The Jacksonville Jaguars have spent the last month playing the best football of their season.
Entering the playoffs as one of the AFC’s most dangerous underdogs, Jacksonville has silenced critics and turned heads across the league. The offense is clicking. The defense is creating chaos. Special teams has been nothing short of elite.
And now, the league has recognized what Jaguars fans have been watching unfold for weeks.
On Wednesday, the NFL announced that Trevor Lawrence and Cam Little have been named AFC Offensive Player of the Month and AFC Special Teams Player of the Month, respectively, for December and January.
That is not just a feel-good story. That is validation of what this team has become heading into the postseason.
5-0 record Completed 105-of-165 passes for 1,371 yards, 13 TDs, & a 113.5 passer rating 124 rushing yards & 4 rushing TDs
16 is your AFC Offensive Player of the Month for December/January!
Why Trevor Lawrence’s Recognition Was Long Overdue
GettyTrevor Lawrence of The Jaguars with Head Coach Liam Coen.
Lawrence has had doubters all season.
After a shaky start that saw him struggle with consistency and decision-making, critics were quick to question whether he could ever live up to the expectations that came with being the first overall pick. But over the last two months, Lawrence has silenced every one of them.
In December and January, he completed 105 of 165 pass attempts for 1,371 yards, 17 touchdowns, and a 113.5 passer rating. That 17-touchdown mark led the entire league during that stretch, and he became one of just two AFC quarterbacks to eclipse 1,350 passing yards in the final month-plus of the season.
This is the first time Lawrence has won Offensive Player of the Month, and it is well-deserved.
It is also historic for the franchise. The last time a Jaguars quarterback won the award was Mark Brunell in 1996. That is nearly three decades of waiting for Jacksonville to have a quarterback perform at this level over a full month.
Lawrence also earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors in Week 15, nfl/jacksonville-jaguars/trevor-lawrence-nfl-history-jaguars-jets/”>when he became the only player in NFL history to record five passing touchdowns, 300 passing yards, one rushing touchdown, and 50 rushing yards in a single game. That kind of dual-threat dominance has been the difference for Jacksonville down the stretch.
He is playing like a top-10 quarterback right now, and the Jaguars are riding that wave straight into the playoffs.
Cam Little Is Rewriting the Record Books
GettyJacksonville Jaguars K Cam Little made football history with 70-yard FG.
Then there is Little, who has been quietly putting together one of the most ridiculous kicking seasons in NFL history.
The former Arkansas standout has been automatic all season, but his December and January stretch pushed him into another stratosphere entirely. He led the entire league in scoring for the month with 54 points, and he did it without missing a single field goal or extra point attempt.
Let that sink in. Perfect. Every kick. No margin for error.
But it is not just the consistency that has made Little special. It is the range.
In Week 9, Little drilled a 68-yard field goal against the Las Vegas Raiders, the longest field goal in NFL history. Then, in Week 18, he knocked in a 62-yarder to claim the No. 2 spot on the all-time list as well.
According to ESPN research, Little became the first player in NFL history to have multiple field goals from 65-plus yards. And if that was not enough, he showed in the preseason that he has the leg to hit from 70 yards if needed.
🔥 70-YD FG (preseason) 🔥 68-YD FG (NFL record) 🔥 67-YD FG (today)
(via @NFL)
That kind of weapon changes playoff football.
Games are decided by three points or less all the time in the postseason. Having a kicker who can score from distances that feel impossible gives Jacksonville an edge that very few teams can match. Little has essentially extended the Jaguars’ scoring range by 10 to 15 yards compared to the rest of the league.
That is a massive advantage when the margins get razor-thin.
Why the Jaguars Are More Dangerous Than People Realize
Jacksonville is not just hot at the right time. They are well-rounded in a way that very few playoff teams can claim.
Their run defense has been lethal all season, shutting down opposing ground games and forcing teams into uncomfortable passing situations. They create turnovers at a high rate, giving Lawrence short fields and extra possessions to work with.
On offense, Lawrence is operating at an elite level despite playing behind an offensive line that has been inconsistent at best. His ability to extend plays, make throws under pressure, and take over games with both his arm and legs has turned Jacksonville into a nightmare matchup.
And then there is Little, who has removed any doubt about whether the Jaguars can close out tight games. If they get within 70 yards of the end zone, they are in scoring position. That is absurd.
The rest of the league is finally starting to take notice. But for some teams, that realization may come too late.
Final Word for the Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence and Cam Little making franchise history together is not just a milestone.
It is a signal.
The Jaguars are peaking at the exact right time. Lawrence is playing the best football of his career. Little is rewriting what is possible for an NFL kicker. And the defense is giving them the kind of support that makes deep playoff runs possible.
No one expected Jacksonville to be here. That is exactly what makes them so dangerous.
The awards are nice. The recognition is overdue. But what matters now is what comes next.
And if the last two months are any indication, the Jaguars are just getting started.
Jaguars Receive Historic News Before Playoff Push