Sean Payton isn’t one to overhype a regular-season matchup - even when the stakes are high. But as the Broncos prepare to face a surging Jaguars squad this Sunday, the veteran head coach made it clear: Denver can’t afford to take this opponent lightly.
“We’ve gotta be on point,” Payton said during his media session following Denver’s playoff-clinching win over Green Bay. “As you look at (the Jaguars) and you watch the tape, you know, you see a smaller market but you see a really good team.”
That “really good team” he’s referring to? Jacksonville, riding a five-game win streak and sitting at 10-4 in their first season under head coach Liam Coen.
The Jags are doing more than just winning - they’re doing it with a brand of football that’s fast, physical, and opportunistic. And with both teams jockeying for playoff seeding, Sunday’s game has plenty on the line.
Broncos Rolling, But Payton Keeps Perspective
Denver enters the week at the top of the AFC standings with a 12-2 record, winners of 11 straight since a Week 3 loss to the Chargers. This team has found its rhythm - the offense is humming, the defense is locking in, and the Broncos have become one of the most complete squads in the league.
Still, Payton isn’t letting his team get too caught up in the moment.
“There’s that 24-hour rule, to some degree,” he said Wednesday. “It can happen after a tough loss. One of the challenges in this league, I think, is a gut-wrenching loss and then coming back in and trying to flush it and get on with the next goal.”
That mindset - flush the past, focus on what’s next - has been central to Denver’s turnaround. Payton acknowledged the importance of this week’s matchup, but he also made it clear: the journey doesn’t end here.
“We have this term, this is a big game, of course this is an important game, and there are going to be bigger ones.”
Jaguars Heating Up at the Right Time
Jacksonville has quietly become one of the league’s most dangerous teams. After years of inconsistency, they’ve found a formula that works - and it starts on defense.
The Jags are thriving on takeaways, using pressure and discipline to force mistakes and flip the field. It’s not flashy, but it’s effective - and it’s the engine behind their five-game heater.
This is just the third time in the last 20 years that Jacksonville has been multiple games above .500. But under Coen, they’ve found a groove that’s built on execution across all three phases - offense, defense, and special teams. That balance is what makes them such a tough out right now.
Sunday’s Showdown: Playoff Implications Loom Large
Make no mistake - this one matters. Both teams are firmly in the playoff mix, but seeding is still very much in play.
For Denver, a win helps solidify their hold on the AFC’s top spot. For Jacksonville, it’s a chance to prove they can go toe-to-toe with the conference’s elite.
The Broncos have been dominant since Week 3, with an offense that’s found its identity and a defense that’s tightened the screws. Jacksonville, meanwhile, wins with pressure up front and opportunistic play on the back end. It’s a clash of two well-coached, red-hot teams - and it could be a preview of what’s to come in January.
Payton knows the road ahead only gets tougher. But for now, the focus is squarely on Sunday - and on a Jaguars team that’s earned every bit of respect coming its way.