By Hays Carlyon
The Jaguars might go 13-4.
They will be favored to go 13-4 now.
This is incredible.
Coach Liam Coen is a superstar – and wow, does he have a quarterback blossoming into an elite player.
Trevor Lawrence was brilliant again, accounting for four touchdowns without a turnover, as the Jaguars went into Mile High and dominated Denver 34-20 on Sunday in the NFL’s best matchup of Week 16. The Broncos (12-3) had won 11 straight games. Had.
The Jaguars (11-4) have now won six consecutive games and are 7-1 coming out of the bye week.
Amazing.
Coen and company won a game against an elite opponent in a hostile environment that challenges your mental and physical toughness with its unique altitude.
The Jaguars won this game in every way a game can be won.
*They were plus-2 in turnover margin, forcing two and playing clean.
*They were 8 of 15 on third down.
*They committed two penalties for 20 yards.
*They won time of possession 33:13-26:47, which negated the altitude’s effect late in the game.
This was masterful complimentary football.
Coen has crafted a team that can beat you in every way.
Lawrence has changed the conversation around him with a dominant four-week run. He now has thrown 12 touchdowns with no picks in his last four games combined. His running ability gets stronger by the game.
Sunday was a major statement game for Lawrence.
Denver entered the game with 58 sacks, allowing 18.6 points a game. The Broncos lead the NFL in third-down defense. They’re an elite unit.
Lawrence shredded them — in their house.
The fifth-year veteran completed 23 of 36 passes for 279 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a passer rating of 115.4. The 26-year-old Lawrence also ran for 20 yards and a score.
Lawrence’s season got off to too rocky a start for him to be even be a whisper in the MVP discussion. However, there’s no one playing better in the NFL right now.
Lawrence consistently connected with receiver Parker Washington to beat the Broncos. The third-year veteran caught six passes for 145 yards and a touchdown. He was a monster in yards after catch.
One Jaguar that should start getting serious recognition is Coen, who has built arguably the best resume for Coach of the Year honors.
This team won four games last season. Coen already has 11 wins.
The Jaguars will be favored in their final two games: at Indianapolis (with the Colts on a short week hosting San Francisco on Monday night) and the finale at home against lowly Tennessee.
This team might go 13-4.
It’s one of the most amazing stories in current sports.
Thank you, Shad Khan and Tony Boselli for hiring Coen. Thank you for bringing in James Gladstone as general manager.
I’m 49 years old. I’m starting to wonder if Coen will be the last coach I cover before hanging it up.
I’m starting to wonder if maybe, just perhaps, I will get to cover a Super Bowl team before I retire.
This is simply remarkable.
The Jaguars are a remarkable team.
Coen is a remarkable coach.
(You can email Hays at [email protected] and follow him on X/Twitter @HaysCarlyon).
