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Key events
I’ve got mail! David chimes in with a sobering reminder of this pair’s last meeting in the playoffs back in 2017.
“Well, this already has more points than the previous Bills-Jags wildcard game, an infamously attritional 10-3 scrap that I mostly remember for my husband (who supported the Jags at the time) being the most drunk I’ve ever seen him, including after his dad died a few months later.
Honestly quite glad he doesn’t follow the sport now …”
Well, that escalated quickly. Me too though, drinking and NFL do not mix. It just lasts too long!
Bills 10-7 Jaguars 3:45, 2nd quarter
Josh Allen is clearly bothered by the pain in his throwing hand. A first throw since the injury sails way past the intended target. The next finds Gabe Davis a yard short of the 1st down. Tony Romo is impressed and reckons everything is going to be OK. And breathe. James Cook bundles over for the 1st down.
Bills 10-7 Jaguars 4:35, 2nd quarter
Another wobbler from Lawrence as the Bills throw a blanket over his receivers. Punt puts Buffalo driving from their 30-yard line. What a change in momentum with Trevor’s shin the difference between what could have been a 14-3 lead to now Josh Allen driving with a huge amount of clock left to work with. The Jags need a lift from their defense here.
Bills 10-7 Jaguars 4:47, 2nd quarter
Allen is watching along fairly happily and almost very happily as Trevor Lawrence throws a tipped ball. It falls just short of Shaq Thompson who might have had a pick six had he been standing a few feet closer. Or so Tony Romo says.
TOUCHDOWN! Bills 10-7 Jaguars 5:37, 2nd quarter
Well, it doesn’t matter if you have a sore throwing hand if you just smash in with your legs. He looks to have twisted a knee though as he reaches for it on the deck. Buffalo have the lead but their QB has been evaluated for a concussion, has a sore throwing hand and now has banged up his knee a bit and heads to the blue tent and out again for a second time. But a flesh wound.
Bills 3-7 Jaguars 5:45, 2nd quarter
Keon Coleman finds space by hitting the brakes after beating the first DB. A wonderful piece of presence of mind buys a 36-yard gain on the grab and Buffalo are 1st & Goal. The price of the play though is Josh Allen smashing his throwing hand into a lineman’s helmet. He looks to be in a lot of pain. James Cook is stuffed on the first two shots near the goal line. Two more attempts on the way for the Bills to take the lead.
Bills 3-7 Jaguars 7:45, 2nd quarter
Cook is back out there at midfield after an amazing grab by Brandin Cooks. The running back hesitates to shake a defender at the line of scrimmage but Travon Walker ain’t buying. 2nd and 10, the Bills call a timeout.
Bills 3-7 Jaguars 9:21, 2nd quarter
Here we go. The Bills get James Cook moving finally with a toss to the left. He picks up 11 yards and the 1st down. He just may have picked up an injury too though as he hobbles away after a big hit to his legs.
Bills 3-7 Jaguars 11:21, 2nd quarter
Reversed! Josh Allen and company trot back out with 90 yards to travel. Lots of drama with three turnovers already so far with both teams playing strong defense.
Bills 3-7 Jaguars 11:21, 2nd quarter
Lawrence keeps it and dives over. Did he make it? We have a virtual measurement. The robots say … beep boop … YES! 1st & Goal … but will Buffalo challenge? Yes. And thank heavens Sean McDermott did as Jim Nantz was about to go down to the sideline and sort him out if he didn’t. Looks like Trevor’s shin hits the turf before he gets over and a huge turnover on downs may be on the way.
Bills 3-7 Jaguars 11:25, 2nd quarter
Jakobi Meyers keeps the chains moving, or did he? The daisy-cutter catch for 12 yards looks a little iffy but the Jags snap the ball quickly. With 17 yards to go Lawrence takes a sack on 2nd down. Great chance to force a field goal with 12 yards … Lawrence sets off on the scramble but just comes up short! Head coach Liam Coen says go for it on 4th and 2. Pressure! Well, until Coen calls the timeout.
Bills 3-7 Jaguars 13:45, 2nd quarter
Ray Davis the guilty party who looks to be a little hurt after the fumble. Jaguars takeover on offense at Buffalo’s 36-yard line. Travis Etienne picks up seven on the ground to start this drive.
Bills 3-7 Jaguars 14:05, 2nd quarter
OK Buffalo, what have you got? A fumble on the kick return. JAGS BALL!!!! Oh my. Buster Brown lays on the hit to knock the ball out.
TOUCHDOWN! Bills 3-7 Jaguars 14:14, 2nd quarter
On 1st & Goal Brenton Strange goes nowhere on a short pass. Not to worry as Trevor Lawrence throws a dime to Brian Thomas hovering just inside the endzone. The ball is thrown up and away from the receiver for him to grab away from the defender. Easy.
Bills 3-0 Jaguars 0:00, 1st quarter
Two bruising runs from Bhayshul Tuten of 20 and 14 yards smash the Jaguars into the red zone. Looks like Buffalo were expecting pass. It doesn’t come for a third time as Tuten bowls them inside the five-yard line with another 13-yard run to end the quarter. He’s flying!
Bills 3-0 Jaguars 1:32, 1st quarter
Josh Allen is out with tablet computer in hand. All looks to be OK. Phew. The Jaguars pick up a 1st down with a short pass to Brenton Strange then another to Travis Etienne puts them at midfield.
Sideline reporter says Allen is officially cleared of concussion while Jaguars receiver Parker Washington is being evaluated for a concussion too.
It’s GOOD! Bills 3-0 Jaguars 2:54, 1st quarter
Big stop from the Jaguars who throw up a brick wall with a three and out. Trevor Lawrence will be feeling a little brighter on the sideline. Meanwhile Josh Allen is in the blue tent after being tackled on 3rd down. Bad news, Bills. Let’s hope he returns to the game on their next drive.
PICK! Bills 0-0 Jaguars 5:02, 1st quarter
Ooooh so close! After moving the sticks Lawrence is almost picked off as a wobbly throw bounces off Parker Washington’s hands and almost into a defenders. The next effort is PICKED though. Shaq Thompson on the money with the interception and a 22-yard return. Disguised coverage outfoxes the QB completely and Thompson makes the easy catch. The Bills about 30 yards out from the opening score.
Bills 0-0 Jaguars 6:51, 1st quarter
Josh Allen felt the pressure there and had to get rid of it with an inaccurate throw to his tight end. Trevor Lawrence has a second crack and the drives stalls a touch after a penalty forces the Jags back to 2nd and 12. The quarterback is not best pleased.
Bills 0-0 Jaguars 7:51, 1st quarter
The Bills want a pass interference call as Dalton Kincaid dives to make a grab but misses on 3rd down. Buffalo punt at their 40-yard line, Parker Washington raises his hand for the fair catch at his 20.
Bills 0-0 Jaguars 9:22, 1st quarter
There is a seriously charged atmosphere in Jacksonville. The jeers are popping off while Josh Allen picks up another 1st down with a 10-yard pass to Brandin Cooks on the right sideline. Before that a Bill and Jag were locking facemasks. Spicy.
Bills 0-0 Jaguars 11:22, 1st quarter
On 2nd down Josh Allen drops back to his own goal line to give himself room to find a receiver but Khalil Shakir is swallowed up. He does so again on 3rd down but this time they move the chains with a 14-yard gain from Tyrell Shavers. A neat curl route shook Shavers loose.
Bills 0-0 Jaguars 13:42, 1st quarter
Buffalo force a quick three and out after stuffing the run behind the line of scrimmage on 1st down. The punt is a good one, despite almost being blocked, and will start Josh Allen on the five-yard line.
Bills 0-0 Jaguars 14:28, 1st quarter
Buffalo have kicked off. Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars offense get going around the 33-yard line. Let’s go!
Here he is … just a few minutes away from kick-off now!
Meanwhile, ESPN analytics share the opinion that this is possibly too close to call. They say Buffalo have a 49.8% chance to win and Jacksonville have a (100-49.8=???) 50.2% shot at the W. Thank heavens for analytics, we would be up the creek without you.
“Be you” has been the message from Jaguars head coach Liam Coen to quarterback Trevor Lawrence this season. The simple mantra appears to have unlocked his potential in running the ball as well as through the air in a career year in the NFL. Lawrence scored nine rushing touchdowns, almost double his previous best of five from 2022, while throwing a career-best 29 scores too, four better than 2022. Buffalo are going to have be pin-sharp on defense to stop him.
So how about those Bears then?! A first playoff win since 2010 featuring the largest comeback in franchise playoff history while inflicting the biggest blown lead in Packers history is really rather impressive, isn’t it?
Head coach Ben Johnson’s first year in Chicago has transformed the team from a rabble into never-say-die warriors. So how far can this rising force go? Who they face next is, of course, crucial. If the 49ers beat the Eagles then they host the Rams next weekend and if the 49ers lose then the Eagles head to Soldier Field. If forced to choose you might think Caleb Williams and company would prefer a visit from the Eagles. We shall see.
On the CBS broadcast Nate Burleson is billing Bills v Jags as pressure v opportunity. A rather apt way of looking at it considering where these teams are at. Another juicy nugget they dropped was how important Jacksonville’s trade for Jakobi Meyers has been. The Jaguars are 8-1 since acquiring the wide receiver.
Preamble
Well, well, well … if it isn’t wildcard weekend as I live and breathe! The Rams and Bears kicked off proceedings rather well last night, didn’t they? Dramatic doesn’t even begin to cover it so we can chop up yesterday’s action a bit in a mo. Before that let’s just hope the tone has been set for another pair of thrillers to pour over for the next few hours. First up we have maybe the most delicately poised matchup of the first round in the AFC’s bracket starting at 12pm CST/1pm EST/6pm GMT:
Then another close call in the final wildcard battle from the NFC at 3.30pm CST/4.30pm EST/9.30pm GMT:
Who are we picking to come out on top? A prediction on either feels a bit like waving a finger in the air. However, if pushed I like the Bills and Eagles to find a way. The magic Josh Allen can produce in the tightest of spots for Buffalo and Philadelphia’s mighty defense schemed up by coordinator Vic Fangio (who owns a 3-1 record over 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan) are the factors just tipping the scales, in my scratchy opinion.
