The Buffalo Bills will begin their playoff journey against the Jacksonville Jaguars on January 7, 2025, at 1 p.m. EST. The game will be broadcast on CBS and features two teams with impressive records this season: Buffalo at 12-5 and Jacksonville at 13-4. Betting odds from BetMGM favor the Bills by a narrow margin of one point.
Both teams come into this matchup with contrasting playoff histories. The series between the Bills and Jaguars is tied at 10-10, but Jacksonville has emerged victorious in both of their postseason encounters. The most recent meeting saw the Bills dominate with a 47-10 victory in Buffalo on September 23, 2024.
Offensive Highlights and Defensive Strengths
The Bills have shown a potent offense this season, ranking fourth overall. They lead the league in rushing, with an impressive average of 150.2 yards per game, while their passing game sits at 15th overall. In terms of scoring, the Bills are tied for fourth, averaging 27.6 points per game. Quarterback Josh Allen enters the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season, holding a 7-6 playoff record. He has completed 65.7% of his passes this season, averaging 258 yards per game with 33 total touchdowns—25 passing, seven rushing, and one receiving—while maintaining a low interception rate with just four thrown.
On the other hand, the Jaguars feature a balanced offensive unit that ranks 11th overall. Their rushing game, led by Travis Etienne, is 20th in the league, while their passing game ranks 12th. Etienne, who is in his fifth year and a pending free agent, has scored a career-high 13 total touchdowns but has not surpassed 100 rushing yards since late September. He faces a formidable challenge against the Bills’ defense, ranked seventh overall but struggling to contain the run, allowing an average of 126.3 yards per game.
Defensively, Jacksonville has excelled, leading the league in run defense, allowing only 85.6 yards per game. The Jaguars are notable for not allowing any player to rush for more than 75 yards in a single game this season, a feat achieved by only two other teams since 2000.
Injury Updates and Key Players
Injuries will play a significant role in the game. The Bills will be without defensive tackle Jordan Phillips and fellow defensive lineman Ed Oliver, who are both on injured reserve. Rookie cornerback Maxwell Hairston is also unlikely to play due to an ankle injury. Kicker Matt Prater is questionable after aggravating a quadriceps injury, while the status of linebacker Terrel Bernard remains uncertain following a calf injury.
For the Jaguars, the return of guard Patrick Mekari and tackle Cole Van Lanen is expected, both of whom missed time due to injuries. Mekari has been sidelined for two weeks, and Van Lanen suffered a knee injury during the game against the Tennessee Titans.
As the Bills aim to overcome their recent playoff road struggles, having lost eight consecutive road playoff games since their last victory at Miami during the 1992 AFC Championship, they will draw on the experience of players like Dion Dawkins and Jordan Poyer, who were part of the team during the 2017 wild-card game loss to Jacksonville.
The Jaguars are riding a wave of momentum with their eight-game winning streak, averaging 33.6 points during this run. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is making history alongside Allen, becoming one of only four players to throw for 25 or more touchdowns and run for nine or more in a single season. Lawrence has contributed 24 total touchdowns during the team’s winning streak, demonstrating his dual-threat capabilities.
As the playoff season unfolds, both teams will look to capitalize on their strengths and overcome their challenges, making this matchup a highly anticipated clash in the NFL postseason.
