Jaguars Shock the World, End Broncos' 11-Game Win Streak with 34-20 Beatdown
Jacksonville went into Denver and dominated the best team in the AFC. Trevor Lawrence threw 3 TDs, and the Jags are suddenly alive for the No. 1 seed.
By Sharp Money Mike
Nobody saw this coming. Absolutely nobody.
The Jacksonville Jaguars walked into Empower Field at Mile High on Sunday and handed the Denver Broncos their first loss in nearly three months, winning 34-20 in what can only be described as a complete and total ass-kicking. Denver's 11-game winning streak? Dead. The narrative that the Broncos were the class of the AFC? Seriously questioned.
This was one of the biggest upsets of the entire NFL season, and if you had the Jags, you're probably still celebrating.
The Quick Hit
- Final score: Jaguars 34, Broncos 20
- The upset: Jacksonville was a significant road underdog
- The streak: Denver's 11-game win streak snapped
- New records: Jags improve to 11-4, Broncos fall to 12-3
Trevor Lawrence Remembered How to Play Quarterback
Trevor Lawrence was absolutely dealing. He completed 63.9% of his passes for 279 yards with three touchdowns through the air and added 20 yards and another score on the ground. This was the version of Lawrence that made him the number one overall pick — composed, accurate, and making plays when they mattered most.
The Jaguars scored on five straight possessions starting in the second quarter. Five. In a row. Against the NFL's best defense. At altitude. On the road. This was a statement game in every sense of the word.
Denver Had No Answers
The Broncos' vaunted defense — the unit that had been suffocating opponents all season — got absolutely shredded. They couldn't stop the run. They couldn't stop the pass. They had no answer for Parker Washington, who went off for a career-high 145 receiving yards on just six catches.
Rookie running back RJ Harvey added to the carnage with 50 rushing yards on 7 carries plus 71 receiving yards, totaling 121 yards on 11 touches. Jacksonville's offense was clicking in a way we haven't seen all season.
Playoff Implications Are Wild Now
Here's where it gets interesting. The Jaguars are suddenly very much alive for the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC. Yes, really.
For that to happen, Jacksonville needs to win out, the Broncos need to go 1-1 over the final two weeks, and the Patriots also need to go 1-1. It's a narrow path, but it's a path that didn't exist before Sunday.
As for Denver, they still control their playoff destiny. A win on Christmas Day against the Chiefs would clinch the AFC West if the Chargers lose to the Texans on Saturday.
What the Sharps Saw
This game was a perfect example of why you fade public teams on long winning streaks. Denver was getting all the love, all the hype, all the public action. The Jaguars? Nobody wanted them. That's exactly when upsets happen.
The market was begging for a correction, and Jacksonville delivered in spectacular fashion.
The Bottom Line
The Jaguars just announced themselves as legitimate AFC contenders with one of the most impressive road wins of the season. Trevor Lawrence is playing his best football of the year, and Jacksonville's offense is hitting its stride at exactly the right time.
If you slept on this team, consider this your wake-up call. The Jags are for real.