NFL Week 16 Sunday Slate preview: Broncos vs. Jaguars, Ravens vs. Patriots

Written by: Miles Jordan,Tyler Zajac •

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NFL Week 16 preview

Jaguars vs. Broncos

Denver has become the epicenter of the sports world, and the Broncos are making sure football is part of that conversation. With the Nuggets and Avalanche setting championship standards in Colorado, the NFL-best Broncos (12-2) look to keep the city buzzing when they host the surging Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4) on Sunday at Empower Field. The matchup between AFC division leaders feels every bit like a playoff preview.

Jaguars

Jacksonville arrives in Denver playing its best football of the season. Behind quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who is thriving in Liam Coen’s offense, the Jaguars have rattled off five straight wins while outscoring opponents 171-72. Lawrence has built strong chemistry with midseason addition Jakobi Meyers, and the offense is averaging nearly 33 points per game since the bye week.

Defensively, Jacksonville has been opportunistic, collecting 18 interceptions and sitting at plus-10 in turnover differential. The Jaguars have also already beaten every other AFC West team and can complete a rare season sweep of the division with a win Sunday — something they haven’t done since 2007.

The challenge will be maintaining that momentum late in the game at altitude, where Denver has consistently worn teams down in the fourth quarter.

Broncos

The Broncos have turned Empower Field into a house of horrors for visiting teams, outscoring opponents 115-51 in the fourth quarter this season. Second-year quarterback Bo Nix has emerged as one of the league’s most efficient passers, posting a 22-10 touchdown-to-interception ratio while leading 10 comeback wins.

Denver’s defense has been relentless, piling up 58 sacks and fueling the team’s longest winning streak since 2012. Though the Broncos have already clinched a playoff spot, coach Sean Payton has stressed that bigger goals remain, including securing the AFC’s No. 1 seed and a first-round bye.

Adding another layer to Sunday’s matchup is the return of former Bronco Tim Patrick, now with Jacksonville, while Courtland Sutton and company are focused on continuing Denver’s winning tradition — and perhaps being the next team to bring a championship parade to the Mile High City.

Injury report

Broncos

This week’s Banged Up Score (BUS): 83.8

Last 4 weeks’ BUS:

Week 12: BYE

Week 13: 83.6

Week 14: 81.6

Week 15: 84.4

The only players on the Broncos' active roster ruled out of the big matchup against the Jaguars are LBs Justin Strnad and Karene Reid. Strnad left last week’s game against the Packers with a foot injury, and Reid was recently activated after being on IR with a hamstring issue he’s had since Week 10, but isn’t quite ready to play. While these injuries limit the Broncos' depth at linebacker, neither player is a defensive starter, so the key players mainly responsible for the Broncos' success this season are ready to go.

Jaguars

This week’s Banged Up Score (BUS): 87.8

Last 4 weeks’ BUS:

Week 12: 81.2

Week 13: 86.2

Week 14: 86.3

Week 15: 90.1

The Jaguars have been one of the healthiest teams this season, with only one week’s Banged Up Score dropping below 80. This week’s injury report has only two players ruled out: backup defensive end Danny Striggow, who’s out with an ankle injury, and running back Bhayshul Tuten, who recently had surgery for a finger injury.

Ravens vs. Patriots

Two teams heading in opposite emotional directions collide Sunday night with playoff stakes on the line. The Baltimore Ravens are coming off their most complete performance of the season, while the New England Patriots are looking to rebound from a rare late collapse. With postseason positioning at stake, the AFC contenders meet under the lights at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday Night Football.

Ravens

Baltimore (7-7) steadied its season with a dominant 24-0 win over the Bengals in Week 15, snapping a two-game skid and keeping its playoff hopes alive. Lamar Jackson threw two touchdown passes and showed renewed confidence pushing the ball downfield, while Derrick Henry powered the offense with a 100-yard rushing day on just 11 carries.

The Ravens were efficient on both sides of the ball, averaging 7.8 yards per play and allowing only 4.2 defensively. The defense also forced two turnovers, highlighted by a Kyle Van Noy interception that turned into a memorable pick-six after he lateraled to Alohi Gilman for an 84-yard score.

With Baltimore chasing Pittsburgh in the AFC North and trailing in tiebreakers, this matchup shapes up as a must-win if the Ravens want to keep control of their postseason destiny.

Patriots

New England enters Week 16 trying to shake off a stunning 35-31 loss to Buffalo after leading 21-0. The Patriots’ defense surrendered touchdowns on five straight drives, and quarterback Drake Maye struggled in the second half after an electric opening two quarters.

Despite the setback, the Patriots can still clinch a playoff berth with a win in Baltimore. Maye remains the engine of the offense with his ability to threaten defenses as both a passer and runner, though consistency will be critical against a Ravens defense that has played better in recent weeks.

New England will also need a sharper performance against the run. After being among the league’s strongest run defenses early in the season, the Patriots have slipped late — a concern with Derrick Henry looming on the opposite sideline.

Injury report

Patriots

This week’s Banged Up Score (BUS): 78.6

Last 4 weeks’ BUS:

Week 12: 81.5

Week 13: 79.8

Week 14: BYE

Week 15: 80.3

It’s been a bumpy road for the Patriots’ defense, and that will continue this week as they face Baltimore without their leading tackler, linebacker Robert Spillane. Spillane has been managing an ankle injury and watched the Week 15 game from the sidelines in a walking boot. Fellow linebacker Harold Landry III is listed as questionable with a knee injury, but he appears to have traveled to Baltimore with the team, so it’s likely he will play. On the d-line, defensive end Christian Barmore has trended the wrong way all week, as it seems he is dealing with a new knee injury, but he has not been ruled out at this point. Defensive backs Marcus Jones and Carlton Davis III have both expressed feeling ready to go as they’ve managed knee and hip injuries, respectively, but ultimately, it will be a team decision.

Ravens

This week’s Banged Up Score (BUS): 79.9

Last 4 weeks’ BUS:

Week 12: 81.4

Week 13: 79.1

Week 14: 79.0

Week 15: 80.1

The Ravens’ weekly injury report is long, and clearly shows that some form of illness was going around, affecting defensive end Brent Urban, defensive tackle John Jenkins, and quarterback Lamar Jackson. Urban and Jenkins are listed as questionable, while Jackson is good to go. On the offensive line, offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley (knee/ankle), who plays a key role in keeping Lamar Jackson on his feet, is listed as questionable. Also questionable are. Safety Kyle Hamilton (ankle) and Chidobe Awuzie (foot). It’s likely that Hamilton will play, but Owuzie is doubtful.

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