Jaguars can’t be fooled by a potentially false narrative surrounding the Buffalo Bills’ defense in Wild Card matchup
The Jaguars are going to be ready for everything vs. the Bills.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are playing their first playoff game in a few years, and it’s the first year under new head coach Liam Coen. In this matchup, much like their last one, they’re tasked with playing against a powerful and dangerous team. Their last playoff game was a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in KC. This time, they have the chance to host the Buffalo Bills. The key to this game will obviously be the Jaguars’ run game against the Bills’ bad run defense.
Well, is it really that bad? There are a few questions that the Jaguars will likely have, and they’ll be answered very soon. Can Trevor Lawrence expose the Bills for what many people believe is a somewhat fraudulent team and a bad defense? Can this elite Jaguars defense continue to force turnovers against maybe the best quarterback in football, Josh Allen?
I asked A to Z Sports’ Buffalo Adam Zientek all of those questions, and how the Bills may respond to them.
3 questions the Jaguars need answers to vs. the Bills in the Wild Card matchup
What does one of the worst run defenses in the league need to do to keep Travis Etienne at bay?
Buffalo has been playing well from a run defense perspective over the past several weeks. One of the biggest tests that they had passed was shutting down Eagles running back Saquon Barkley. Gap integrity comes to mind as the biggest thing Buffalo needs to watch out for to slow down Etienne. I think that part of the reason why Buffalo’s run defense is so bad is that their pass defense is so good. Teams are willing to run against Buffalo because it makes it difficult to set up anything in the passing game. Having linebacker Shaq Thompson start over Terrel Bernard has been a revelation in Buffalo, and a key reason why Buffalo has been improving in stopping the run as of late. As head coach Sean McDermott always says, it’s about execution, and the team will need to be minding their P’s and Q’s against an elusive, underrated back in Etienne.
Trevor Lawrence has been playing some big-time football as of late. Can you see him exposing the Bills’ defense in any way, and if so, how?
Exposing Trevor Lawrence has been difficult for teams this season. He’s looking worthy of that former No. 1 overall pick and of what people thought he’d be out of college. While Buffalo can’t expose him, they can surely slow him down. Buffalo has one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL in Christian Benford, who will look to pair up against the No. 1 wideout for Jacksonville. After that, veteran cornerback Tre’Davious White has really come alive in the latter stages of the season, making life difficult for opposing quarterbacks. Buffalo is 11-0 when winning the turnover battle, and it’s something that they’ll hope to do by rattling Lawrence with some pressure on the outside from Joey Bosa and Greg Rousseau. If those two can get home and make Lawrence look past his first read, Buffalo should like their chances in the matchup.
This defense can force turnovers better than anyone in football. Is that something the Bills should be worried about?
Turnovers are always something that Buffalo needs to look out for. There is still no clear identity for this team, and they have had issues in the past with fumbling the ball. That, and Allen has taken a step back from his previous season in terms of interceptions. Buffalo should be worried about the defensive challenge that Jacksonville poses, especially with how stout their run defense is, and Buffalo wants to get the running game going early with James Cook. Playing good, sound, fundamental football, or as McDermott always says, complementary football, means taking care of the football. When Buffalo does that, good things happen. When Buffalo starts to turn the ball over, disaster strikes. One thing to keep an eye out for with Buffalo is their lack of a slow start. If Lawrence and the offense can get going early and the defense can force a takeaway in the early stages, it’ll be tough sledding for Buffalo.
Score predictions for the Wild Card matchup vs. the Bills
Bills: 32 Jags: 28
This game can truly go either way. It’s the No. 1 rushing defense versus the No. 1 rushing offense. Buffalo will want to get the ground game going regardless of the opponent, as they have one of the best running backs in the game in James Cook. Though this game will come down to whether Josh Allen can put on his Superman cape once again, Buffalo hopes to walk out of Jacksonville with their first road playoff win since the 1990s. It’ll be a slugfest, coming down to the wire. Allen and Kincaid are going to have a monster performance that will help lead Buffalo to a narrow victory. – Adam Zientek, A to Z Sports Buffalo
Jaguars 23, Buffalo 21
I feel like the thin-ice style of football the Bills have been playing all year long will come back to beat them. They’ve “gotten by” with just barely beating some pretty bad teams this year, and the defense hasn’t really helped Josh Allen as much as he’d maybe like. The Jaguars feel like the more complete team in this game, and I think they continue their hot streak, not to mention, they’re playing at home. – Justin Churchill, A to Z Sports Jacksonville
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