DENVER, Colo. – Senior writer John Oehser examines five key plays from 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

1. P-Dub … again. Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington has repeatedly turned in big plays at big moments this season. He did it again Sunday, giving the Jaguars momentum and setting up a critical third-quarter touchdown. The Jaguars, leading by a touchdown midway through the quarter, took possession at their 20 after a Denver punt, and drove 80 yards on 4 plays for a double-digit lead. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence capped the drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass – his third of the game – to running back Travis Etienne Jr. for a 31-17 Jaguars lead with 3:56 remaining in the quarter. The key play came when Lawrence on third-and-3 from the Jaguars 27 threw to the right sideline for Washington, who broke a tackle and sprinted down the sideline for a 63-yard gain to the Broncos 10 one before Etienne's touchdown. Washington caught 6 passes for 145 yards Sunday, with 87 yards coming on 2 receptions on which he broke tackles and turned short passes into long gains. "It's awesome, just the way it opens up the offense for us," Lawrence said. "It's hard against a really good defense and a really good pass rush. The coverage is sticky and they do a good job. So when guys can take short passes for 20, 30, 40, 50 yards it just blows it open for us as an offense. Obviously, Parker had a great day. Not surprised. He has made some huge plays."

2. Another answer. The Jaguars maintained the lead and momentum through much of the first three quarters, continually responding to the Broncos' positive moments. They did this to regain the lead after a Broncos third-quarter touchdown, driving 75 yards on 9 plays midway through the third quarter. Lawrence capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run a play after a pass interference penalty on Broncos nickel corner Jahdae Barron defending Washington gave the Jaguars first-and-goal at the 1. Lawrence's touchdown gave the Jaguars a 24-17 lead with 7:44 remaining in the third quarter. "We made plays when we needed to," Lawrence said.

3. Locking it down. The Jaguars took a 34-17 lead early in the fourth quarter, then spent the rest of the game draining clock and protecting the lead. Key moments: Holding the Broncos to a field goal on a possession inside the 10-yard-line early in the fourth quarter, then cornerback Jarrian Jones intercepting Broncos quarterback Bo Nix on fourth-and-2 from the Jaguars 42 with 8:08 remaining. When the Jaguars forced Nix to throw incomplete on fourth-and-11 from the Jaguars 45 – one play after a sack by rookie defensive end B.J. Green II – just before the 2-minute warning, the Jaguars had navigated a fourth-quarter lead in a tough, road environment to win a sixth consecutive game. "Our guys did a great job just digging in," Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen said of the defense.

4.That's Strange. The Jaguars didn't move consistently early Sunday. What they did was score touchdowns on their extended drives, which they did midway through the second quarter when they drove 59 yards on 8 plays to take their second lead of the game. Tight end Brenton Strange was key on this drive, with his diving 3-yard touchdown reception from Lawrence – his second touchdown pass of the game – giving the Jaguars a 14-10 lead with 4:33 remaining in the first half. Key plays on the drive: A 35-yard kickoff return by running back DeeJay Dallas, a 23-yard pass from Lawrence to Strange for first down at the Broncos 26 and a 24-yard run by Etienne Jr. for first-and-goal at the 3. This was the first of five consecutive Jaguars scoring drives that turned a 10-7 second-quarter deficit into a 34-17 fourth-quarter lead. "It was, I thought, a great job of the offense bouncing back after a slow start," Lawrence said.

5a. Getting going. Neither team scored early in the first quarter. The Jaguars changed that with a big-time drive capped by a big-time play late in the period. After Broncos kicker Will Lutz missed from 44 yards to end the game's first extended drive, the Jaguars got their first first down on their third possession and capped it by taking a lead. The Jaguars drove 66 yards on 10 plays on the possession, with Lawrence capping the drive with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Washington for a 7-0 Jaguars lead with :07 remaining in the first quarter. Key plays on the drive: A 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on Broncos safety P.J. Locke that gave the Jaguars first-and-10 at the Broncos 29 and a 7-yard scramble by Lawrence for a first down at the Broncos 18. "I'm very proud of the resilience," Coen said of Lawrence. "They kind of gloved some of our concepts. He was under some pressure and he never flinched. He never got out of his comfort zone."

5b. Doink. The Jaguars started slowly offensively Sunday, failing to gain a first down while allowing a sack on each of their first two possessions. They withstood the slow start thanks to a gritty defense – and an early break. Denver, after failing to produce a first down on its first possession, drove into Jaguars territory on its second – and drive that stalled at the Jaguars 26. The Broncos missed a chance to take the early lead when Lutz's 44-yard field goal bounced off the right upright and back into the end zone, preserving a 0-0 tie with 5:11 remaining in the first quarter. The Jaguars drove for their first points on the ensuing possession.