Game On: Jaguars Roll Broncos at Mile High

The Jacksonville Jaguars took care of business in Denver with a double-digit victory over the No. 1 seed Broncos. With the win Jacksonville tightened its grip on the AFC race, while reminding the league this team travels just fine. Liam Coen’s offense shined with Parker Washington playing the role of Broncos executioner throughout the matchup. Here’s everything you need to know from Jacksonville’s Week 16 34-20 road victory over the Denver Broncos.

Live blog:

Catch up on all the big plays and best moments from tonight’s game in our live blog!

Pregame Notes:

The Jaguars entered week 16 reasonably healthy at the starter level, with the primary injuries of note being running back Bhayshul Tuten inactive due to his finger injury. Additionally, defensive lineman Danny Striggow was also inactive after suffering an ankle injury against the New York Jets. Additionally, offensive lineman Chuma Edoga, defensive tackle Maason Smith, and tight end Hunter Long were all healthy scratches with the team deciding to go with Austin Johnson and Matt Dickerson over Smith. For the Broncos, the biggest injury considerations entering the matchup was the Broncos placing safety Brandon Jones on IR with a pec injury suffered against Green Bay. Denver also saw a return of starting left guard Ben Powers, who’s was previously on IR since October with a biceps injury. Emergency quarterback Sam Ehlinger, running back Cody Schrader, cornerback Reese Taylor, linebacker Justin Strnad, offensive tackle Geron Christian, defensive tackle Jordan Jackson, and defensive end Sai’vion Jones.

Additionally, the following Jacksonville players left Sunday’s game due to injury:

• RG Patrick Mekari (back)
• CB Greg Newsome (shoulder) – returned
• CB Montaric Brown – returned
• CB Jourdan Lewis (TBD)

1st Half

Both offenses kicked the day off with quick punts following three-and-outs from both defenses. Following a second consecutive three-and-out by the Jacksonville offense, the Denver offense strung together an 11-play, 61-play drive, assisted by a close fourth down conversion which was unsuccessfully challenged by Liam Coen. However, Denver kicker Will Lutz missed the field goal, doinking it off the right upright. Jacksonville, with great field position, worked their way down the field via a Broncos 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty, a 21-yard Parker Washington scramble drill reception from Lawrence.

The 10-play, 66-yard drive was capped by an incredible, 12-yard Washington contested catch for Trevor Lawrence’s 30th touchdown of 2025. (Jaguars 7, Broncos 0)

The Denver offense immediately answered with a touchdown drive of their own, a 5-play, 65-yard, 2:21, with three of the five snaps being explosive plays (33, 12, and 15-yards). Broncos WR Courtland Sutton beat CB Jourdan Lewis for the slot-fade touchdown, using the space to run away from the coverage in the endzone to tie the game. (Jaguars 7, Broncos 7)

The Jaguars’ early offensive struggles continued with the team going backwards on two of the following three snaps, punting back to Denver on fourth-and-26. Anthony Campanilie’s unit held Denver to a 54-yard field goal after giving up a 26-yard catch on the opening drive snap to Broncos WR Marvin Mims. (Jaguars 7, Broncos 10)

With Patrick Mekari in the locker room with a back injury, Walker Little entered the game at right guard, with Cole Van-Lanen remaining at left tackle. Like a heavy-weight boxing match, Jacksonville returned the challenge with an 8-play, 59-yard, 4:37 touchdown drive to regain the lead with a 35-yard kick return from newly signed RB DeeJay Dallas and a 23-yard catch and run by Brenton Strange.

Travis Etienne began to get going on the ground with a 24-yard rush, with the drive capped by a Strange 3-yard touchdown. (Jaguars 14, Broncos 10)

The Jacksonville defense was helped by two wildly inaccurate throws by Bo Nix, forcing a punt quick punt with just under two-minutes remaining in the half. The Jakobi Meyers, Trevor Lawrence connection began to heat up with the two connecting for 35-yards on two receptions on the 9-play, 58-yard field goal drive to wrap up the first half. (Jaguars 17, Broncos 10)

QB Trevor Lawrence was 13/21 for 130-yards (6.2 YPA), 2 touchdowns, no turnovers, and was sacked three times for 14-yards (111.2 passer rating) at the half. Bo Nix was 11/17 for 153-yards (9.0 YPA), and one touchdown, zero sacks and no turnovers for a 113.1 passer rating. Travis Etienne led Jacksonville running backs with 6 carries for 24-yards (4.0 YPC) and a long of 24-yards.

Halftime Stats:

• Score: Jaguars 17, Broncos 10
• First downs: Jaguars 11, Broncos 9
• Time of possession: Jaguars 16:40, Broncos 13:20
• Sacks: Jaguars 3 for 14-yards, Broncos 0
• Turnovers forced: N/A
• Rushing yards: Jaguars 41, Broncos 52
• Yards per rush: Jaguars 3.7, Broncos 4.7
• Passing yards: Jaguars 116, Broncos 153
• Passing yards per attempt: Jaguars 4.8, Broncos 9.0
• Redzone: Jaguars 2-2 (100%), Broncos 1-1 (100%)
• Penalties: Jaguars 0, Broncos 3 for 25-yards
• Points off turnovers: N/A

2nd Half

The Broncos offense began the half with a quick, 4-play, 73-yard touchdown drive after the Jacksonville secondary struggled to complete the tackle on Broncos RB RJ Harvey’s 38-yard touchdown rush. CB Montaric Brown, S Andrew Wingard, and CB Jarrian Jones all failed to get the back down. (Jaguars 17, Broncos 17)

Jacksonville benefited from an early roughing the passer penalty on third down, extending the drive. Parker Washington converted the following third-down with a 20-yard reception to enter scoring range.

Following an end zone pass interference on Denver, Lawrence completed the drive, running it in from the one-yard line to take back the lead. (Jaguars 24, Broncos 17)

The Jacksonville defense, following an inspired pep talk from Anthony Campanile, forced another Broncos punt to give the ball right back to the hot Jaguars’ offense, who immediately made the Broncos pay courtesy of Parker Washington (again). Washington split the Denver defenders on third down to turn a five yard catch into a 63-yard explosive gain, setting Jacksonville up to extend the lead.

On the following play, Etienne extended Jacksonville’s third-quarter lead to 14. (Jaguars 31, Broncos 17)

Emmanuel Ogbah recovered a second down, Bo Nix fumble on the following drive with the Denver quarterback losing control during his run-pass-option, attempting to pull the ball away from his running back.

Following the turnover, both teams traded field goals, with the lead remaining at 14. (Jaguars 34, Broncos 20)

Jacksonville went three-and-out on the next series. However, Jarrian Jones gave it right back to the offense with a fourth down interception with the Broncos in scoring range.

The Jacksonville offense punted it back to Denver after elapsing 3:54 of game clock on the six-play drive. The Jacksonville defense, down both Montaric Brown and Jourdan Lewis, forced the turnover on downs to effectively end the matchup. Following an Etienne 11-yard rush to convert the first down at the two-minute warning, the domination in Denver was complete.

Best highlight:

Montaric Brown recovering to make a play on the ball during a trick play was everything you love to see. Defensive backs will all get beat. But hit recovery and continuing to fight through the whistle was commendable here.

Biggest play(s) of the game:

According to rbsdm.com, the biggest play of the game by Expected Points Added (EPA) was Emannuel Ogbah’s third quarter recovery of a Bo Nix fumble (-5.6 EPA).

Per rbsdm.com, the biggest play of the game by Win Probability was Parker Washington’s third quarter 63-yard catch and run (12% win probability increase).

Battle of the QBs:

Key stats (traditional):

• QB Trevor Lawrence: 23/36 for 279-yards (7.8 YPA), 3 TDs, no turnovers, and a 115.4 passer rating
• WR Parker Washington: 6 catches for 145-yards (24.2 YPR), 1 TD, and a long of 63-yards on 10 targets
• RB Travis Etienne: 16-carries for 50-yards (3.1 YPC) with a long of 24-yards (4 catches for 16-yards and 1 TD)
• CB Jarrian Jones: 2 tackles (both solo), an interception, and a sideline Saquon Barley hurdle
• DL BJ Green: 3 tackles (2 solo), 1 sack, 1 TFL
• CB Montaric Brown: 4 tackles (3 solo), 2 passes defensed, one huge fourth quarter hit on Pat Bryant (Duval Pat)

View the full box score here

Game balls:

• Special Teams: RB DeeJay Dallas: 33.3 average kick return with a long of 35 after recently being signed
• Defense: Anthony Campanile (the entire defense earned this one)
• Offense: WR Parker Washington: 6 catches for 145-yards (24.2 YPR), 1 TD, and a long of 63-yards on 10 targets

Full highlights:

• You can watch the top plays of the Week 16 matchup on the NFL’s YouTube channel here.

Post-game notables:

1. This Jacksonville squad is for real

This 2025 Jaguars team simply feels different. There’s not quite another way to say it. Early on in the matchup it seemed that Jacksonville might struggle offensively, with both defenses somewhat making things difficult for Nix and Lawrence. However, as soon as Lawrence, and Nix for that matter, began to find the favorable matchups, the offensive explosion began. Trevor Lawrence was, again, as sharp as we’ve seen him in his career. And despite the running game struggling for much of the day, the offense put up 34-points – despite scoring just 3-points off turnovers.

2. The turnovers continue for Campanile’s nit

The Jacksonville defense again forced multiple turnovers on Sunday, with an Emmanuel Ogbah fumble recovery and a Jarrian Jones fourth quarter interception. While they finished the day with just one-sack for 8-yards (courtesy of BJ Green), in a big time playoff atmosphere, Campanile’s unit came ready to play. Two turnovers, the Broncos rushing game ending with 101-yards on the ground, and Bo Nix finishing with an 81.2 passer rating on 47 passing attempts.

3. Parker Washington’s big day

With Patrick Surtain and Riley Moss limiting Brian Thomas Jr and Jakobi Meyers to 4 catches for 45-yards and 2 catches for 18-yards, Washington exploded on Sunday, often beating Denver’s man coverage for additional yards after the catch to the tune of 145-yards and a whopping 24.2 yards per reception. Liam Coen’s offense again put up a season high-point total against a stout defensive unit – achieving season highs against the Texans (29), Colts (36), Jets (48), and the second-most against the Chargers (35).

With a Monday Night football Indianapolis Colts loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the Jaguars could clinch a playoff birth. Additionally, with Sunday’s victory, the door remains open for Jacksonville to potentially clinch the AFC No. 2 or No. 1 seeds, with one loss from Denver and New England.

What are your thoughts from tonight’s game, Jaguars fans? Who surprised you most or disappointed you with their play tonight? Let us know in the comments.