Jaguars can't get overlooked anymore after an impressive, statement win over Denver

Maybe the Jacksonville Jaguars and coach Liam Coen will get the credit they deserve now.

Trevor Lawrence and the Jags went to Denver and scored 34 points against one of the NFL’s best defenses, extending their winning streak to six games with a 14-point victory on Sunday that gave the Broncos their first loss since Week 3.

This was an impressive, convincing win for an underrated team that’s been overlooked throughout the season.

The Broncos (12-3) and Patriots (12-3) deserved recognition for double-digit winning streaks. The Colts (8-6) were the talk of the AFC the first two months during a 7-1 start. The Bills (11-4) and Josh Allen are always in the spotlight. Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers (9-6), Justin Herbert and the Chargers (11-4) and C.J. Stroud and the Texans (10-5) also get more attention.

Even the demise of the Chiefs has been a bigger storyline than the rise of the Jaguars.

But no team is playing better right now than Jacksonville. The Jaguars (11-4) lead the AFC South and are in the mix for the No. 1 seed. They would clinch a playoff berth if Indianapolis loses to San Francisco on Monday night.

It’s been a remarkable turnaround for a team that finished 4-13 last season.

Coen has led the way since replacing Doug Pederson. He almost didn’t take the job after initially declining an in-person interview with the Jaguars. Coen had agreed to a three-year contract to remain the offensive coordinator in Tampa Bay, a deal that would’ve made him the league’s highest-paid assistant.

But he changed his mind after owner Shad Khan fired general manager Trent Baalke. Coen has quickly turned the Jaguars into Super Bowl contenders.

“Just thankful that a small market team like us can come into a place like Mile High and get it done,” Coen said with sarcasm.

Coen wants everyone to continue underestimating the Jaguars.

“We really don’t care about the narrative,” he said. “I’m sorry to say that, but it’s only helping us, so I want the narrative to keep coming.”

Several teams have embraced the underdog role in the past, using it as a rallying cry. The 2017 Philadelphia Eagles started wearing dog masks on the sideline because they weren’t expected to have playoff success after losing starting quarterback Carson Wentz to a knee injury. Backup Nick Foles led them to a stunning victory over Tom Brady and the Patriots in the Super Bowl.

“Keep doubting us,” Jags cornerback Jarrian Jones said. “We want to show up every Sunday and you have to play us no matter where we’re at. We play in the snow, we play in the rain, whatever you want to do. I think the Jags are going to be ready to play.”

Lawrence threw three touchdown passes and ran for a score. He has 12 TD passes and no interceptions over the past four games, posting a passer rating above 105 in each one.

“I hope we don’t get any (respect),” Lawrence said. “So everybody out there, just keep it up. It’s great. It was a big game and just proud of the guys. It was fun.”

A few weeks ago, Steelers fans were chanting: “Fire Tomlin!” Even Ben Roethlisberger and James Harrison joined the critics, saying it was time for Pittsburgh to move on from coach Mike Tomlin.

But the Steelers have won three in a row, including Sunday’s wild, 29-24 upset at Detroit.

They lead the AFC North and would secure their first division title since 2020 with one more win or a loss by the Ravens (7-8).

Rodgers and the offense are clicking at the right time for Pittsburgh. Running backs Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell excelled in Detroit. But the Steelers might lose wide receiver DK Metcalf to a suspension after he took a swipe at a Lions fans during the game.

Five of the seven NFC playoff spots have been secured while only one team has clinched in the AFC, though three more teams can join the club if the 49ers beat the Colts.

The Eagles (10-5) are NFC East champions. The Panthers (8-7) beat the Buccaneers (7-8) to move into first place in the NFC South. But the Buccaneers would win their fifth straight division title with victories at Miami next week and over Carolina in Week 18.

The Bears (11-4) need one more win or one loss by the Packers (9-6-1) to lock up the NFC North. The Seahawks (11-4) lead the NFC West with the Rams (11-4) and 49ers (10-4) in the mix.

The Lions (8-7) have a tough path. They have to win out and need the Packers to lose two to get a wild-card spot.

The Broncos are the lone AFC team already in but their lead in the West is down to one game over the Chargers. The Jaguars, Bills and Chargers get in with a loss by Indianapolis on Monday night.

The Patriots will clinch the AFC East with another win or a loss by Buffalo. The Steelers are on the verge of clinching the AFC North. The Jaguars lead the Texans in the AFC South while the Colts need to win out and get help to have a chance.

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Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange (85) celebrates with center Robert Hainsey (73) after scoring a touchdown against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange (85) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones (22) celebrates after intercepting a pass against the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) runs with the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos in Denver, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

HONG KONG (AP) — A former Hong Kong reporter at the Wall Street Journal began testifying Monday against the newspaper she accused of terminating her due to her union activities in a trial — a closely watched case that has raised concerns about press freedom in the city.

Former WSJ reporter Selina Cheng, also chairperson of the trade union Hong Kong Journalists Association, launched a private prosecution against her ex-employer, Dow Jones Publishing Co. (Asia) Inc., the parent company of the Journal, after losing her job in July 2024.

At that time, Cheng said she believed that the termination was linked to her refusal to comply with her former supervisor's request to withdraw from the election for the union role, instead of the news outlet's restructuring, as she was told.

Dow Jones faces two charges under the city’s Employment Ordinance. The company pleaded not guilty to both charges, each of which carries a maximum fine of 100,000 Hong Kong dollars (about $12,850).

The first charge alleges the company had prevented or deterred an employee from exercising union participation rights. The second alleges the company had terminated employment, penalized, or discriminated against an employee for exercising those rights.

Before Cheng’s testimony, Dow Jones representative Benson Tsoi last week accused her of abusing the criminal process and acting in bad faith when seeking to get the court to admit certain email exchanges. Tsoi highlighted emails showing Cheng had demanded 3 million Hong Kong dollars ($385,500) as settlement or reinstatement with a formal apology.

Tsoi said while Cheng had told the Labor Tribunal she didn’t intend to settle out of court, the emails showed she had pressed for mediation with the company.

Hong Kong, which returned to Chinese rule in 1997 after some 150 years under British control, was once considered a bastion of press freedom in Asia. Yet despite the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution which guarantees its Western-style civil liberties to be kept intact under a “one country, two systems” approach, the ability of the media to operate there has seen drastic changes.

After Beijing imposed a national security law in 2020, two local news outlets known for critical coverage of the government, Apple Daily and Stand News, were forced to shut down following the arrest of their senior management, including Apple Daily publisher Jimmy Lai.

Lai was convicted under the security law last Monday, facing up to life in prison. While the government insists his case has nothing to do with press freedom, rights groups expressed concerns. Amnesty International said the conviction “feels like the death knell for press freedom in Hong Kong."

Two former editors at Stand News were also convicted in August 2024, the first journalists found guilty of sedition under a separate law since the former British colony returned to Chinese rule.

Cheng’s termination alarmed many journalists who are already operating in an increasingly restricted media environment in the city, where foreign outlets have traditionally faced less pressure than local news outlets.

Hong Kong ranked 140th out of 180 countries and territories in Reporters Without Borders’ latest World Press Freedom Index, down from 80 in 2021.

Selina Cheng, chair of the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) and a former reporter for The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), center, leaves Eastern Magistrates' Court during a session break during her case against the paper's parent company, Dow Jones Publishing Co (Asia) Inc., in Hong Kong on Thursday, Dec 18, 2025. (AP Photo/May James)

Selina Cheng, center, chair of the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) and a former reporter for The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), leaves Eastern Magistrates' Court during the session break, together with her legal team, barrister Nicklaus Pannu-Yuon, left, senior counsel Nigel Kat, second left and solicitor Adam Paul Clermont, right, for her case against the paper's parent company, Dow Jones Publishing Co (Asia) Inc., in Hong Kong on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/May James)

Selina Cheng, right, chair of the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) and a former reporter for The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), leaves Eastern Magistrates' Court during a session break, together with her legal team, barrister Nicklaus Pannu-Yuon, left, senior counsel Nigel Kat, second left and solicitor Adam Paul Clermont, center back, for her case against the paper's parent company, Dow Jones Publishing Co (Asia) Inc., in Hong Kong on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/May James)