Jacksonville, Fla. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - For the first time in 33 years, the Buffalo Bills go on the road in the playoffs and earn a victory, beating the Jacksonville Jaguars, 27-24, on Sunday in the AFC Wild Card Round at EverBank Stadium.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen picks up his first-career road postseason win, as he carried Buffalo to a win and a trip to the AFC Divisional Round next weekend.
The Bills went to work defensively to start the game, and were able to set an early tone by forcing Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars to a three-and-out.
On the first offensive drive for the Bills, Allen was able to put together a few good plays, but were unable to put any points on the board. Buffalo chewed 5:38 off the clock, but ended up punting back to Jacksonville.
The following Jaguars drive resulted in a turnover, as Lawrence ended up being picked off by Bills linebacker Shaq Thompson, setting Buffalo up for a drive start at the Jacksonville 33-yard line.
The Bills were unable to do much of anything on the ensuing drive, but maintained their spot in field goal range for Matt Prater to boot a 50-yard field goal to give Buffalo its first lead of the day.
The Jaguars wasted no time, though, storming back and grabbing the lead from Buffalo on their next drive.
The Jacksonville offense quickly maneuvered down the field as the drive bled into the second quarter, ending with a Lawrence three-yard pass to wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. for a touchdown and a 7-3 Jaguars lead.
On the ensuing kickoff, Ray Davis took a shot and fumbled the football, which was recovered by the Jaguars at the Buffalo 36-yard line.
Despite the turnover, the Bills defense bailed the team out with a key fourth-down stop inside the Buffalo red zone. It was Thompson who was able to make contact with Lawrence just before he reached the line to gain for a first down on a run play to force a turnover on downs.
The Bills offense responded in tow, marching 92 yards down the field in 10 plays, while chewing 5:42 of game clock in the second quarter. The drive ended with a two-yard touchdown run from Allen, who came off the field hobbled after injuring his knee.
After the Bills and Jaguars exchanged punts, Jacksonville had one last chance in the first half to put some points on the board and tie the game heading into halftime. However, a 54-yard kick from kicker Cam Little ended up tailing just far enough to the left to miss the upright.
The second half started with the Bills offense getting back into field goal range, and settling for a 47-yard kick from Prater to put the Bills up by six, 13-7.
The Jaguars offense was also able to produce points on its opening drive of the half, but like the Bills, they had to settle for a 43-yard field goal from Little to cut into the Bills' lead.
After a three-and-out drive that saw the Bills go backwards, then being followed by a rare shanked punt from Mitch Wishnowsky, the Jaguars took advantage on their next drive and re-took the lead with a six-yard touchdown strike from Lawrence to wideout Parker Washington.
Despite facing a sudden momentum shift, the Buffalo offense did not falter, and responded with a touchdown drive to retake the lead with less than nine minutes remaining. Allen was able to connect with tight end Dalton Kincaid on a 15-yard throw to put the Bills back in front, 20-17.
In just under five minutes, Lawrence put together another go-ahead drive for the Jaguars that ended with a 14-yard catch-and-run pass to running back Travis Etienne Jr.
With 4:03 left in regulation, Allen and the Bills went right to work, stretching 66 yards down the field and right back into the end zone.
After a huge 36-yard connection with Brandin Cooks, followed shortly by a 10-yard run off a "tush push", Allen was able to use his feet again to power his way into the end zone and and give Buffalo a 27-24 lead with 1:04 to go.
Despite having no timeouts remaining, Lawrence and the Jaguars had a chance to drive down the field and score a go-ahead touchdown, or simply get into field goal range to give Little a chance to tie the game.
However, on the very first play from scrimmage, a Lawrence pass intended for wide receiver Jakobi Meyers was broken up by Tre'Davious White, and picked off by safety Cole Bishop to seal Jacksonville's fate, and clinch Buffalo's first road playoff win since the 1992 season.
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SCORING RECAP
First Quarter:
- 3-0 BUFFALO: Bills Field Goal (2:54) - Matt Prater's 50-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 4 plays, 1 yard, 2:21
Second Quarter:
- 7-3 JACKSONVILLE: Jaguars Touchdown (14:14) - Trevor Lawrence finds Brian Thomas Jr. for a 3-yard touchdown pass. (Cam Little's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 7 plays, 65 yards, 3:40
- 10-7 BUFFALO: Bills Touchdown (5:37) - Josh Allen takes in a 2-yard touchdown run. (Matt Prater's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 10 plays, 92 yards, 5:42
Third Quarter:
- 13-7 BUFFALO: Bills Field Goal (8:12) - Matt Prater's 47-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 11 plays, 45 yards, 6:48
- 13-10 BUFFALO: Jaguars Field Goal (5:47) - Cam Little's 43-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 6 plays, 40 yards, 2:25
Fourth Quarter:
- 17-13 JACKSONVILLE: Jaguars Touchdown (12:55) - Trevor Lawrence fires a 6-yard strike to Parker Washington for a touchdown. (Cam Little's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 11 plays, 62 yards, 6:03
- 20-17 BUFFALO: Bills Touchdown (8:56) - Josh Allen tosses a 15-yard pass Dalton Kincaid for a touchdown. (Matt Prater's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 9 plays, 65 yards, 3:59
- 24-20 JACKSONVILLE: Jaguars Touchdown (4:03) - Trevor Lawrence connects with Travis Etienne Jr. for a 14-yard catch-and-run touchdown. (Cam Little's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 10 plays, 77 yards, 4:53
- 27-24 BUFFALO: Bills Touchdown (1:02) - Josh Allen powers his way from 1-yard into the end zone for a touchdown (Matt Prater's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 9 plays, 66 yards, 2:59
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SKYWORKS EQUIPMENT RENTAL STATS OF THE GAME:
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What's next:
The Bills will travel on the road for the AFC Divisional Round, this time to face the 1-seed Denver Broncos on Saturday at Empower Field at Mile High. Kickoff has yet to be announced, but catch all the action on the official voice of the Bills - WGR Sports Radio 550.
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