NFL Playoffs: Full Wild Card round preview
Bills vs. Jaguars
Game information: January 7 at 10:05 a.m., CBS
BUF ranking — DVOA
Offense: 26nd
Defense: 15th
Overall: 21st
JAX ranking — DVOA
Offense: 16th
Defense: 1st
Overall: 8th
It took a miracle, but the Buffalo Bills finally got into the playoffs. Luckily head coach Sean McDermott’s ill-fated decision to start quarterback Nathan Peterman in Week 11 did not prove to be too costly.
Buffalo, 9-7 and the No. 6 seed, is fueled by running back LeSean McCoy. The nine-year veteran rushed for 1,138 yards and six touchdowns on 287 carries, grading out at 86.0 to finish as PFF’s No. 6 running back.
His availability will be a storyline heading into the game, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter has reported McCoy will be a game-time decision due to an ankle sprain suffered in the season finale. The ramifications of McCoy sitting would be great.
The 10-6 Jacksonville Jaguars have experienced a miracle themselves, finally dragging their team from the depths of the league to finish as the No. 3 seed in the AFC. The investment in the defense (No. 1 in DVOA) has paid off handsomely, with all levels of play featuring top players — defensive line, linebacker and secondary.
The only issue might be quarterback Blake Bortles, who has been inconsistent. At times, Bortles has played very well. But at other times, has made some very head-scratching plays.
With star rookie running back in tow Leonard Fournette — 1,090 rushing yards and nine touchdowns — and a stellar defense, Jacksonville will look to ride those strengths.
Prediction: Jaguars 28, Bills 14