The Jacksonville Jaguars picked up their biggest win of the season. They needed to pick up a win against the Broncos to maintain their hold on the AFC South title, and they did. It was a statement victory, and the Jaguars are on a roll. Beating the AFC’s top seed has pushed Jacksonville into the contender conversation in a wide-open conference. But one Super Bowl champion isn’t ready to give them their crown as a genuine contender just yet.
Super Bowl Champion Pumps Brakes on the Jaguars
Jacksonville walked into Denver and snapped the Broncos’ 11-game winning streak, lighting up what had been the AFC’s stingiest pass rush while Trevor Lawrence piled up four total touchdowns and 279 passing yards to push the Jaguars to 11-4 and firmly into the mix for the conference’s top seed.
In the latest episode of “The Arena: Gridiron” podcast, Super Bowl champ and former Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib reacted to their big win against the Broncos with some reservations. He respected the victory, but wasn’t ready to give them a bouquet. Talib still has Denver ahead of Jacksonville, as well as the two AFC East powerhouses, the Patriots and the Bills.
“It just didn’t wow me. I think the Broncos better than them, the Patriots better than them, the Bills better than them,” said Talib.
“I don’t see Jacksonville as a threat in the postseason. It depends who pulls up on them. But they are no threat.”@RealSkipBayless tells @68INCOGNITO that the Jaguars are not a Super Bowl contender this season. pic.twitter.com/VDYmt4tcDy
— The Arena: Gridiron (@ArenaGridiron) December 22, 2025
The Jaguars have won six in a row, but Houston is staying right on their tail with seven wins in a row. Trevor Lawrence has seen a resurgence in his game under Liam Coen, following questions about his play that began to circulate.
The Jaguars’ offense ranks 17th in PFSN’s Offense Impact score with a grade of 76.2. Despite them scoring 34 points and putting up 48 points in the week before, Talib wasn’t very impressed. He also blamed the Broncos’ missed tackles for the loss, rather than the high-octane Jacksonville offense.
“It was more about the Broncos did wrong than it was what the Jags did right,” said Talib.
The Jaguars have to focus on winning the games that are put in front of them. The AFC South title isn’t yet wrapped up, and each game is becoming increasingly important as the playoffs approach.
A favorable schedule lies ahead for Jacksonville, with the Titans and Colts still to come. If they handle business, the AFC South should be theirs, and with some luck, maybe even the No. 1 seed.
