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Continuing to look ahead to Sunday's AFC wild-card game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Buffalo Bills, let's take a look at three things to know about this matchup.
To see how the Jaguars and Bills compare in a number of key metrics and who may have the advantage, you can find that here.
The Bills enter the postseason with one of the best rushing offenses in football, and the Jaguars have one of the best run defenses.
Led by James Cook, the Bills are averaging 5.0 yards per rush as a team -- the second-best mark in football. Cook led all running backs this season in rushing yards, while quarterback Josh Allen led all quarterbacks in rushing yards and scored 14 touchdowns on the ground.
Jacksonville ranks fifth in yards per rush and is giving up a league-best 85 rushing yards per game.
For much of the second half of the season, it's been tough sledding in the run game for the Jaguars' offense. As Liam Coen said a few weeks ago, there's been some meat left on the bone in that regard.
The 4.0 yards per carry that the Jaguars are averaging as a team ranks 27th in the NFL. As we dove into recently, as good as the Jaguars' offense has been, there is another level to reach if a strong run game can be paired with Trevor Lawrence's current level of play.
Buffalo's run defense is surrendering 5.1 yards per carry on the year, which is the third-most in football.
These two aren't actually going up against each other -- they are facing the opposing defenses. But this is a marquee quarterback matchup.
Lawrence's play has taken off during the second half of the season as his comfort in Liam Coen's offense has grown.
Over the Jaguars' eight-game winning streak, Lawrence is completing 63% of his passes. His 1,856 passing yards are the fourth-most among quarterbacks during that span, and he ranks third in yards per pass attempt.
Lawrence also has the second-most touchdown passes and the fifth-lowest turnover-worthy play rate over that stretch of games as well, according to PFF.
Allen, meanwhile, has completed almost 70% of his passes this season for 3,668 yards with 25 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. For the season, Allen ranks fifth in yards per pass attempt, 11th in big-time throws, per PFF, and fourth in completion rate.
Both quarterbacks can extend and make plays with their legs as well.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: 3 key matchups in Jaguars vs. Bills AFC wild-card game
Continue reading...
To see how the Jaguars and Bills compare in a number of key metrics and who may have the advantage, you can find that here.
A big battle in the run game
The Bills enter the postseason with one of the best rushing offenses in football, and the Jaguars have one of the best run defenses.
Led by James Cook, the Bills are averaging 5.0 yards per rush as a team -- the second-best mark in football. Cook led all running backs this season in rushing yards, while quarterback Josh Allen led all quarterbacks in rushing yards and scored 14 touchdowns on the ground.
Jacksonville ranks fifth in yards per rush and is giving up a league-best 85 rushing yards per game.
Speaking of the run game, can the Jaguars get theirs going?
For much of the second half of the season, it's been tough sledding in the run game for the Jaguars' offense. As Liam Coen said a few weeks ago, there's been some meat left on the bone in that regard.
The 4.0 yards per carry that the Jaguars are averaging as a team ranks 27th in the NFL. As we dove into recently, as good as the Jaguars' offense has been, there is another level to reach if a strong run game can be paired with Trevor Lawrence's current level of play.
Buffalo's run defense is surrendering 5.1 yards per carry on the year, which is the third-most in football.
Josh Allen vs. Trevor Lawrence
These two aren't actually going up against each other -- they are facing the opposing defenses. But this is a marquee quarterback matchup.
Lawrence's play has taken off during the second half of the season as his comfort in Liam Coen's offense has grown.
Over the Jaguars' eight-game winning streak, Lawrence is completing 63% of his passes. His 1,856 passing yards are the fourth-most among quarterbacks during that span, and he ranks third in yards per pass attempt.
Lawrence also has the second-most touchdown passes and the fifth-lowest turnover-worthy play rate over that stretch of games as well, according to PFF.
Allen, meanwhile, has completed almost 70% of his passes this season for 3,668 yards with 25 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. For the season, Allen ranks fifth in yards per pass attempt, 11th in big-time throws, per PFF, and fourth in completion rate.
Both quarterbacks can extend and make plays with their legs as well.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: 3 key matchups in Jaguars vs. Bills AFC wild-card game
Continue reading...
