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Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said linebacker Terrel Bernard and cornerback Maxwell Hairston won’t play Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Bills headed into halftime with a 10-7 lead against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but Buffalo almost found itself tied as it approached the break.
Crazy Play Ended First Half
With just 15 seconds remaining in the second quarter, Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence connected with wide receiver Parker Washington for a remarkable 34-yard gain down the heart of the field.
Washington ended up being tackled at the Bills’ 41-yard line with less than seven seconds remaining. Jacksonville had zero timeouts and had to rush up to the line of scrimmage to spike the ball.
The Jaguars managed to get the snap off, but the Bills were caught off guard as Joey Bosa hadn’t returned to Buffalo’s side of the line of scrimmage. This resulted in a five-yard penalty. The officials came together to determine whether the Jaguars had snapped the ball in time. If they hadn’t, then the five-yard penalty wouldn’t apply since there would be no play. However, the officials ruled that the center was moving the ball to snap it with just one second left on the clock. This decision allowed the Jaguars to accept the penalty and run one more play before the half ended.
It didn’t look like Jacksonville got the snap off before the half, but it did catch a break. Unfortunately, Jaguars kicker Cam Little missed the field goal before the half, which didn’t hurt the Bills.
If Little had successfully made the kick and the Bills had lost by three points or less, that controversial play at the end of the half could be a significant factor in the outcome.
Bills’ Josh Allen Got Banged Up in First Half
The Bills have done a decent job through the first half of the game, but quarterback Josh Allen has been dealing with a few injuries along the way.
Early in the first quarter, Allen had to step into the blue medical tent after taking a brutal hit during a play. His head snapped back as he was tackled, prompting concern for his safety.
Allen wasn’t in the tent long, and the medical staff cleared him to play. During the second quarter, Allen accidentally hit his throwing hand on a helmet while releasing the ball. This incident caused him some trouble with his throws toward the end of the half. During the second quarter of the game, CBS Sports broadcaster Tony Romo observed that Allen was limping as he attempted to leave the field and make his way to the sidelines after scoring a touchdown.
Fans will definitely keep a close eye on Allen’s injury status during the game. If he leaves the field due to an injury, it could put the Bills at a disadvantage and lead to a loss.
It finally feels like the Bills have a real chance to reach the Super Bowl this season, especially with Patrick Mahomes not in the postseason due to the Chiefs failing to win enough games and Mahomes suffering a torn ACL at the end of the season. Buffalo needs to capitalize on this opportunity, as Kansas City is out of the playoffs this year.
Danny Fisher Is a football journalist covering the Buffalo Bills for Heavy.com. He has covered the NFL for Gridiron Heroics, focusing on the AFC and Penn State football for Nittany Central. More about Danny Fisher
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