Jaguars vs. Bills: Game Balls
Following a dominant 25-20 victory over the surging Buffalo Bills, the Jacksonville Jaguars are over .500 for the first time since week one. In his first game in two weeks, wide receiver Zay Jones caught the game’s opening score and gave the Jags a lead they would maintain throughout the contest.
With the defeat of the Bills, the Jaguars now sport a 7-5 record across the pond and have turned London into a veritable ‘second home field.’ From quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s very first win to yesterday’s demolition of a bona-fide Super Bowl contender, some of the franchise’s fondest memories have come in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
As pundits have already noted; the Jaguars defense is a legitimate, battle-tested unit that has already impressed in the season’s opening month. Their first game in October was no different.
Despite allowing over 350 passing yards–quarterback Josh Allen’s second consecutive 300+ yard passing effort–the Jaguars largely stifled the Buffalo offense. Jacksonville currently sports the 27th-best passing defense in the league, but allows just 81.6 rushing yards per game; they allowed 29 rushing yards on Sunday, forcing the Bills to abandon the run early in the first half and preventing them from getting in rhythm in the second.
It’s hard to imagine Sunday going any better for the Jaguars, who enjoyed a stellar showing from Lawrence and a much-needed ‘get-right’ game from wide receiver Calvin Ridley, who enjoyed his second 100-yard game as a Jaguar. Everything seemingly went right for the Jags, and with that comes some truly impressive standout performances.
Offense: RB Travis Etienne Jr.
While it wasn’t a true ‘breakout’ performance, it sure felt like one for Travis Etienne Jr.
In one of his most productive games in teal and black, Etienne walloped a red-hot Buffalo defense to the tune of 180 scrimmage yards. The former Clemson Tiger was evidently unsatisfied with 136 yards and a score on the ground, so he added four catches for nearly 50 yards in the passing game.
Following a Darius Williams interception in the third quarter, Etienne became the centerpiece of the drive that ultimately put the game out of reach for the Bills. On the 10-play, 93-yard drive that put Jacksonville up 18-7, Etienne secured his lone target for 10 yards and ran the ball four times for 29 yards and a touchdown.
If you’ll remember some of the numbers from his herculean effort against the Houston Texans in Week 3, you’ll recognize Sunday was his fifth career game with 3 or more catches and 15+ rushing attempts. His usage has skyrocketed under new offensive coordinator Press Taylor, who has made a committed effort to get the football in his hands in any way possible.
Despite coaching the likes of Jonathan Taylor, Nyhiem Hines, Miles Sanders and more, Etienne could be the most dynamic back Taylor has even had the pleasure of scheming to success.
Defense: CB Darious Williams
Darious Williams’ coverage grade ranked 40th among qualified corners by Pro Football Focus in 2022. Following a career day against the Atlanta Falcons, Williams was tasked with the impossible challenge of matching that effort against the elite Buffalo Bills passing offense.
In many aspects, he exceeded it. Williams finished with a 69.1 PFF grade on Sunday, his second-highest mark of the season and the fourth-best of any Jaguar in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
In his second consecutive game ball performance of the season, Williams was everywhere on defense. Not only did he lead the team in solo and total tackles with seven, he secured the team’s lone turnover of the game with a massive interception of Josh Allen in the third quarter.
Targeting Stefon Diggs, Allen uncorked a missile from his own 30-yard line that looked certain to result in six. Despite trailing the All-Pro receiver by a few steps, Williams was able to recover and secured his second interception of the season on a leaping effort that gave Jacksonville possession at their own 7-yard line.
Although the offense couldn’t take advantage of Williams’ highlight-reel play, his improved play has established him as one of the cornerstones of the defense. For a team that dreams of a Lombardi, having players like Williams step up is not only paramount; it’s absolutely necessary.
Special Teams: P Logan Cooke
For the third time this season, Logan Cooke has earned the special teams’ game ball behind yet another outstanding kicking performance. What a privilege it is to watch one of the game’s best week in and week out.
Following a touchback on the game’s opening drive, Cooke’s next opportunity came with a little over 10 minutes remaining in the second quarter. After a holding penalty stalled a promising drive, Cooke launched a missile that was initially downed at the 14, but was spotted at the seven-yard line following a Buffalo penalty.
Buffalo would punt right back to Jacksonville just five plays later, and while the offense failed to capitalize, Cooke made certain the Bills would have their work cut out for them on the ensuing drive. Queue another booming punt that downed the pigskin within the 20-yard line.
Rinse and repeat two more times in the second half, and you’ve got an all-time day from your punter. In a game where the Jaguars were desperately clinging to the momentum they had built in the first quarter, Cooke made sure any comeback bid by Buffalo wouldn’t come easy.
