The Bills suffered one of the worst losses of the Sean McDermott era on Sunday afternoon, as a heavily-favored Buffalo team found themselves in a field-goal battle with the 1-6 Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville.
With hopes of moving to 6-2 in 2021, the Bills struggled on the offensive side of the football to the tune of just two field goals, both in the first half. Buffalo was shut out after halftime en route to a miserable 9-6 loss to Jacksonville.
The teams traded field goals in the opening quarter of play, as the score sat at 3-3 after 15 minutes. Jaguars' kicker Matthew Wright nailed one from 39-yards, while Tyler Bass answered for the Bills with a 24-yarder of his own later in the quarter. Both scoring drives spanned 12 plays.
It was more of the same in the second quarter as, once again, the Bills and Jaguars were both only able to muster a single more field goal each. Bass gave the Bills a brief lead, this time at 6-3 after his 41-yard attempt was successful before Wright responded five-and-a-half minutes later with an impressive 55-yard conversion of his own.
Buffalo and Jacksonville broke for halftime even on the scoreboard at 6-6.
No points were had in the third quarter of play, despite Jacksonville missing three field goal attempts on one series (thanks to penalties)...
...and grabbing a pair of turnovers on interceptions thrown by Josh Allen. The first was snagged by safety Rudy Ford, and the second was picked off by the other Josh Allen on the other side of the football.
Wright nailed, what would end up being, the game-winning field goal less than three minutes into the fourth quarter of play. It was Wright's third make of the afternoon; this one from just 21 yards out.
The Bills had a couple of opportunities to even the score or take the lead, but sputtered each time. With mere seconds left on the clock, the Jaguars had to punt the ball away. Buffalo played all 11 men on the line of scrimmage with hopes of a block, but were unable to get it, as the punt nestled perfectly inside their own 10-yard line with time expiring in the process.
The loss drops the Bills to 5-3 in 2021.
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GAME SUMMARY:
First Quarter:
- 3-0 JACKSONVILLE: Jaguars field goal (9:00) - Matthew Wright's 39-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 12 plays, 54 yards, 6:03
- 3-3 TIE: Bills field goal (3:57) - Tyler Bass' 24-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 12 plays, 48 yards, 5:00
Second Quarter:
- 6-3 BUFFALO: Bills field goal (11:03) - Tyler Bass' 41-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 12 plays, 48 yards, 6:20
- 6-6 TIE: Jaguars field goal (5:35) - Matthew Wright's 55-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 10 plays, 38 yards, 5:29
Third Quarter:
- No Scoring
Fourth Quarter:
- 9-6 JACKSONVILLE: Jaguars field goal (12:13) - Matthew Wright's 21-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 10 plays, 27 yards, 4:45
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SKYWORKS EQUIPMENT RENTAL STATS OF THE GAME:
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What's Next:
The Bills' miniature two-game road trip wraps up next Sunday against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. EST on the official voice of the Bills - WGR Sports Radio 550.
