Jaguars vs. Bills Wild Card Weekend Live Game Thread

The Jacksonville Jaguars' highly anticipated first-round matchup with the Buffalo Bills has finally arrived.

Sep 23, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) runs against the Buffalo Bills in the second quarter at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images | Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

At long last, the playoffs are back in Duval. It's only been three years since EverBank Stadium hosted the Los Angeles Chargers, but it's felt like a lifetime. The Jacksonville Jaguars fought tooth and nail in their first campaign under Head Coach Liam Coen to get here. They went 13-4, including an eight-game win streak to close out the regular season and clinch the AFC South in the finale.

For their efforts, they were rewarded with a first-round matchup with the Buffalo Bills. It's hardly a favorable draw. All Jacksonville has heard this season is that this is the year for Josh Allen to reach the pinnacle. With no Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, or Joe Burrow standing in his way in the AFC, it'd be a travesty if he couldn't lead his Bills to the Super Bowl. Well, the Jaguars have to ensure that Trevor Lawrence spoils that narrative.

Sep 23, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) hands off to running back James Cook (4) against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the second half at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images | Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

How the Jaguars match up with the Bills

On paper, the Jacksonville Jaguars are the better team. They finished with a better record than the Buffalo Bills, earning the right to host this upcoming clash. It's more than just their respective place in the standings, though. Jacksonville matches up extremely well with Buffalo.

The Bills had the number one rushing attack in the NFL this season. The Jaguars were first in defending the run, both in yards per game and yards per carry. Jacksonville's ground game might have regressed statistically down the stretch, but Head Coach Liam Coen has flexed his capabilities as a run-scheme designer all year. Trevor Lawrence and the passing game heated up down the stretch and should have the weapons necessary to take advantage of the Bills' shaky secondary. However, Josh Allen's star power and Buffalo's edge in postseason experience might just be enough to overcome all of that.

Oct 8, 2023; London, United Kingdom; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) is pressured by Buffalo Bills defensive end Leonard Floyd (56) and linebacker Terrel Bernard (43) during the second half of an NFL International Series game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Injury Report

The Bills are getting the short end of the stick on the injury report. While the Jaguars' Cole Van Lanen, who started the last five games at left tackle, is listed as questionable, that's the only player who might be out for Jacksonville, save for their existing season-ending injuries.

Meanwhile, Buffalo could be without two defensive starters: linebacker Terrel Bernard, who's confirmed out, and Shaq Thompson, who's questionable. Matt Prater could also miss the game due to a hamstring injury. Even if he's able to go, his range could be severely limited. Backup running back Ty Johnson is also questionable, while Maxwell Hairston has been ruled out.

Live Game Thread

COIN TOSS: The Jaguars begin the game on offense, with LeQuint Allen Jr. finding a lane to take the opening kickoff back to Jacksonville's 34-yard line.

BAD START: The offense opens with a Parker Washington jet sweep that loses two yards.

3-AND-OUT: After a short screen to Travis Etienne Jr., Trevor Lawrence can't connect with Jakobi Meyers on an out route, forcing the Jags to punt to end their first series of the game.

CHAINS MOVED: Jacksonville forces a 3rd-and-long with sure tackling against the Bills, but Josh Allen finds Tyrell Shavers for a conversion, the first of the game.

SCREEN GAME: A holding penalty moves the Bills back to 1st-and-20. Allen hits Khalil Shakir on a screen pass to get back all the yardage and little bit more for 2nd-and-8.

MOVING BACKWARDS: After the first down, Buffalo has to move back due to a false start.

GOOD STAND: The Bills move the chains a couple of times, but Allen can't connect with Dalton Kincaid on third down. Parker Washington fields the fair catch at Jacksonville's 21-yard line.

BAD LOOK: The Jaguars nearly run down the entire play clock, but Walker Little jumps too early and draws a false start.

AND SOME: Travis Etienne Jr. picks up the Jaguars' first conversion of the day with a chunk on 3rd-and-2.

INTERCEPTION: T-Law doesn't see Shaq Thompson sitting in the middle of the field, and the Bills come up with the interception.

FLY TO THE BALL: James Cook catches a pass in the flat, but Devin Lloyd erases him immediately at the point of the reception to bring up fourth down.

KEY STOP: Josh Allen keeps it on a QB draw on 3rd-and-medium, but the Jaguars stuff him at the line.

SCORING UPDATE NO 1.: Matt Prater is forced to kick a 50-yarder after the Bills incur a delay of game, but he drills it anyway. Buffalo takes the lead. JAX 0-3 BUF

QUICK HITTER: Lawrence rebounds from his interception with a completion to Brenton Strange on his first snap back. The tight end picks up nine.

ROOKIE: Bhayshul Tuten takes the toss on the fake sweep and finds plenty of grass. He gets 20, deep into Bills' territory.

HEATING UP: Tuten cuts back to pick up another 14-yard chunk on the next snap.

TUT TUT: Tuten gets a third consecutive run and picks up a third straight conversion.

END OF 1ST QUARTER — JAX 0-3 BUF

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TRICKY: Brenton Strange takes the forward toss on short sweep, but the Bills keep him out of the end zone and bring up 2nd-and-goal from the three for Jacksonville.

SCORING UPDATE NO. 2: Lawrence finds Brian Thomas Jr. on a short hook in the end zone to take the lead. JAX 7-3 BUF

FUMBLE: Ray Davis finds a lane on the kickoff, but he gets the ball punched out from behind. Devin Lloyd falls on it, and the Jaguars have the chance to extend the lead.

HANDS: Jakobi Meyers dives for an outside comeback try from T-Law. He's able to reel it in.

SACKED: Lawrence tries to climb the pocket and take off, but Greg Rousseau is able to shed his block and come down with the two-yard sack.

JUST SHORT: Lawrence does take off on the next play. He nearly picks up the first down, getting tackled just two yards shy to bring up fourth down.

KEEPER: Lawrence keeps it himself on 4th-and-2 and dives for the conversion. His shin is down, but the ball crosses the line to gain before.

CHALLENGE: Sean McDermott challenges the spot of the ball when Lawrence is down.

SUCCESSFUL: McDermott's challenge is successful, and the Bills take over after the turnover on downs.

REPETITION: Shakir catches yet another screen, picking up the first conversion for the Bills on the resulting possession.

CHURNING: James Cook has been shut down for most of this game, but he takes the toss to the left to pick up 11 yards.

BIG TIME: Cook cuts it back on an outside toss, but Travon Walker is all over it, getting him for the tackle for loss.

DOING HIS JOB: Keon Coleman is wide open down the seam. Jarrian Jones can't wrap him up after the catch. Bills set up for 1st-and-goal as a result.

STUFFED: On 2nd-and-goal from the three, the Jaguars stuff James Cook at the line of scrimmage.

SCORING UPDATE NO. 3: Josh Allen takes another keeper, this time crossing the goal line. JAX 7-10 BUF

3-AND-OUT: The Bills' coverage holds up well on 3rd-and-6, and Lawrence's pass attempt lands near no one in particular.

SO CLOSE: The Jaguars stuff James Cook on 3rd-and-1, but he gets just enough for the conversion to avoid 3-and-out the other way.

UNDER REVIEW: Brandin Cooks finds a soft spot deep in the middle of the field. However, the ball seemingly hits the turf before he can complete the catch. The review confirms the ball was dropped, bringing up third down.

STOPPED SHORT: Allen finds Dawson Knox short of the sticks, and Foye Oluokun gets the official stop to bring up 4th-and-4.

SCRAMBLE: Starting from their own two-yard line, the Jaguars are in danger of a safety or giving the ball back to the Bills with two timeouts and a short field. Lawrence drops back on the first snap of the drive. He dances in his own end zone for a while before spinning out and taking off for 18 yards.

EXECUTION: Lawrence finds Parker Washington deep down the middle of the field for 34 yards. With the game clock winding down towards halftime, the Jags seem to get the snap off just in time and drew an offsides penalty from the defense. Referees have to talk it over. They say the call stands, and Cam Little gets a try to tie the game.

NO GOOD: Unfortunately, despite the incredible sequence of events to set it up, Little sails the 54-yarder wide left.

END OF 2ND QUARTER — JAX 7-10 BUF

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GOTTA STOP THAT: On 3rd-and-long, the Bills throw yet another WR screen to Shakir. He's able to break a tackle and convert.

HIM AGAIN: Shakir gets a second consecutive catch, this time picking up 18 to cross midfield on a deep curl.

TWITCHY: On 3rd-and-5, Dawson Knox jumps with the play clock winding down, drawing a false start flag. Bills move back to 3rd-and-10.

SCORING UPDATE NO. 4: The Bills are able to get some of the yardage back to set up a 47-yarder for Matt Prater. He drills it. JAX 7-13 BILLS

YAC: Parker Washington takes a short hitch for five yards and turns into a first down by shedding an arm tackle.

BURST: Travis Etienne Jr. takes the toss for 26 yards, aided by two pancake blocks: one from Jakobi Meyers on Joey Bosa and one from Anton Harrison on the pull.

THAT DIDN'T WORK: Jags fake a wide receiver screen with Meyers going into motion behind the bunch. Lawrence keeps it for the QB run, but the Bills are all over it to bring up 3rd-and-10.

SCORING UPDATE NO. 5: Little drills the 43-yard chip. JAX 10-13 BUF

SACKED: Josh Hines-Allen gets to the lesser Josh Allen, bringing him down for an 11-yard sack to bring up 3rd-and-a-mile.

3-AND-OUT: Allen throws it out of bounds towards Dawson Knox, who wasn't looking for the ball. The punt is shanked out of bounds just shy of Jacksonville's 40.

MOVE THOSE CHAINS: Two short ETN runs brings up 3rd-and-5. Lawrence finds BTJ on the outside comeback to avoid 3-and-out.

CHOP WOOD: On 3rd-and-2, Jags go play-action. Lawrence finds Parker Washington for 14 yards and a new set of downs inside the red zone.

END OF 3RD QUARTER — JAX 10-13 BUF

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KEEPER: Jaguars run several motions before going with the QB sneak off tackle to get to 1st-and-goal with the conversion on 3rd-and-1.

SCORING UPDATE NO. 6: Lawrence fires a bullet on the left side to Parker Washington. He continues to carry water for the Jags, reeling in the contested catch for six. JAX 17-13 BUF

RESPONSE: Facing 3-and-out on 3rd-and-6, Allen finds Dalton Kincaid on a short out for the conversion.

DOWNFIELD: Allen finds Dawson Knox on a double move off play-action for 24 yards.

CHALLENGE: On 3rd-and-6, Josh Allen scrambles, but appears to start his slide short of the line to gain. Liam Coen challenges the ruling on the field of a first down.

SUCCESSFUL: Coen's challenge is successful, but Allen gets the first down and more on the sneak.

SCORING UPDATE NO. 7: Josh Allen finds Dalton Kincaid on a fade to the left corner of the end zone. JAX 17-20 BUF

ROOM TO RUN: Lawrence finds ETN in stride on the angle route, and he picks up a chunk after the catch to get the first conversion of the series.

FLAG: Lawrence couldn't find an open receiver on 3rd-and-8, but Christian Benford is called for defensive holding on Jakobi Meyers, gifting the Jaguars an automatic new set of downs.

CARRY WATER: Lawrence finds P-Dub wide open on the post to pick up 31 yards to bring Jacksonville near the red zone.

WILDCAT: ETN takes the direct snap, and converts the 3rd-and-1 inside the red zone.

SCORING UPDATE NO. 8: Lawrence finds ETN on the play-action rollout, and he does the rest to get into the end zone. JAX 24-20 BUF

DECISION TIME: Josh Allen hurries to the line for a sneak on 3rd-and-1. He appears to be just short. The referees call an official timeout to talk it over. The ruling is that it's enough for a first down.

WIDE OPEN: Brandin Cooks is left wide open on the blitz. Josh Allen finds him for 37 yards, deep into Jacksonville territory.

JUST SHORT: Khalil Shakir catches another screen and gets near the line to gain on third down, but he's marked nearly a yard short.

AND SOME: Josh Allen sneaks it on fourth down. Not only does he convert, but he's pushed forward for 10 yards, downed just shy of the goal line.

SCORING UPDATE NO. 9: Allen sneaks it again, this time getting the touchdown, with the Jaguars' defenders clearing the way to ensure that they're left with as much time as possible for Trevor Lawrence and the offense. JAX 24-27 BUF

STOPPED SHORT: Tuten can only bring the kickoff back to the 22-yard line. 59 seconds left on the clock for Jacksonville.

DISASTER: Trevor Lawrence's first pass is tipped up by Tre'Davious White, and Cole Bishop comes down with the interception.

FINAL — JAX 24-27 BUF

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