Sunday’s Jaguars-Broncos matchup is quietly one of the biggest games on the NFL slate - even if it’s not being treated like it.
Let’s start with the facts: Denver enters at 12-2, holding the league’s best record. Jacksonville’s right behind at 10-4, sitting atop the AFC South. Both teams are in the thick of the playoff race, and this game could have major implications for seeding, home-field advantage, and momentum heading into January.
But here’s the twist - this high-stakes showdown won’t be in the national spotlight. Instead of landing in a prime-time slot or even the marquee Sunday afternoon window, Jaguars-Broncos is tucked away as a regional broadcast on Fox at 4:05 p.m.
ET. That means large portions of the country won’t get to see it, unless they’re in select local markets.
So why is a game featuring two of the league’s top teams being treated like a mid-tier matchup?
It comes down to perception - and, frankly, star power.
While both teams have been rolling on the field, they haven’t fully broken through with the national audience. The Jaguars, now in Year 5 with Trevor Lawrence, still haven’t become must-watch TV in the eyes of the league’s schedulers. Lawrence was billed as a generational talent coming out of Clemson, and while he’s shown flashes of brilliance, he hasn’t yet become a household name that draws in casual viewers week to week.
On the other side, the Broncos have the better record and a more established fan base, but they’re also led by a rookie quarterback in Bo Nix. And while Nix has shown promise, he’s still early in his development and hasn’t yet reached the level of national recognition that moves the needle for network execs.
That’s why, despite the stakes, this game is being overshadowed by matchups like Bills-Browns (CBS early), Steelers-Lions (CBS late), and Chargers-Cowboys (Fox early) - all games featuring teams with worse records, but with either bigger markets, more established stars, or simply better TV draws.
It’s a reminder that in the NFL, winning isn’t always enough to earn the spotlight. Storylines, star power, and market size still carry weight - sometimes more than the actual standings.
Still, for fans who do get this game on their local feed, it’s a gift. You’ve got a red-hot Broncos team that’s been finding ways to win in tight games, and a Jaguars squad that’s built to make noise in the postseason. It’s a potential playoff preview, and the kind of late-season matchup that could shape the AFC landscape.
Even if it’s flying under the radar, Jaguars-Broncos is anything but a throwaway game. It’s one of the best matchups of the week - just not one most fans will get to see.