Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - It's now do-or-die time for the Buffalo Bills, as they gear up for an AFC Wild Card showdown this Sunday afternoon against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium.
For the first time since the 2019 season, the Bills will start their playoff push on the road, heading to Jacksonville as the 6-seed in the AFC standings. The Jaguars, meanwhile, finished the 2025 season as the 3-seed and the AFC South champions.
After starting the season a bit shaky and putting up a 4-3 record heading into their bye week, the Jaguars turned things around from there, going 9-1 and finishing the year with eight straight wins, en route to a 13-4 record.
One main key to Jacksonville's success after their bye week was a couple of impactful trades made at the NFL Trade Deadline, acquiring wide receiver Jakobi Myers from the Las Vegas Raiders and cornerback Greg Newsome from the Cleveland Browns.
"They made the trades for Newsome and Jakobi Myers, and it has paid off for them," said Bills head coach Sean McDermott on Friday during his weekly appearance on the "Extra Point Show" on WGR. "They are definitely a team that's in rhythm right now, and we are going to have to play a really good and sound game to beat them."
On the injury front, only three players have been ruled out for Sunday's game: Linebacker Terrel Bernard, safety Damar Hamlin and cornerback Maxwell Hairston. Meanwhile, wide receiver Josh Palmer is questionable to play due to an ankle injury that has been lingering since Week 6 against the Atlanta Falcons.
Outside of Sunday's matchup in Jacksonville, one other notable item surrounding the team is offensive coordinator Joe Brady being asked to interview for another head coaching job. This time, it's with the Baltimore Ravens after they fired longtime head coach John Harbaugh.
While McDermott and his staff remains focused on the playoff matchup with Jacksonville ahead, he admits he's happy for every opportunity Brady can get to interview for a head coaching gig.
"There are only so many opportunities out there, and we have had success on the offensive side. Joe has been a big component, and you are happy when someone gets acknowledged for the job that they have done," McDermott said with Sal Capaccio. "But we try to make it clear that the focus needs to be with this team and situation."
Kickoff on Sunday in Jacksonville is slated for 1 p.m. on WGR Sports Radio 550.
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