In a game that felt like a showcase of his best play, Trevor Lawrence threw three touchdown passes and ran for a score to lead the Jacksonville Jaguars to a 34-20 victory over the Denver Broncos. The win snapped Denver’s 11-game winning streak and added a key win to the AFC playoff race.
Lawrence’s Record-Setting Performance
Lawrence finished the game with 279 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, while being sacked five times by the Broncos’ elite pass rush. He also added a 1-yard rushing touchdown and a 63-yard pass to Parker Washington that set up a 10-yard catch by Travis Etienne. “I feel great with our offense right now, what we’re able to do, the passing game, guys are making plays, giving them opportunities down the field, and we’re protecting well,” Lawrence said. “We’re doing a lot of things well. We just got to not take it for granted.”
Jaguars’ Dominant Day
Jacksonville outscored the previous five opponents by a cumulative 171-72 and was 4-of-5 in the red zone against the Broncos’ top-rated defense. The Jaguars’ offense was highlighted by Parker Washington’s 145-yard, touchdown performance and Jakobi Meyers’ 45 yards on four catches. Cam Little capped the third quarter with a 26-yard field goal to extend the lead.
Washington told reporters after the game, “We knew we were going to be in a crazy atmosphere today, and we’ve answered the adversity many times throughout this season, and we continue to do that,” adding, “I feel like that’s our edge.”
Broncos’ Setback and Injury Concerns
Denver’s first loss since Week 3 came after rookie RJ Harvey tied the game at 17 with a 38-yard touchdown on the opening drive of the second half. The Broncos’ offense stumbled when Bo Nix fumbled a handoff to Jaleel McLaughlin; Nix explained, “Both of us wanted the ball.”
On a critical fourth-down play from Jacksonville’s 41, Nix’s pass to Pat Bryant was intercepted by Jarrian Jones. Later in the game, Bryant was carted off after a hit by Montaric Brown, with officials ruling the tackle did not involve the neck or head area.
Head coach Sean Payton commented on Bryant’s injury, “He’s got movement. That’s encouraging,” and added, “He was moving his hands and his legs.” He also said, “You never want to see somebody in that situation and I feel responsible because I threw it. You really pray he’s OK and can be back out there as soon as he can.”
Game Dynamics and Penalties
The Jaguars benefited from the din that rattled Empower Field when a false start penalty was called on Jacksonville. Blitzing safety P.J. Locke, who did not hear the whistle, delivered a blind-side hit on Lawrence; only the 15-yard penalty was enforced, jump-starting the Jaguars’ touchdown drive.
Denver committed two major penalties during a drive that ended with Lawrence taking a run from the 1-yard line to secure the lead. The Broncos also finished the season with a franchise-record-tying 63 sacks.
Injuries and Roster Impact
Jacksonville’s roster was impacted by a back injury to running back Patrick Mekari. Denver lost tight end Nate Adkins to a knee injury and inside linebacker Dre Greenlaw to a hamstring strain.
Key Takeaways
- Trevor Lawrence’s 279-yard, three-touchdown performance helped the Jaguars snap Denver’s 11-game streak.
- Jacksonville’s offense was efficient, converting 4-of-5 in the red zone and outscoring the previous five opponents 171-72.
- The Broncos’ first home loss since Oct. 13, 2024, ended a 12-game home winning streak and left their AFC West lead narrowed to one game.
Looking Ahead
The Jaguars will travel to Indianapolis next Sunday, while the Broncos prepare for a trip to Kansas City on Christmas night. Both teams face short turnarounds and will need to address injury concerns as the season approaches its final stretch.
