JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Ed from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
All I want for Christmas is a repeat of the 1997 "Ambush at Mile High." Merry Christmas, O.
The AFC South-leading Jaguars (10-4) play the AFC West-leading Denver Broncos (12-2) at Empower Field at Mile High Sunday – and while it's unquestionably a big game for multiple good reasons, this is not the same vibe as the 1996 AFC Divisional Playoff game following the 1997 season in which the wild-card Jaguars upset the No. 1-seeded Broncos in Denver. That '96 Jaguars team emerged from "nowhere" late in the season and were legitimately considered long shots to win against a power team. The Jaguars' victory therefore was stunning when it happened. This year's Jaguars have been good all season, have never been below .500 and have beaten a slew of good teams. They lead their own division. This is a game between two good teams. One team will win. If it's the Jaguars, it won't be stunning. And yes … Merry Krimma.
Chris from Mandarin
The top 4 receivers have all had receptions of 25-plus yards in the last 3 games. That's pretty crazy.
The Jaguars' receivers have been perhaps the most remarkable story on a team with many remarkable stories. The receiver group essentially has been overhauled completely since Week 1, with the foursome of Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers, Brian Thomas Jr. and Tim Patrick – all of whom indeed have had 25-yard-plus receptions in recent weeks – all proving very reliable and trusted options for quarterback Trevor Lawrence. What was a weak, struggling area in September is a strength in December and the Jaguars gave an indication of the future direction of the position by extending Meyers' contract for three seasons Friday. A player not on the team in October is now part of the core. Remarkable and important stuff.
Scott from Yulee
I have followed the Jags since I moved to Florida several years ago. I am super excited about their accomplishments this year, I am hopeful we can take care of Denver on Sunday. I think our chances of winning have a lot to do with how our offensive line does in protecting Trevor and giving him time to throw. We failed in that regard when we played the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks. This game will probably go a long way in determining if we win the division. I do believe that we can go far in the playoffs if we can beat Denver. Go Jags!
Scott is ready for some football. He's not alone.
Mark from Jacksonville
Why do teams mostly run the ball when their backup quarterback plays mop-up duty of a blowout game? Why not give the backup quarterback the opportunity to throw the ball? What if Trevor, for instance, gets injured in a game? Wouldn't live in-game experience be helpful for the backup?
Teams run when the backup quarterback plays in "mop-up" time because they're trying to run clock – and because even though they're well ahead, they don't want to give the opponent any more opportunities than necessary. And because backup quarterbacks are professional football players. Any benefit they get from a pass or two in a blowout victory is comparatively minimal.
Brian from Round Rock, TX
Are we going to hear whining about heart attacks, stress and cardiac cats on Monday after a Jags win on Sunday?
Fans fan. It's what they do.
Brandon from Denver, CO
Last time I went to a Jaguars game at Mile High was 2021 and we won with "Stash" Minshew. Hopefully I can go 2-0 going to games here as Jaguars fan. What will be the key takeaways for the Jaguars to win this game against a resilient Broncos team?
Containing Broncos quarterback Bo Nix in the pocket and not letting him extend plays. Slowing a Broncos pass rush. Running effectively. Intercepting passes when the opportunity is there. Letting it rip.
Steven from Nocatee, FL
Exciting weekend coming up. I know it is premature, but do you think it is possible we cut Walker Little after the season is over? What are the cap benefits/ramifications if we do? If Cole Van Lanen keeps playing the way he is, we may want to re-sign him at left tackle.
I do not expect the Jaguars to release left tackle Walker Little after the season.
Travis from High Springs
I recently read an article that was predicting what the contracts for this year's NFL free agents should look like. It had Travis ETN signing a 3-year contract for $6.5 million per year. Do you believe ETN's future contract could be somewhere in that ballpark? I assumed it would take more than that to sign him.
I also assume it will take more than $6.5 million a season to re-sign Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr.
Paul from St. Augustine, FL
This business of playing meaningful football games in December is MUCH more enjoyable than talking about the draft before the season's over. The Jaguars should do this more often; it's fun!
Winning is cool. Fans like it.
JK from NY & Fernandina Beach, FL
John. Can you believe the Jags are sitting in first place in the AFC South less than 2 weeks before Christmas? What an amazing year so far! In February, on the brand new EVPodcast (excellent hoodies by the way), Tony Boselli set the following new Standard by which all future seasons would be judged: "We are going to be a championship organization. That is the standard. The standard is to go win the division, win the conference, and win the Super Bowl." This has been the season of several "biggest game of the year," but the Broncos game truly is the biggest so far. What would it mean to the Jacksonville Jaguars to go into the Mile High City and come back with a win? Go Jags!
It would mean they would remain in first place in the AFC South and that they would still have a chance to be the No. 1 seed in the AFC. It also probably would mean people observing this league would observe the Jaguars a little more accurately than they have been observing them to date.
Crash from Glen Saint Mary
Obi Wan! My Trevor Lawrence autographed rookie card is starting to look pretty good right now. Do you think the gunslinger has a couple of Super Bowl trophies in that arm?
Perhaps.
Sean from Oakleaf, FL
Travis Etienne J.r will be 27 in January, a few years away from the running back cliff that most fall off of around 30 years old. Etienne missed his entire rookie season with a Lisfranc injury - do you see that as making him just 26 in "football" years?
Perhaps.
Mark from Jacksonville
You didn't really answer James from Socorro, NM's question. I will be more specific - Wild Card weekend, would you rather play at Pittsburgh or host the Bills?
I never assume a team in the postseason isn't good. If you've won your way there, you're good and NFL history tells us no playoff game is easy. If you're good enough to win the Super Bowl, you can beat the other teams trying to do the same thing. If you can't, you don't deserve to win anyway. I want to play at home.
Alex from Duval
After these past few games I feel like Jakobi Meyers is the best intermediate receiver we've had since Keenan McCardell.
He's up there.
Chiana from Munich
Hey, Pen of the Jags, do you remember a year where both conferences felt so wide open? I could see 10 teams winning the Super Bowl (5 per conference) This is great for the game in my opinion. Do you have a similar opinion?
It's a cool change of pace, though dynasties and power teas are also good for the game, too. They provide meaningful storylines and give fans a team to love and hate – and hate can generate as much interest as love. But too much of anything can be too much. This season is cool. Fans seem to like it.
Matt from Jacksonville
Hey, John. I missed the last four games. Have the Jags finally come to their senses and pulled the plug on the Trevor Lawrence experiment?
Matt's got jokes.
Chris from Mandarin
How much of at all do you think that Liam Coen being closer in age than coaches traditionally have been over the history of the NFL has contributed to his credibility with the players in the locker room? It seems like maybe that helps the group connect with him better than if someone like Pete Carroll was coaching the team now.
Jaguars Head Coach Coen being closer in age to players probably doesn't hurt his ability to connect, but people reach people because they're the type of people that reach people. Being close in age isn't a must.
P Funk from Murray Hill
Since everyone else affiliated with the NFL has one nowadays, what is the Jaguars.com senior writer's "superpower"?
Compassion for his fellow man.
