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…
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.
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.