Trevor Lawrence's 4 TDs propel Jaguars past Broncos 34-20, ending Denver's 11-game winning streak

DENVER (AP) — Trevor Lawrence is playing the best ball of his five-year career and now he has a signature win to show for it.

Lawrence threw three touchdown passes and ran for a score, leading the Jacksonville Jaguars to a resounding 34-20 win that snapped the Denver Broncos' 11-game winning streak Sunday and added some spice to the AFC playoff picture.

“I feel great with our offense right now, what we’re able to do, the passing game, guys are making plays, giving them opportunities down the field, and we’re protecting well," Lawrence said. “We’re doing a lot of things well. We just got to not take it for granted."

Lawrence has been on a six-week heater, mastering the nuances of first-year coach Liam Coen’s offense and stoking his connection with trade-deadline addition Jakobi Meyers. The Jaguars had outscored their previous five opponents by a cumulative 171-72, but this was Lawrence’s best performance of his breakout season.

“He's doing it all,” Coen said. “He’s doing everything that you want your guy to be doing, and he’s doing it at a high level right now.”

The AFC South-leading Jaguars (11-4) won their sixth straight game and handed the Broncos (12-3) their first loss since Week 3. It was also Denver's first defeat at home since Oct. 13, 2024, ending the Broncos' 12-game home winning streak.

Although they remain atop the AFC playoff race, the Broncos' lead over the Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC West was sliced to one game. The teams play in Week 18. Denver has a short turnaround with a trip to face Kansas City on Christmas night.

“It's always good to have a short week after a loss like this," defensive tackle Malcolm Roach said, echoing the sentiment in the Broncos' subdued locker room.

After Broncos rookie RJ Harvey pinballed his way for a 38-yard touchdown to tie it at 17 on the opening drive of the second half, it was all Jacksonville.

Lawrence scored on a 1-yard keeper, then hit Parker Washington for 63 yards to set up Travis Etienne's 10-yard TD catch. After Bo Nix fumbled his exchange with running back Jaleel McLaughlin — “Both of us wanted the ball,” Nix explained — Lawrence drove Jacksonville for its fifth consecutive score, a 26-yard field goal by Cam Little that made it 34-17.

On a day Meyers was held to 45 yards on four catches, Washington caught six passes for a career-best 145 yards and a TD.

“We knew we were going to be in a crazy atmosphere today, and we’ve answered the adversity many times throughout this season, and we continue to do that,” Washington said. “I feel like that’s our edge.”

The Broncos were driving after pulling within 34-20. But on fourth down from Jacksonville's 41, Nix telegraphed a throw to Pat Bryant that was easily intercepted by Jarrian Jones. Later, Bryant was carted off after he took a vicious hit in the final minute.

In a matchup of the NFL's two most penalized teams, Denver committed two big penalties on a drive that ended with Lawrence taking it in from the 1 to give Jacksonville the lead for good.

Lawrence was sacked five times by the league's best pass rush — the Broncos have a franchise record-tying 63 sacks on the season — but he still threw for 279 yards with three TDs and no interceptions. Jacksonville was 4 of 5 in the red zone against the league's best red-zone defense.

Nix threw for a career-best 353 yards, but he wasn't his usual sharp self, turning it over twice and throwing a regrettable high pass that led to Bryant's injury with 31 seconds remaining. Bryant was strapped to a body board and carted off.

“He’s got movement. That’s encouraging,” Denver coach Sean Payton said. “He was moving his hands and his legs.”

Bryant was injured on a whiplash tackle by Montaric Brown after his leaping catch. The officials picked up the flag, however, ruling Brown hadn’t hit him in the neck or head area, although replays appeared to show the crown of Brown’s helmet hitting Bryant’s chin.

Nix was shaken up watching as Bryant was tended to by the medical team.

“You never want to see somebody in that situation and I feel responsible because I threw it," he said. “You really pray he's OK and can be back out there as soon as he can.”

On their first scoring drive, Lawrence and the Jaguars actually benefited from the din that rattled Empower Field when Jacksonville was flagged for a false start. Blitzing safety P.J. Locke, however, said he didn't hear the whistle and put a vicious blind-side hit on Lawrence. Only that 15-yard penalty was enforced, jump-starting Jacksonville's TD drive.

Payton figured the Broncos will handle their first loss in three months the same way they navigated all that winning since September.

“I said to them, one of the things you've managed to do each week is get on to the next challenge,” Payton said. “So I think the same thing has to apply, especially on a short week like this. You've shown the ability to digest the game before and then get onto the next challenge. And you have to do the same after a tough loss.”

Jaguars: RG Patrick Mekari (back) was hurt.

Broncos: Lost TE Nate Adkins (knee) and ILB Dre Greenlaw (hamstring) to injuries.

Jaguars: At Indianapolis next Sunday.

Broncos: Visit Kansas City on Christmas night.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Denver Broncos wide receiver Pat Bryant is carted off the field after an injury during the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Denver, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton makes a catch to score a touchdown against Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jourdan Lewis during the first half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker, front left, tackles Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, right, during the second half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (11) scores a touchdown against Denver Broncos cornerback Ja'Quan McMillian, right, during the first half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence runs for a touchdown against the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Bijan Robinson had another outstanding game running the ball and catching it, talented tight end Kyle Pitts caught a touchdown pass, and the Atlanta defense made a big play in a critical moment.

This was what the Falcons were supposed to look like this season.

The good times have come too late for the Falcons to make a run at the postseason, but Sunday's 26-19 victory over the Arizona Cardinals was a reminder that this is a roster with the potential to produce positive results.

“It shows guys what this team should look like on a consistent basis, every time we're out there,” coach Raheem Morris said.

The Falcons (6-9) won for the second straight week, with both coming on the road. They've won three of their last five, bouncing back after a five-game skid that derailed their season.

Atlanta controlled much of the second half, building a 26-16 lead by early in the fourth quarter, but Arizona rallied and made a fourth-down defensive stop at its own 40-yard line with 2:05 left. That gave the Cardinals a chance to tie the game or take the lead.

Atlanta's C.J. Henderson — who was elevated from the practice squad on Saturday — made a diving interception of Jacoby Brissett's pass with 1:30 remaining to secure the win.

“I've been staying ready the entire time, so I wasn't surprised,” Henderson said.

Robinson had 92 yards receiving on seven catches, including a 13-yard touchdown, and added 76 yards rushing on 16 carries. The 23-year-old became the third player in franchise history to gain at least 2,000 yards from scrimmage in a season, joining Jamal Anderson (1998) and William Andrews (1981 and 1983).

“That's a real-deal stat — doing 2,000 from scrimmage,” Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins said. “It's hard to do if you're not healthy, so the fact that he's durable enough to do it is a big deal.”

Arizona (3-12) has lost seven straight and 12 of 13 since starting the season 2-0.

The Falcons pushed ahead 26-16 early in the fourth quarter when Cousins scored on a 1-yard run, which capped a 12-play, 66-yard drive. Arizona cut the deficit to 26-19 with 4:37 left on Chad Ryland's 34-yard field goal, taking advantage of Cousins' fumble at midfield.

“I loved the resilience,” Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon said. “I thought we battled in there, but ultimately fell a little short. I thought a key component of the game is that we moved it, but had to settle for some field goals. They converted some touchdowns.”

Brissett completed 16 of 31 passes for 203 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The veteran has a 1-9 record as the Cardinals' starter since taking over for the injured Kyler Murray in Week 6.

Arizona tight end Elijah Higgins had 91 yards receiving on seven catches.

Atlanta rallied from an early 10-point deficit to tie the game at 16-all heading into halftime. Cousins hit Pitts for an 11-yard touchdown with 25 seconds left in the second quarter. Calais Campbell, Arizona's 39-year-old defensive end, blocked the extra-point attempt to keep the Falcons from taking the lead.

Arizona tried a 50-yard field goal to take the lead just before the break, but Ryland's kick was no good, bouncing off the right upright.

Ryland also missed a 44-yard attempt in the third quarter wide right.

The Cardinals took a 10-0 lead midway through the first quarter after Michael Wilson made a circus catch for a 32-yard touchdown. Falcons cornerback Cobee Bryant and Wilson tumbled into the end zone as they fought for possession and the ball bounced between them, eventually settling between Wilson's legs without hitting the ground.

Cardinals tight end Trey McBride caught four passes for 27 yards, which snapped a personal streak of 16 straight games with at least five receptions. The 16-game streak was an NFL record for a tight end.

Cardinals: CB Max Melton (heel), LT Paris Johnson Jr. (knee) and S Jalen Thompson (hamstring) were among six inactives. ... CB Garrett Williams (Achilles tendon) left in the first quarter and had to be carted off the field after the non-contact injury. ... Rookie DL Walter Nolen III (knee) was carted off in the third quarter. ... DL Josh Sweat (ankle) was hurt during the first quarter and initially returned, but was ruled out in the third quarter.

Falcons: Host the Los Angeles Rams on Monday, Dec. 29.

Cardinals: At Cincinnati next Sunday.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson (14) scores a touchdown against Atlanta Falcons cornerback Cobee Bryant (37) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Atlanta Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss (55) blocks a pass against Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier (25) runs against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) passes against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Atlanta Falcons linebacker Arnold Ebiketie (17) sacks Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. (8) makes the catch against Arizona Cardinals linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither (27) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) scores a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)