Jacksonville's 11-4 record and six-game winning streak—second-longest in the NFL—puts the franchise squarely in the conversation as an AFC powerhouse. The Jaguars clinched a playoff berth and remain in play for the AFC's No. 1 overall seed with two games remaining.

Their Week 16 road victory over the Broncos, a team that hadn't lost since September, signaled Jacksonville's arrival on the national stage. In an AFC that feels wide open, here's why the Jaguars belong in any Super Bowl discussion.

1. Trevor Lawrence's Elite Play

Lawrence has shed his reputation for inconsistency as a generational prospect and made exponential leaps under first-year head coach Liam Coen.

The former No. 1 overall pick has become arguably the NFL's hottest quarterback. Over his past four games, Lawrence has posted 14 total touchdowns (12 passing, two rushing) with zero turnovers, including a historic six-touchdown performance against the Jets in Week 15.

Strong pass protection and the midseason acquisition of veteran receiver Jakobi Myers have established rhythm in Jacksonville's passing attack. Lawrence has also excelled on the ground—he's accumulated 322 rushing yards on 72 carries with two games remaining, averaging a career-best 21.5 rushing yards per game.

2. Knack for Takeaways

Jacksonville ranks second in the NFL with 28 takeaways. The defense has forced two or more turnovers nine times this season, including in each of the past four games. Six of those multi-takeaway performances came against currently winning teams.

This relentless ball-hawking does double duty: it keeps opponent scoring manageable while providing offensive opportunities at precisely the right moment. The Jaguars have scored 34 or more points in three straight games.

3. Showing Up Against Great Teams

Jacksonville improved to 6-3 against teams currently over .500 with their Denver victory, including three consecutive wins over the Chargers, Colts, and Broncos.

The Jaguars aren't padding stats against cupcakes. While their current winning streak includes victories over Arizona, Tennessee, and New York, Jacksonville rises to the occasion in big matchups—a hallmark of postseason success.

4. Hard to Run Against Them

Jacksonville boasts the league's top run defense, allowing just 87.3 rushing yards per game. The Jaguars have surrendered 100-plus rushing yards just three times in their past seven contests.

Starting linebacker Foye Oluokun ranks 10th among qualified linebackers with 71 stops, per Next Gen Stats. With the run game becoming critical late in the season and into the playoffs, Jacksonville has shown an ability to neutralize that weapon entirely, forcing opponents into one-dimensional attacks.

5. Fiery Team Persona

Passion courses through this roster, starting with Coen.

After the Denver victory, the first-year coach bristled at the narrative, stating that he's "just thankful that a small-market team like us can come into a place like Mile High and get it done"—a pointed response to Sean Payton's pregame comments about Jacksonville's smaller market. Defensive end Travon Walker added fuel postgame, declaring "F--- everybody but us" in response to talk of bandwagon fans.

Earlier this season, Coen had to be physically restrained during a heated postgame exchange with 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who accused Jacksonville of running a "really advanced, legal, signal-stealing system."

Passion alone doesn't create champions. But a winning team that feels consistently slighted—carrying that chip into January—cannot be dismissed. That mentality emanates from the top.