The Buffalo Bills are writing a new feel-good story after winning the franchise’s first road playoff game in 33 years — which dates back to the 1992 NFL season and a road win over the Miami in January of 1993. It’s a fitting win, claiming victory in Florida again. There’s much to digest from Buffalo’s 27-24 win over Jacksonville, but the only thing that matters is that the Bills are moving on after outlasting a really tough and talented Jaguars team.
Once the playoffs begin, stats and pretty play really don’t matter the way most people want to believe is true. The most important factors are turnovers and favorable numbers on your favorite team’s half of the scoreboard. How they get those numbers matters not. I said at halftime that this felt like a bit of a throwback game for quarterback Josh Allen, and that’s exactly what happened.
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Jacksonville’s top-ranked defense set out to stop Buffalo’s top-ranked rushing attack and running back James Cook III — and, by and large, that happened. Cook finished with 15 carries for 46 yards, and two catches for five yards. Too often it appeared that offensive coordinator Joe Brady was hell bent on forcing the issue with Cook up gut, and it didn’t pay off. Perhaps the best news out of that is Cook not turning the football over.
But in the aftermath of this win, there’s not enough room to fully criticize all that went wrong when, in the end, the Bills found a way to win. The formula: Josh Allen and an opportunistic pass defense.
Yes, the same defense that’s been taken to task for much of the 2025 NFL season proved to be one of Buffalo’s best attributes on a pleasant afternoon in Duval County. After surrendering an early touchdown in the first half, the Bills’ defense was almost immediately back on the field after a kickoff return fumble by running back Ray Davis. It was a great play by Jacksonville’s special teams, and a huge moment for Buffalo’s defense.
In the playoffs, defenses have to rise to the challenge, and there was no finer moment by the Bills’ stop unit on Sunday than when they refused to surrender a point of any kind off the turnover. With the Jaguars starting inside Buffalo’s 40 yard line, it seemed a given that they’d at least get three points. As Jacksonville continued to move toward the end zone, their offense got greedy. Facing a 4th & 2 near their goal line, Buffalo stepped up and linebacker Shaq Thompson wisely contacted Lawrence early enough during his scramble to force a turnover on downs.
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The Bills took advantage of the Jags overconfidence, and turned their most detrimental play into, well… a nothing burger. Immediately after, Buffalo’s offense took possession at their eight-yard line and drove 92 yards for six on a scramble by Allen — and thus, at least a 10-point swing in a playoff game where points were at a premium.
Shaq Thompson was lights out most of the afternoon, snagging an interception and nearly stealing a second one, while also making huge stops in almost every critical situation. While at times it seemed as if the Jaguars were going to prove too talented for the Bills to match play everywhere, Buffalo shined in the game’s biggest moments, where conversely Jacksonville shrank. Boasting a phenom at kicker, Cam Little seemed automatic. Until he wasn’t, and didn’t produce after the Jaguars were gifted time and opportunity to try for a field goal at the end of the first half. After playing MVP-level football the second half of the regular season, Lawrence regressed a bit, and ultimately cost his team with two huge interceptions.
It cannot be stated enough how much the play of cornerback Tre’Davious White meant to the Bills’ win. He broke up at least three huge pass plays, the last of which ended the game thanks to safety Cole Bishop’s interception. Though rookie cornerback Maxwell Hairston is important, it’s worth wondering how many people even thought about him thanks to White’s play.
As for Allen, he was deadly efficient, and it was clear that he intended to just sit back and take what the Jaguars gave him. Allen finished an incredible 28-of-35 for 273 yards and one passing touchdown, adding 11 runs for 33 yards and two touchdown runs. As Bills Mafia could likely predict, wide receiver Khalil Shakir proved to be Allen’s go-to guy, and he caught every pass sent his way to finish with 12 catches for 82 yards. Most of Shakir’s work was of the bubble screen variety, but it worked to perfection in ways not seen for much of the regular season. Shakir’s shiftiness and space mastery kept the chains (and the clock) moving.
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Whether by design or necessity, Buffalo had to rely more on their wide receivers room to produce, which was in stark contrast to their featured use of tight ends all season. Most of the numbers won’t jump off the chart, but the key thing to note is that the Bills’ passing game was fueled by the wide receivers, not the tight ends. Wide receiver Brandin Cooks made what was perhaps the play of the game by catching a 36-yard strike by Allen late in the fourth quarter. That pass set the Bills up for their go-ahead points. Similarly, wide receiver Keon Coleman caught his own 36-yard pass in the first half, serving as the spark to Buffalo’s first touchdown.
Say what you will about head coach Sean McDermott as a playoff coach, but the fact of the matter is that he led an injury-ravaged team to a halftime lead on the road, and had his team leading to begin the fourth quarter. That matters in the playoffs, and it allowed Buffalo to play its brand of football late. Joe Brady eventually leaned into playaction late in regulation, and Allen was surgical operating out of it.
Looking ahead, things only become more difficult for the Bills — especially now in anticipation of what may be a lengthy and unfortunate injury report. Safety Jordan Poyer appeared to re-injure his hamstring, while wide receiver Gabe Davis suffered a nasty knee injury that may see his season come to an end.
Allen entered Sunday with an anomalous foot injury, which didn’t appear to hamper him a great deal. However, he was taken to the medical tent early in the first half to be evaluated for a concussion, ultimately cleared. On their key first-half touchdown drive, Allen also smashed his right (throwing) hand against the helmet of right guard O’Cyrus Torrence. Allen was then seen shaking it after nearly every throw, but that, too, didn’t sideline him. Not yet the full picture, Allen would also endure what was explained as a knee injury later in that drive as he burst forward for the goal line. That, as well, didn’t sideline Allen.
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While it’s often hyperbole to claim an athlete to be a warrior, that’s essentially what Josh Allen is, and his drive is unmatched in the biggest moments of a game. The Bills just need to ensure they do all things possible to keep Allen upright and fighting for another down.
Winning road playoff games is immensely difficult, and for their hard work Buffalo is rewarded with prospect of doing it all over again next weekend. Does it matter much who they face? Regardless of which team they face, the Bills will need a lot of luck and heavy helping of health to weather next weekend’s storm.