Broncos try to keep their winning streak alive against the Jaguars in Week 16 clash

DENVER (AP) — Denver is the hub of the sports world right now with the NBA's Nuggets and NHL's Avalanche off to historic starts as they seek to add some hardware to their trophy cases and the Broncos are an NFL-best 12-2.

“I've had the chance to talk to a couple of Nuggets players and I told them it's our turn to bring a parade to the city,” wide receiver Courtland Sutton said, noting that both Nikola Jokic and Nathan MacKinnon have earned champaign showers and celebrations while the Broncos last won the Lombardi Trophy a decade ago.

“And so we feel it's our turn to do our part for the city in terms of keeping the winning tradition going,” Sutton said. “Them boys are playing some great ball and great hockey and it's exciting to be a part of. And I know people around the United States are definitely shocked that the state of Colorado is bumpin' right now.”

To keep that going, the Broncos will have to fend off the Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4) on Sunday at Empower Field in the AFC's premier Week 16 matchup, which pits division leaders in what may very well serve as a playoff preview.

With Trevor Lawrence playing the best football of his five-year NFL career, figuring out the nuances in coach Liam Coen’s offense and stoking his connection with deadline trade addition Jakobi Meyers, the Jaguars have won five in a row, outscoring their opponents by a cumulative 171-72.

“We’ve been on a roll for a while, just doing what we do best: executing our plays, minimizing mistakes and playing our brand of football,” Jaguars cornerback Jourdan Lewis said. “We have faith in ourselves and are trying to go out there and trying to impose our will on our opponents. It doesn’t matter who we play. Of course, they’re a really good team. But it’s always about us.”

With Bo Nix emerging as one of the league's elite quarterbacks (22-10) in Year 2 to complement an overpowering defense that's collected 58 sacks so far, the Broncos own their longest winning streak since 2012. They have mounted 10 come-from-behind wins and prevailed in 10 of 12 one-score games.

The Broncos ended an eight-year playoff drought last year as a wild card but are aiming to get the conference's No. 1 overall seed and its first-round bye this time. So, coach Sean Payton has insisted all week that despite clinching a playoff spot already, the Broncos haven't accomplished any of their goals yet.

“I think that’s the biggest thing for us is making sure that we don’t become drunk of the situation of look what we’ve done and listen to the different people who do want us to give us the pat on the backs — which aren’t many,” Sutton said.

“We’ve been staying to ourselves, we’ve been showing up week in and week out, having great weeks of work, and then showing up on Sunday and just putting that on tape and we’ve been able to come out successful."

The Broncos have outscored their opponents 115-51 in the fourth quarter, including 67-29 at home. The altitude undoubtedly plays a role in Denver’s penchant for wearing teams out late in games in the Mile High City.

"We got to get ready for that," Lewis said. "We got to understand that does sometimes play a factor. But we got to be ready for the fourth quarter.”

The Jaguars have 18 interceptions and are plus-10 in turnover differential. But that doesn't mean the Broncos are doing anything different to prepare.

“It’s just something to be aware of,” Nix said, "but nothing to be scared of.”

Jacksonville is averaging 32.9 points over its last seven games, all since a bye week. The Jaguars scored a combined 84 points in back-to-back wins against the Colts and Jets.

“We all have a lot of confidence in what we’re doing,” Lawrence said. “It seems like we’ve got the ball rolling the last few weeks, so it feels good."

The Jaguars have a chance to sweep one of the NFL’s toughest divisions, the AFC West, for the second time in history. They already beat Kansas City, Las Vegas and the Los Angeles Chargers — Jacksonville topped 30 points against each of them — and can cap the AFC West sweep for the first time since 2007 on Sunday.

Sunday marks the return of former Broncos wide receiver Tim Patrick, who has three TD catches in Jacksonville, matching his total from last year in Detroit, where he signed after Denver waived him following a torn ACL in 2022 and a torn Achilles in 2023.

Sutton said Patrick won't talk to him until they do a jersey swap post-game Sunday.

Asked if he'll have to fend off teammate Garett Bolles, who, like Patrick, went to the University of Utah, Sutton said: “G.B. is going to have to get his sent. It's already locked in, receiver-receiver. He's going to try to do the old ‘Utes’ thing, but me and Tim tapped in already.”

AP Pro Football Writer Mark Long contributed from Jacksonville, Florida.

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Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) scores a touchdown against the New York Jets during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Denver Broncos' Riley Moss celebrates an interception during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton answers a question after an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) looks on during the second half against the New York Jets an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Denver Broncos' Bo Nix celebrates after an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees star Aaron Judge had an injection in his sore right calf, putting his status for the postseason in even more jeopardy.

Before the Yankees faced the Rays in a day-night doubleheader Tuesday, manager Aaron Boone said Judge had a platelet poor plasma injection during the team’s off-day on Monday following its return from Arizona.

Judge was put on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a strained soleus muscle, which is in the lower part of his calf. Boone did not say what grade the strain is but described it as “moderate.”

“We’re planning on him not being a part of that but we’re also at time of the year, you hear all the time with injuries, you give ranges two to four weeks, four to six weeks,” Boone said. “The range is for a reason and we’re at a point of the year where obviously we push it a little bit if that was in play but that’s a week away. I’m not expecting it, but I’m not ruling it out either.”

Judge is eligible to be activated for the regular-season finale on Sunday against Baltimore but will not do much activity in the next few days.

Judge injured his calf during last Wednesday’s game at Minnesota. The eight-time All-Star was lifted in the sixth inning for a pinch hitter because of discomfort in his leg and said at the time it was a precautionary move.

Boone said symptoms persisted and an MRI revealed the strain.

Judge was 4 for 23 with 13 strikeouts and one extra-base hit in seven games after returning Sept. 8 from a broken rib, which kept him out of the lineup for more than three months.

Judge is hitting .241 with 18 homers and 41 RBIs in just 66 games this year. He hit a long homer on Sept. 14 in Minnesota and had the next game off before straining his calf.

The Yankees entered Tuesday with a 48-41 record in the games Judge has missed and a 41-25 mark in games he has played. New York also began Tuesday a loss away from being eliminated from the AL East race, setting up a second straight wild-card series against the Red Sox next week.

"We’ve played much of the year without him and for the most part, we’ve done a pretty good job,” Boone said. “So guys are used to it. Obviously you always want your best player in the mix, but we understand we’ve got a job to do and an expectation to win. I think that expectation doesn’t change with or without him. We’re expecting to go into the series and know we can beat anyone when we play our game.”

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge walks back to the dugout after the bottom of the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Injured New York Yankees' Aaron Judge sits with teammates in the dugout during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge reacts after striking out during the third inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)