John Oehser, Jaguars Senior Writer…

1. Respect or not … whatever. Who knows if this game will earn the Jaguars the respect they crave? Another thought: Who cares? The Jaguars have been good all season and they showed that in Denver Sunday in stunningly convincing fashion, outplaying a very good Broncos team that entered the game on an 11-game winning streak and holding the AFC's top seed with a12-2 record. The Jaguars took control in the first half, steadily held that momentum and then pulled away in the third quarter before managing their way professionally and calmly through the fourth quarter. This was the franchise's first December game involving two teams 6 or more games over .500 since 1999 – and the Jaguars didn't just handle the situation, they dominated it. This team has had multiple convincing, significant victories this season. At San Francisco. At home against the Los Angeles Chargers and Indianapolis Colts. But this was the most impressive because of the circumstances and the performance. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence said afterward he hopes the Jaguars continue not getting respect, and Head Coach Liam Coen put the issue in perspective following game saying, "We don't care. We really don't care about the narrative. I'm sorry to say that, but it's only helping us. I want the narrative to keep coming." Forget respect. This team is a Super Bowl contender. Period. Get used to it.
2. For realer and realer and realer. Get used to this, too: The Jaguars have a big-time quarterback, one capable of being considered one of the NFL's best. That might have drawn eye roles before Sunday to those not paying attention, but anyone watching Sunday saw Lawrence not having the game of his career but simply having yet another front-line performance in a big situation. Lawrence on Sunday threw 3 touchdowns and ran for another. He has thrown 12 touchdowns with no interceptions and ran for 2 more in the last 4 games. He has thrown 26 touchdowns and ran for 7 more with 11 interceptions this season – and after 16 games, he seems completely comfortable in Coen's offense. It was easy to dismiss Lawrence as a front-line quarterback for a long, long time. He's dismissable no more. The Jaguars as good as any team in the NFL and Lawrence is a major reason. Get used to it.

Brian Sexton, Senior Correspondent…

1. Lawrence was the "truth" in Denver against one of the best defenses he has faced this season. He managed the Broncos' early energy, the three and outs, the quick sacks which would have rattled him a season ago. But he absorbed those hits – and a few others – and let that energy fuel him instead. Once the Broncos took a 10-7 lead, Lawrence took over – leading 5 consecutive scoring drives and taking it to the NFL's best red-zone defense. He stood tall in the pocket, threw incredibly accurate passes, protected the ball and answered the bell with 34 points – the most this season against the Denver defense. This game wasn't as statistically impressive for Lawrence as last week's 6-touchdown performance in a victory over the New York Jets, but it was his best win because it was at Empower Field at Mile High against the best defense in the AFC, the loudest crowd in the NFL and 5,280 feet of altitude with the entire NFL wondering if he and these Jaguars were for real. He is and they are – and at 11-4 riding their longest single-season regular-season winning streak since 1999, they're in really good position to prove it again in January.
2. The Jaguars defense wasn't as stout as the Broncos, but they were more opportunistic. They added a fumble recovery and an interception to push their AFC-leading takeaway total to 28 and they trail only the Bears who lead the NFL with 31. They don't rush the passer like the Broncos, but they come up with timely stops like the fourth quarter red-zone stand when they forced Denver to kick a field goal to hold a 14-point lead – and their final drive when rookie defensive end B.J. Green II chased Broncos quarterback Bo Nix out of bounds to set up fourth-down and the Jags' defense held. The Broncos, who were billed as the Comeback Kids behind Nix, couldn't come from behind on this defense. The Jaguars gave up a lot of yards but not a lot of points, and that's the true measure of a defense. They aren't the equal of the top defenses in the NFL, but their record is – and that's what matters most.

Kainani Stevens, Jaguars Team Reporter/Producer...

1. They did it the hard way. The Jaguars had a few obvious keys to victory entering Sunday's game. Establishing the run, getting after Nix and keeping Lawrence free from Denver's juggernaut pass rush. Well, the Jags struggled in almost all those categories but still found a way to win. Jacksonville averaged only 3 yards per carry, and the team ran for just 81 yards. The Jaguars defense did successfully pressure Nix at times, but only recorded 1 sack when Nix went out of bounds behind the line of scrimmage. Lawrence was under pressure all day but rose to the occasion. He was sacked five times and hit 14 times while battling through for the win on the road. Jacksonville didn't follow the script and perhaps that's what makes this team special. Finding a way at any cost.
2. Home sweet home. The atmosphere at Empower Field at Mile High is the epitome of a home-field advantage. The sold-out crowd consisted of a sea of orange as far as the eye could see. The crowd noise affected several key plays in the game and forced the Jaguars' offense to utilize silent counts at the line of scrimmage. Fans stomping their feet had the press box shaking. No doubt the loudest road environment the Jags have experienced this season. Sunday felt like a playoff game a preview of what we can expect come playoffs.