Discover the unsung heroes and game-changing talents propelling the Jacksonville Jaguars' playoff push. Who will step up when it matters most?
The player getting the most credit for the Jacksonville Jaguars' turnaround is Trevor Lawrence, and with good reason.
The quarterback is generally the player who gets the most praise when his team wins and takes the most heat when his team loses.
Since Jacksonville's offense doesn't have a receiver with the star power of Los Angeles Rams' Puka Nacua, a tight end as lethal as Kyle Pitts of the Atlanta Falcons, or a running back of Baltimore Raven Derrick Henry's caliber (although Jags RB Travis Etienne Jr. eclipsed 1,000 yards), Lawrence's supporting cast has been more of an ensemble.
NFL.com Digital Content Editor Michael Baca highlights this ensemble in a storylines preview for Sunday's Wild-Card game between the Jags and the Buffalo Bills.
One "X-factor" that Baca notes is Parker Washington.
The third-year wideout from Penn State ended the season as the team leader in receptions (58) and receiving yards (847), and he has scored five touchdowns.
Washington's talents extend beyond offense, as he is the Jags' go-to returner on special teams. Baca calls Washington "the Jaguars' home run hitter."
"Washington brought his 2025 touchdown total to seven with a pair of scores on punt returns," Baca wrote, "becoming the first player to have 750-plus receiving yards and multiple punt return TDs in a single season since DeSean Jackson did it in 2009."
Washington's former Nittany Lions teammate, Brenton Strange, has also been a key part of Jacksonville's success, ending the year third on the team with 540 yards and in receptions with 46, adding three touchdowns.
Another key part of Jacksonville's offense is Brian Thomas Jr.
The 2024 first-round pick from LSU took a step back statistically from his mammoth rookie season, when he amassed 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns on 87 catches.
Still, Thomas put up respectable numbers in Year 2, going for 707 yards despite missing three games due to injury, and his yards per catch (14.7) was identical to what it was last season and leads Jacksonville.
It's impossible to talk about Jacksonville's receiving corps without mentioning Jakobi Meyers.
When the team traded for Meyers, the Jaguars were 5-3.
They've gone 8-1 since Meyers came in, and had the Jags not given up a 19-point fourth-quarter lead against the Texans in Houston in Meyers' first game, Jacksonville would be undefeated in the Meyers era.
Meyers has caught at least three passes in all nine of his games, totaling 37 receptions for 439 yards and three touchdowns.
Head coach Liam Coen reflected on the Meyers deal in December.
"I think just the obvious connection between he and Trevor early on, you could feel that there was chemistry there and a guy that's prepared like a true pro since he's got here," Coen said, "and anytime you can get guys like that where you have continued chemistry, and you feel like it gets better each week. I’m really happy for the guy.”
Last, but not least, kicker Cam Little will likely be a big factor for Jacksonville.
The second-year pro out of Arkansas made the two longest field goals in NFL history this season, a record-breaking 68-yard FG in Week 11 and a 67-yarder in the Jags' season finale.
"A kicking weapon like that is a scary proposition for opposing teams," Baca wrote, "especially at the end of each half and potentially (in) overtime."
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