3 takeaways from Jaguars vs Broncos

The Jaguars went into Denver and delivered a statement win, putting the NFL world on notice. The Jaguars offense has been on a roll over the last 5 games, but this was the big test, and they passed with flying colors.

Trevor Lawrence was the best player on the field

Trevor Lawrence continued his hot streak, throwing for 279 yards, 3 touchdowns, and running for a fourth, making it his sixth straight multi-touchdown game. There were legitimate questions about how Lawrence would handle the Broncos pass rush and secondary coming into the game, but Lawrence was unbothered.

Against a comparable defense in the Houston Texans, Lawrence struggled in both games. The pass rush flustered him consistently, and he was hesitant to pull the trigger when the passing windows briefly opened. This was not the case against the Broncos. Lawrence consistently stood in the pocket and let it rip, rather than second-guessing. This was the big test for Lawrence and the Jaguars to prove if they are a legitimate contender, and with Lawrence's performance, it has captured everyone's attention.

The running game is a big concern

Against the Broncos, the Jaguars had just 60 rushing yards on 20 carries between their two running backs, their third lowest of the season. Against a great run defense, this can be expected, but this has been a problem for weeks, stemming back to the bye week.

Since week 9, Travis Etienne is averaging just 3.7 yards per attempt and has rushed for over 4 yards per attempt just once in this span. What was once a strength has now become a weakness for the Jaguars, and it's coming at the worst time. The passing attack has more than made up for the lack of rushing yards, especially with Etienne emerging as a pass catcher, but the offense has become one-dimensional.

The offense runs by committee

Parker Washington had a career day, catching 6 passes for 145 yards. This performance was surprising considering his role on the team, but it also displays a clear example of how the Jaguars offense operates. In the last 6 games, the Jaguars have had a different leading receiver in every game. Nobody is force-fed the ball, which allows the offense to naturally flow.

Early in the season, it was clear at times that Travis Hunter and Brian Thomas Jr. saw the ball being forced to them, and it resulted in the offense being clunky. With Trevor Lawrence now seeing the field naturally, he is playing his best ball and has allowed everyone to step up and contribute in big spots.

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