It isn't official yet, but the Jacksonville Jaguars are, in all likelihood, headed to the playoffs... and they may even have a shot at making a run to the Super Bowl. They are currently sitting on top of the AFC South, and though the Houston Texans are hot on their heels, their schedule is a lot tougher than the Jaguars' remaining games.
Meanwhile, the Jags face the Indianapolis Colts and the Tennessee Titans in their final two games of the regular season. While both are divisional matchups and could have major repercussions, both the Colts and Titans should present easy wins for the Jaguars. The Colts could put up more of a fight, but ultimately, they're too injured and embattled to slow Jacksonville down too much.
That leaves the Jaguars' next game, in which they will take on the Denver Broncos. This will be their most difficult game left, with the Broncos currently holding the No. 1 seed in the AFC. They have the best record in the NFL heading into Week 16, but the Jaguars are on a hot streak and could put up more of a fight than expected. And knowing that...
Three bold predictions for a playoff-caliber Jaguars vs. Broncos showdown
Most analysts are predicting that the Broncos will win Sunday, though a few are saying Jacksonville will pull off the upset. And that would have huge repercussions for Denver; after all, it isn't just the Jaguars looking to cement their postseason status.
And fans will remember all too well how the Jaguars have shocked the NFL with an upset at Mile High Stadium before. It's all too possible that the same could happen again, and the Jaguars could be catapulted into the No. 1 seed, especially if some of these predictions come true.
Trevor Lawrence will emerge as an MVP candidate after throwing 4 TDs vs. the Broncos
Lawrence started off the season a little bit rough, but once he and head coach Liam Coen got into a groove together, he exploded. He just had his best-ever game against the New York Jets, becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to notch five passing touchdowns, one rushing touchdown, and more than 50 rushing yards all in the same game.
Of course, the Broncos will pose a bigger threat than the Jets did, but Lawrence has been on a hot streak; he didn't have one randomly good game against a weak team. The Jaguars' offensive line has been giving him great protection, and with the addition of Jakobi Meyers, he has some fantastic targets to work with now, too. Speaking of Meyers...
Jakobi Meyers celebrates new deal with his first 100-yard game and 2 TDs
In a move that fans will undoubtedly celebrate, the Jaguars extended Meyers' contract before the season ended, meaning he'll remain in Jacksonville until at least 2028. It took just a couple of games for Meyers and Lawrence to build great chemistry together, and that will almost certainly pay off against Denver.
The Broncos have a good pass rush defense but not the best, and it's not as good as the Los Angeles Chargers, who, by the way, the Jaguars destroyed earlier this season. Meyers has a good chance at getting the best of the Broncos Sunday, further solidifying the fact that the Jaguars were right to spend the money keeping him here.
Jaguars defense shut down the Broncos' run game
Denver is on an 11-game winning streak, and their run game is a big part of it. In fact, it's a major part of their offense, which is understandable, considering how inconsistent Bo Nix can be. But there's a teensy, weensy problem with that: the Jaguars have the best run defense in the NFL. And any good NFL fan knows that a good defense always beats a good offense.
Without being able to rely on the run, the Broncos offense will likely collapse. By forcing Denver to rely more on the pass — and therefore, on Nix' unreliable arm — Jacksonville will be able to hand the Broncos their first loss in a long time.
The Jaguars don't just have the best run defense in the league; they also have a pass rush that's getting better every week. Shutting down the Broncos' run game will cripple their overall offense, handing the Jags their sixth win in a row, and potentially, the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.