JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …

Nick from London

This is a very good team that has got hot and healthy at just the right time, while other teams are picking up brutal injuries. There's no reason for the Jags not to be in the Super Bowl conversation for the first time since Myles Jack. That being the case, can we all agree this talk of the Houston loss being the best thing that has happened to the team is utter nonsense? With a 2-1 finish (not guaranteed, but the most likely outcome from here), that loss could be the difference between the No. 1 and the Nos. 5 or 6 seed. A huge difference.

This is an understandable sentiment as the AFC South-leading Jaguars (10-4) prepare to play the AFC West-leading Denver Broncos (12-2) at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colo., Sunday – a game that indeed would be even more important to the AFC standings had the Jaguars not squandered a 19-point fourth-quarter lead in a 36-29 loss to the Houston Texans in Week 10. And the Jaguars absolutely would be in a far more comfortable position for the AFC South title had they made a play or two more in the fourth quarter that day in Houston. At the same time, Jaguars players and coaches have said numerous times since that that game has resonated in terms of motivation and lessons learned. They have said this enough that it's fair to call the loss a turning point. My thought is they might have learned the same lesson had they kicked a field goal at the end of the game to win, but I digress. Either way, the NFL is a week-to-week league. You can't control the past and there's no real way to know how the past affects the future. The Jaguars control their destiny for the AFC South title with three weeks remaining. If they keep winning they will win the division. That's what they control.

Josh from Atlanta, GA

This is why you play the games. Before the season, most would look at the schedule and see this Denver game as a potential matchup of two teams fighting for a playoff game, with the loser out the hunt. What do we have now? The next and most important game of the season, that just so happens to have Top 3 AFC seeding ramifications. This is more along the lines of Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams games, with an incredible defensive line leading the league in sacks. We are much better than we played in those games, but do you see sacks being a major problem again this week?

The Broncos are a good enough pass-rushing team and emphasize it enough that I expect they will pressure Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence at times Sunday. If the Jaguars can get the Broncos blocked, I expect there will be opportunities in the passing game. If the Jaguars can run effectively and stay in positive down-and-distance situations, I expect they can protect Lawrence enough for the offense to be effective. If the Jaguars are throwing a lot on third and really long, I expect Sunday could be a really long day for the good guys.

Joel from Jacksonville Beach, FL

Is the league scared?

Of what?

Derek from Melbourne, FL

Why is no one talking about the fact that Trevor Lawrence has more total touchdowns this season than MVP candidate Drake Maye?

I assume part of this is because people spent much of the season thinking Lawrence was bad and New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was good. Maye indeed is good. So is Lawrence. If Lawrence keeps playing as he has the past few games, "people" will talk about him soon enough.

James from Socorro, NM

In the playoffs, do you think it's better to play a more difficult opponent at home, or an easier opponent on the road?

There are no easy playoff opponents in the NFL. If you're a good, well-prepared team you can go on the road and win in the postseason.

D.J from Jacksonville

Big O, Deejay Dallas is my Godson and since he was a kid I told him that he would be a Jaguar someday. Does this make me a prophet?

Running back Deejay Dallas signed with the Jaguars this week. A 6-year NFL veteran, he played high school at Glynn County in nearby Brunswick, Ga., and indeed grew up a Jaguars fan. His excitement at signing with the Jaguars was real – and cool to see. I don't know if any of this makes you a prophet. It does make this a damned good story.

Scott from Daytona Beach, FL

Just curious to what Shad got you for Christmas. Hopefully not coal.

What's "Christmas?"

Brian from ROUND ROCK, TX

Ryan O says TL's low point is his 3-TD comeback victory after his 4 turnovers. That sounds like a high point to me. But, hey, more ammo from the local geniuses.

There were certainly some low points for Lawrence in a 27-24 overtime victory over the Arizona Cardinals, but what Lawrence did late in that game undoubtedly was a high point.

Kat from Augusta, GA

We have a really awesome EVP that would be well-equipped to tell the team a story about this one time, in 1996, when the Jags played the Broncos in Denver. That's a pretty cool story.

It's a cool story, though I'm not sure it applies all that directly here. The 1996 Jaguars were a "Cinderella" story that came out of nowhere and upset a powerful Broncos team that had been the AFC's best all season. But while current Jaguars Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli played for that '96 team, this isn't the same situation. The Jaguars were underdogs and deservedly so in '96. This Jaguars team has won five consecutive games and have been good all season. They don't need to enter any game feeling as if they're underdogs.

Kyle from Ingalls, IN and the mean streets of Arlington

For the younger fans, Dan Marino's retirement party was January 15, 2000, when the Jags beat the Dolphins 62-7, and ended up being Marino's last game. Trevor has given us older fans that same type of feeling lately. This week we will see highlights of one of the greatest scrambles of all time. Those off us who have been with this team from the beginning remember that feeling of then-Jaguars quarterback Brunell breaking Bronco hearts almost 30 years ago. And that's what I mean when I say Mark Brunell good. Do you think Woody Hayes has any bulletin board material for us this week?

Longtime Ohio State football coach Woody Hayes died in 1987.

Donut from Saint Johns, FL

Normally in December, Jaguars fans are thinking about the draft, so in that vein ... seems like General Manager James Gladstone will have a good number of compensatory picks in the 2027 draft if they aren't able to re-sign everyone. If he does turn out to be good at drafting, those extra third-rounders (or wherever) will be highly valuable. Does this accurately represent the position the Jags are currently in or do you foresee them adding through free agency to offset the potential picks?

I expect the Jaguars to be quite active in unrestricted free agency next offseason, potentially active enough to offset their losses when calculating the formula for compensatory selections the following offseason.

Gary from High Springs

I don't know if this has already been asked. But what happens if we lose this Bronco game and end up tying Houston at season end?

If the Jaguars lose to the Broncos and end the season tied with the Houston Texans at 12-5, the Texans will win the AFC South.

Richard from Jacksonville

There seemed to be an uptick in the vertical passing game last week. It started with "let it rip" and Lawrence has responded. Moving forward, hopefully into the playoffs, do you expect more balance or does this game represent what LC wants out of his offense?

I expect Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen to emphasize whatever makes sense given the opponent and given how the game plays out.

Alex from Formerly St. Augustine

Can you tell us about Bhaysul's injury and how it may affect the offense? We signed DeeJay Dallas, who is not a deejay and not from Dallas, as a possible patch. Do you anticipate a bigger load on Etienne? Maybe LeQuint will take the reps that Bhaysul had before?

Jaguars rookie running back/kickoff returner Bhayshul Tuten sustained a finger injury in a victory over the New York Jets Sunday. He reportedly underwent surgery this week and will miss multiple games. The Jaguars signed Dallas because he can be a reserve running back and because he can return kickoffs. I expect Etienne's workload could increase a bit, but rookie LeQuint Allen has shown he is – while not as fast as Tuten – a very capable option.

Keith from Saint Augustine

Trevor Lawrence? Naysayers … crickets chirp. How sweet it is!

It is kind of quiet.