Jaguars Surge Into AFC Contention as Trevor Lawrence, Liam Coen Unlock Offensive Potential
The Jacksonville Jaguars just sent a message to the rest of the AFC - and it was loud.
By taking down the top-seeded Denver Broncos in dramatic fashion on Sunday, the Jags didn’t just punch their ticket to the playoffs. They reignited a conversation that hasn’t been relevant in Duval County for decades: home-field advantage in January.
It’s been a long road back to relevance, but Jacksonville is now firmly in the mix for the AFC’s No. 1 seed. And while the win over Denver was the headline, the real story is what’s happening behind the scenes - particularly with quarterback Trevor Lawrence and first-year head coach Liam Coen.
Coen’s Impact: Opening Up the Playbook, Unlocking T-Law
Let’s start with Coen. He’s a Sean McVay disciple, and that influence is showing up in all the right ways. Since taking over, Coen has brought a fresh approach to the Jaguars’ offense - one that’s finally tapping into the full potential of Trevor Lawrence.
Lawrence, now on the verge of his third playoff appearance, is starting to look like the quarterback everyone envisioned when he was taken No. 1 overall. He’s making quicker decisions, reading defenses with more confidence, and most importantly, he’s in full command of the offense.
“We’ve been able to maximize it the last few weeks,” Lawrence told reporters. “Be in a good play versus the right coverage, the right defense, and have answers. It’s on us too as players to learn all this stuff because it puts more on your plate, but come Sunday, it helps you.”
That’s a quarterback who’s not just executing the game plan - he’s owning it.
The Jaguars have evolved into a team that doesn’t just react to defenses. They anticipate them.
Coen’s system is giving Lawrence the tools - and the freedom - to dissect opposing schemes before the snap and adjust in real time. And when that kind of synergy clicks between coach and quarterback, the results speak for themselves.
Duval’s December Charge: From Underdog to Contender
Jacksonville’s win over Denver did more than just clinch a playoff berth (thanks in part to a Colts loss). It flipped the narrative. This isn’t just a team sneaking into the postseason - it’s one that could force the road to the Super Bowl to run through North Florida.
That’s not something we’ve been able to say in a long time.
The last time the Jaguars sniffed home-field advantage was all the way back in 1999. That team, led by Mark Brunell and Jimmy Smith, went 14-2 - only to be swept by the eventual AFC champion Tennessee Titans. Lawrence, for context, was still in diapers.
Now, 26 years later, Jacksonville has a shot to bring playoff football back to a stadium that hasn’t hosted a meaningful January game in decades.
But it won’t be easy.
What Needs to Happen: The Path to the No. 1 Seed
The Jaguars still need help to secure the AFC’s top spot. They’ve got to win out - that part is simple. But they also need some dominoes to fall.
Denver is still in the race, but a loss in either of the final two weeks would be a major blow to the Broncos’ chances. New England is also lurking, but the Patriots can’t afford a single misstep. One loss in Week 17 or 18, and they’re out of the running for home field.
For Jacksonville, the formula is clear: take care of business, and hope the rest of the AFC landscape shifts in their favor.
Final Word: Jaguars Peaking at the Right Time
Momentum is a real thing in the NFL, and right now, Jacksonville has it.
With Lawrence playing some of his best football, Coen dialing up the right calls, and a defense that’s quietly doing its job, the Jaguars are suddenly one of the most dangerous teams in the conference. They’re not just playoff-bound - they’re playoff-ready.
And if the chips fall just right, they might be hosting in January - something that would’ve sounded like a fantasy just a few weeks ago.
But here they are. A team on the rise, a quarterback hitting his stride, and a city daring to dream again.