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The Buffalo Bills pulled out a stunning come-from-behind victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Wild Card round of the 2025 playoffs. Buffalo’s 27-24 win at Jacksonville is the Bills first road win in 23 years.
Josh Allen led a nine-play, 66-yard drive culminating with a one-yard touchdown to put the Bills ahead by three points with just over one minute remaining in regulation.
On the subsequent drive, Tre’Davious White tipped a Trevor Lawrence pass. Safety Cole Bishop caught the tipped pass, securing the victory for Buffalo.
The Bills will travel to Denver, the AFC’s No.1 playoff seed, next weekend in the AFC Divisional Round.
Here is how we graded Buffalo’s performance from Sunday afternoon at EverBank Stadium:
Nothing was easy for the Bills against the Jaguars defense. For the most part, Jacksonville took away the deep passing option for Buffalo. The Bills had to settle for shorter passes and quick timing throws. In addition, the Jaguars pressure made it difficult for routes to develop.
Even so, Allen took what Jacksonville allowed, and the 2024 MVP rallied to complete 28-of-35 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown.
The intermediate passing game was on display, and Khalil Shakir was the prime recipient against this defensive scheme. Shakir caught 12 passes, good for the second-most in Buffalo playoff history, for 82 yards.
Brandin Cooks looked as close to a No. 1 boundary receiver as Buffalo has seen this year, catching three passes (and a controversial dropped pass) for 58 yards. Cooks found a hole in the Jaguars secondary for a massive 36-yard reception to set up the Bills score.
Buffalo’s tight ends played a supplementary role in the passing attack. Dalton Kincaid caught three passes for 28 yards and a touchdown, while Dawson Knox recorded three receptions for 30 yards.
It was a tough day at the office for Buffalo’s running attack. Jacksonville clearly demonstrated why they are the best-run defense in the league. The Jaguars bottled up James Cook all game long.
To the Bills credit, they remained patient and kept feeding Cook. Cook rushed 15 times for 46 yards, good for an average of 3.1 yards per carry. However, many of Cook’s first-down rushes did not put the Bills in a good spot on second down.
Josh Allen ran 11 times for 33 yards and two touchdowns. The Bills used Allen as a snowplow on several plays.
The Bills will need another plan for the rushing game, especially after seeing Allen take so many hits in this game.
Buffalo’s pass defense held strong in this game. It was far from perfect, but the unit did a solid job of preventing the Jaguars from completely breaking out.
Parker Washington had a big game for Jacksonville, catching seven passes for 107 yards and a touchdown. The Bills gave up touchdown passes to Trevor Etienne Jr. and Brian Thomas Jr.
Buffalo gave up 207 passing yards to Trevor Lawrence and three touchdown passes.
In addition, Buffalo’s pass rush was inconsistent throughout the game. Greg Rousseau recorded the Bills lone sack. Buffalo, as a defensive unit, was credited with only three quarterback hits.
However, the group made big plays when they needed to. Tre’Davious White had a stellar game, blanketing Jaguars receivers. White recorded three passes defensed, including the defensive play of the game that gave the Bills the victory.
Shaq Thompson and Cole Bishop recorded interceptions.
I can’t give them an F due to the victory, but Buffalo’s run defense was carved up again. Travis Etienne Jr. rushed 10 times for 67 yards. Bhayshul Tuten ripped off four carries for 49 yards. And, Lawrence scrambled six times for 31 yards.
All told, the Bills gave up an average of 6.7 yards per carry.
The Jaguars didn’t abandon the run game, but their insistence on not calling run plays was borderline criminal. Lawrence attempted 30 passes compared to the Jaguars 23 rushing attempts. The Bills received a gift with the Jacksonville playcalling.
Matt Prater returned and nailed all of his kicks. All fears of his quad injury were assuaged when the veteran kicker nailed a 50-yard field goal in the first half.
Mitch Wishnowsky landed a coffin corner kick at the three-yard line, which was a great flip of field position for the Bills. He punted three times for a 43.3-yard average.
Ray Davis faltered this week in the return game. After being named as a Special teams All-Pro kick returner, Davis was responsible for Buffalo’s only turnover, a fumble on a kick return. He did respond with an average of 29.8 yards for the four kick returns.
Sean McDermott guided Buffalo to its first road playoff victory in over two decades. Kudos to McDermott for guiding an injury-ridden team to a massive victory.
McDermott was successful on his only challenge, which reversed a fourth-down conversion by Lawrence.
The defense held strong in this game. There is still a lot that needs to be done, but it’s admirable that the group, down several players due to injuries, made plays when it mattered the most. Bobby Babich and McDermott will need to ratchet up their creativity, especially if several starters cannot return to the field next week.
Offensive coordinator Joe Brady still makes some questionable play calls. The group was unable to get James Cook involved in the game, which was worrisome. Also, using your quarterback as a battering ram and watching him visit the blue tent is nothing but concerning. The quick passing game worked, but the offense will need more flexibility with its playcalling to set up the offense in stronger positions.
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: Report card: Bills beat Jaguars, 27-24, in wild card
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Josh Allen led a nine-play, 66-yard drive culminating with a one-yard touchdown to put the Bills ahead by three points with just over one minute remaining in regulation.
On the subsequent drive, Tre’Davious White tipped a Trevor Lawrence pass. Safety Cole Bishop caught the tipped pass, securing the victory for Buffalo.
The Bills will travel to Denver, the AFC’s No.1 playoff seed, next weekend in the AFC Divisional Round.
Here is how we graded Buffalo’s performance from Sunday afternoon at EverBank Stadium:
Passing offense: A-
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Nothing was easy for the Bills against the Jaguars defense. For the most part, Jacksonville took away the deep passing option for Buffalo. The Bills had to settle for shorter passes and quick timing throws. In addition, the Jaguars pressure made it difficult for routes to develop.
Even so, Allen took what Jacksonville allowed, and the 2024 MVP rallied to complete 28-of-35 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown.
The intermediate passing game was on display, and Khalil Shakir was the prime recipient against this defensive scheme. Shakir caught 12 passes, good for the second-most in Buffalo playoff history, for 82 yards.
Brandin Cooks looked as close to a No. 1 boundary receiver as Buffalo has seen this year, catching three passes (and a controversial dropped pass) for 58 yards. Cooks found a hole in the Jaguars secondary for a massive 36-yard reception to set up the Bills score.
Buffalo’s tight ends played a supplementary role in the passing attack. Dalton Kincaid caught three passes for 28 yards and a touchdown, while Dawson Knox recorded three receptions for 30 yards.
Run offense: D+
You must be registered for see images attach
It was a tough day at the office for Buffalo’s running attack. Jacksonville clearly demonstrated why they are the best-run defense in the league. The Jaguars bottled up James Cook all game long.
To the Bills credit, they remained patient and kept feeding Cook. Cook rushed 15 times for 46 yards, good for an average of 3.1 yards per carry. However, many of Cook’s first-down rushes did not put the Bills in a good spot on second down.
Josh Allen ran 11 times for 33 yards and two touchdowns. The Bills used Allen as a snowplow on several plays.
The Bills will need another plan for the rushing game, especially after seeing Allen take so many hits in this game.
Pass defense: B-
You must be registered for see images
Buffalo’s pass defense held strong in this game. It was far from perfect, but the unit did a solid job of preventing the Jaguars from completely breaking out.
Parker Washington had a big game for Jacksonville, catching seven passes for 107 yards and a touchdown. The Bills gave up touchdown passes to Trevor Etienne Jr. and Brian Thomas Jr.
Buffalo gave up 207 passing yards to Trevor Lawrence and three touchdown passes.
In addition, Buffalo’s pass rush was inconsistent throughout the game. Greg Rousseau recorded the Bills lone sack. Buffalo, as a defensive unit, was credited with only three quarterback hits.
However, the group made big plays when they needed to. Tre’Davious White had a stellar game, blanketing Jaguars receivers. White recorded three passes defensed, including the defensive play of the game that gave the Bills the victory.
Shaq Thompson and Cole Bishop recorded interceptions.
Run defense: D-
You must be registered for see images
I can’t give them an F due to the victory, but Buffalo’s run defense was carved up again. Travis Etienne Jr. rushed 10 times for 67 yards. Bhayshul Tuten ripped off four carries for 49 yards. And, Lawrence scrambled six times for 31 yards.
All told, the Bills gave up an average of 6.7 yards per carry.
The Jaguars didn’t abandon the run game, but their insistence on not calling run plays was borderline criminal. Lawrence attempted 30 passes compared to the Jaguars 23 rushing attempts. The Bills received a gift with the Jacksonville playcalling.
Special teams: B-
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Matt Prater returned and nailed all of his kicks. All fears of his quad injury were assuaged when the veteran kicker nailed a 50-yard field goal in the first half.
Mitch Wishnowsky landed a coffin corner kick at the three-yard line, which was a great flip of field position for the Bills. He punted three times for a 43.3-yard average.
Ray Davis faltered this week in the return game. After being named as a Special teams All-Pro kick returner, Davis was responsible for Buffalo’s only turnover, a fumble on a kick return. He did respond with an average of 29.8 yards for the four kick returns.
Coaching: B
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Sean McDermott guided Buffalo to its first road playoff victory in over two decades. Kudos to McDermott for guiding an injury-ridden team to a massive victory.
McDermott was successful on his only challenge, which reversed a fourth-down conversion by Lawrence.
The defense held strong in this game. There is still a lot that needs to be done, but it’s admirable that the group, down several players due to injuries, made plays when it mattered the most. Bobby Babich and McDermott will need to ratchet up their creativity, especially if several starters cannot return to the field next week.
Offensive coordinator Joe Brady still makes some questionable play calls. The group was unable to get James Cook involved in the game, which was worrisome. Also, using your quarterback as a battering ram and watching him visit the blue tent is nothing but concerning. The quick passing game worked, but the offense will need more flexibility with its playcalling to set up the offense in stronger positions.
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: Report card: Bills beat Jaguars, 27-24, in wild card
Continue reading...
