Jaguars just pulled off a rare feat in Week 16 NFL Power Rankings

After a midseason slump, the Jacksonville Jaguars are surging. They've won five in a row and appear to be a lock to qualify for the postseason. Moreover, the Jags have a realistic chance to dethrone the Houston Texans as the AFC South champions.

Simply put, Jacksonville is playing its best football of the season, and analysts (except for Richard Sherman) have been quick to acknowledge it. Similarly, its recent success is reflected in the NFL Power Rankings following the dominant win over the New York Jets.

Jaguars move all the way up to No. 5 in a Week 16 NFL Power Ranking

The Jaguars began to move up into the top 10 of several power rankings after beating the Tennessee Titans, and their rise has continued after Week 15.

After the trouncing of the Jets, Mike Florio of Pro Football Focus placed the Jags at No. 6 in his ranking, noting that a win over the Denver Broncos will get them all the respect they deserve. Similarly, Eric Edholm of NFL Media gave them the seventh spot, arguing that their victory over the Jets was their finest one of the season. Here's the skinny.

"The Jaguars have ripped off five straight wins, and they did so emphatically on Sunday by building a 31-10 halftime lead and continuing to pour it on in the second half against the helpless Jets," Edholm wrote. " Trevor Lawrence engineered his finest statistical outing ever, accounting for six touchdowns himself and leading only three empty drives all game."

Edholm goes on to say that Lawrence has picked up steam just like he did in 2022, adding that the Broncos game could be a preview of the playoffs in January.

"This coming Sunday's matchup against an even hotter Broncos team should provide Jacksonville the kind of playoff-caliber matchup it needs, and these two teams could meet again in January, for all we know."

But wait, there's more. Pete Prisco of CBS Sports gave the Jaguars their highest spot in rankings this week, placing them in the top 5. Like Florio and Edholm, he believes the Denver game will give them a chance to prove they're for real.

"They have won five straight games as Trevor Lawrence is playing the best football of his career. They face a big one this week at Denver."

The Broncos are the toughest opponent remaining on Jacksonville's schedule this season. After Week 16, Liam Coen's squad has games against the Indianapolis Colts and the Tennessee Titans.

Related: The Jags' clinching scenario for a playoff berth is clear as day

A win over the Broncos will turn the Jaguars into a legitimate contender

The Broncos hold the first seed in the AFC. That's why this is such an important matchup for the Jaguars. After all, they have had convincing wins against their good teams, such as the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Chargers. However, Jacksonville also lost to both the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams.

Granted, both losses came before the BYE, and the Jags have played much better since then. That's why the Broncos game will give them a chance to solidify their place as one of the top teams in the NFL. Sure, they could still make the playoffs even with a loss, but they would pave the way for the Texans to seize the division.

Ultimately, the Jaguars control the narrative and their destiny. It will be up to them to rise to the challenge when they face Denver. If they come out on top, they leave Mile High with a victory, chatter about a deep playoff run won't seem far-fetched.