Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton receives biggest fine of the week

Key Highlights

• After the play, Singleton got up and tapped his helmet three times, a gesture the league likely viewed unfavorably.‘Small market’ Jaguars showed up against Broncos at Mile HighThe fines came in a 34-20 loss that snapped Denver’s winning streak, as Jacksonville showed the are a real threat to win the AFC South. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhat drew the most attention, however, was the postgame back-and-forth between the head coaches after Sean Payton referred to Jacksonville as a “small market” team — a comment that quickly became bulletin-board material.
• Jaguars (11-4) coach Liam Coen leaned into the label after the win, saying it felt good for a “small market” team to come into Denver (13-3) and win. Broncos bounced back, clinched division titleThe Broncos, though, responded on Christmas Day, bouncing back with a victory over the Mahomes-less Kansas City Chiefs (6-10). Denver also heard more good news on Saturday after the Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) lost to the league’s best defense in the Houston Texans (11-5).
• As a result, the Broncos clinched their first division title since winning the AFC West in five straight seasons from 2011 to 2015, and will soon host their first playoff game since the 2016 AFC Championship Game that propelled Denver to Super Bowl 50. Denver also became the first team in the AFC to secure a division crown this season and just the second team in the NFL to do so.