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Bills Open Playoffs at Jaguars in Strength-on-Strength Wild Card Test

Jacksonville's eight-game surge, powered by the NFL's top run defense, puts Buffalo's decades-long road playoff drought in sharp focus.

Overview

  • Kickoff is Sunday at 1 p.m. EST on CBS, with BetMGM making Buffalo a 1-point road favorite at EverBank Stadium.
  • NFL rushing champion James Cook (1,621 yards) leads the league’s No. 1 ground game against Jacksonville’s No. 1 run defense (85.6 rushing yards allowed per game, no 75-yard rusher all season).
  • Buffalo has dropped eight straight road playoff games and is 0-5 away from home in the postseason under Sean McDermott, while Jacksonville is hosting its first playoff game in three years after a 13-4 season.
  • Bills injuries include DT Jordan Phillips out and DT Ed Oliver on IR, CB Maxwell Hairston not expected to play, and K Matt Prater questionable; the Jaguars expect RG Patrick Mekari and LT Cole Van Lanen to return.
  • The Jaguars have averaged 33.6 points during their eight-game winning streak and boast a plus-13 turnover differential, with some predictions favoring Jacksonville and others highlighting Josh Allen’s success versus zone defenses.