The Denver Broncos are preparing to host the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High on Sunday. Both teams are leading their divisions, with the Broncos holding a 12-2 record and the Jaguars at 10-4. The outcome of this game could be significant for playoff seeding in the AFC.
A win for Denver, combined with a loss by the Chargers, would secure the AFC West title for the Broncos. There is also a possibility that Denver could clinch the No. 1 seed depending on other league results.
Head Coach Sean Payton spoke about Jacksonville’s strengths: “They’re doing a lot of things really well,” he said Wednesday. “… You see a real good team.”
Denver enters Sunday’s matchup with an 11-game winning streak and will face a Jacksonville team known for its strong offense and opportunistic defense. Cornerback Riley Moss highlighted the impact of home support: “The last two home games, it’s kind of felt like [a] playoff atmosphere,” Moss said. “That’s fun for us, and I know that’s fun for the fans. They have no idea how much they affect the game. When they come out and create that atmosphere, it helps us tremendously.”
One key aspect will be whether Denver can put pressure on Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence has been among NFL leaders in wins, passing yards per attempt, passing touchdowns, team points per game, and passer rating since Week 10. He has not thrown an interception or been sacked in his last three games.
Denver’s pass rush has been productive this season, averaging more sacks per game than any NFL team since 1989. Outside linebacker Nik Bonitto leads the league with 37 quick pressures and holds one of the highest quick pressure rates in recent years.
Another focus will be turnovers. Offensive Coordinator Joe Lombardi commented: “It’s such an important stat,” he said about turnover differential when facing Jacksonville’s defense. “It’s hard to say you emphasize it more from one week to the next because it’s always so important, but knowing that this team does such a good job taking the ball away and they thrive off that, it’s certainly something that we’re highlighting this week.”
Jacksonville ranks second in takeaways (26) and interceptions (18) this season after having only nine takeaways last year—the fewest in the NFL during 2024.
On offense, Denver quarterback Bo Nix has thrown just one interception since their bye week, helping improve Denver’s turnover margin recently.
Red zone performance is expected to play another critical role on Sunday. In their previous game against Green Bay, Denver was successful inside the red zone while limiting Packers’ scoring opportunities near their goal line.
Cornerback Pat Surtain II described their defensive approach: “My mindset is not allowing them to score, obviously,” Surtain said regarding red-zone situations. “When they get down there, we make it as tough as possible for them… We hold ourselves up to that standard.”
Since Week 9—when wide receiver Jakobi Meyers joined—the Jaguars have averaged nearly 33 points per game and improved their red-zone touchdown rate over recent weeks.
Head Coach Sean Payton summarized: “When we go to keys to victory, it always gets to third down and red zone.”
Sunday’s contest between these two division leaders may have lasting implications as both teams look ahead toward postseason play.
