The Denver Broncos are rolling into Week 16 as one of the NFL’s hottest teams - and not just by a little. They’re riding an 11-game winning streak, sitting at 12-2, and suddenly have a legitimate shot at locking up the AFC’s No. 1 seed. Not bad for a team that dropped two of its first three games and looked anything but playoff-bound back in September.
Now, with the postseason already clinched, the Broncos are eyeing a bigger prize: home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. To get there, they’ll need to take care of business against a surging Jacksonville Jaguars squad this Sunday - and get a little help along the way. The math is pretty straightforward: a Denver win, paired with losses or ties from the Chargers, Bills, and Patriots, would seal the deal for the top seed and the AFC West crown.
That’s a tall order, but if the last few months have taught us anything, it’s that this Broncos team isn’t backing down from any challenge.
At the center of Denver’s resurgence is rookie quarterback Bo Nix, who’s playing with the poise of a seasoned vet. His latest outing?
A 300-yard, four-touchdown performance with zero interceptions in a statement win over the Green Bay Packers. That marked his second 300-yard game in the last three weeks, and he’s now up to 23 touchdown passes on the season - not too shabby for a guy in just his second year in the league.
“It’s an exciting time to be a Bronco right now,” Nix said after the win. And he’s not wrong. This team has found its identity, and it’s built around smart, efficient quarterback play, a well-coached system, and a defense that’s been quietly dominant during this win streak.
Head coach Sean Payton deserves a ton of credit for how he’s brought Nix along. The two seem to have built a strong rapport, and it’s showing up on Sundays.
“I appreciate [Payton] for letting me be competitive, and he hasn’t taken that fire away from me,” Nix said. “Together we are just working really well off each other.
He trusts me, and I can tell by the way he is calling it.”
That trust is translating into results. Nix has thrown for 3,256 yards this season, and he’s doing it with a blend of confidence and control that’s rare for a young quarterback.
It’s not just about the numbers - it’s how he’s managing the game, making smart reads, and avoiding costly mistakes. He’s giving Denver exactly what it needs at the most important position on the field.
But Sunday’s matchup won’t be a cakewalk. The Jaguars come in at 10-4 and are riding a five-game win streak of their own.
This is a team with playoff aspirations and plenty of talent on both sides of the ball. It’s a classic late-season test between two squads peaking at the right time - and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Kickoff is set for 4:05 ET, and if the Broncos can keep their streak alive, they’ll be one step closer to turning this remarkable run into something even more special. The road to the Super Bowl might just run through Denver - but first, they’ve got to get past Jacksonville and hope the dominoes fall their way.