Week 16 represents a defining moment for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Traveling to Denver to face a 12–2 Broncos team in one of the league’s most hostile environments, they'll be presented with an opportunity to either validate their late-season surge or fuel the narrative that it has benefited from timing and circumstance rather than substance.
Critics point to recent results. wins over the New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, and the Tennessee Titans came by wide margins, but each has been contextualized by injuries, inconsistency, or roster limitations. On the other hand, Jacksonville suffered decisive losses to playoff-caliber opponents -- Houston, Los Angeles, and Seattle early in the season.