Buffalo Bills advance with roller coaster win over Jacksonville Jaguars

Through three games, the NFL playoffs have delivered dramatic game after dramatic game. The Buffalo Bills advanced to the divisional round with a 27-24 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in a game that kept the drama going.

If you believe in the concept of momentum, here’s a recap of the back-and-forth nature of the game and the roller coaster of emotions that fans experienced:

Linebacker Shaq Thompson, who has filled in well for an injured Terrel Bernard when called upon this season, provided the first early spark with an interception to let the Bills take the first lead of the game. Emotion: okay, that’s good.

The Jags came back and gained three straight first downs on running plays to close out the first quarter before Brian Thomas Jr. caught a touchdown pass to help the Jaguars get their first lead of the game. Emotion: not ideal.

This lead would get built on immediately when First-Team All-Pro kick returner Ray Davis fumbled the ensuing kickoff and gave Jacksonville the ball on the Bills’ 36 yard line. Emotion: oh no.

But Buffalo’s defense rose up and prevented any points when quarterback Trevor Lawrence dove for the first down on 4th & 2 and a Sean McDermott challenge revealed that Lawrence had a shin down prior to reaching the line to gain. Emotion: whew.

The Bills matriculated the ball down the field and dealt with solid Jaguars tackling before a hole shot to maligned second-year receiver Keon Coleman allowed the Bills to get inside the 10 yard line. Two straight James Cook runs led to a third and goal from the Jags’ three yard line, where Josh Allen ran it in for a touchdown to cap a 92-yard drive. Emotion: we’re back.

Allen’s left knee got bent awkwardly on the touchdown run, but he continued his mantra of “it’s all gravy baby” and was quickly out of the blue medical tent and back commanding the Bills offense after a three and out from the Jaguars. The Bills had an opportunity to double dip and drive the ball down to the two minute warning. A Brandin Cooks catch that was reversed to a drop took a 26 yard gain off the board (and with it, a shot at a field goal at least) before a beautiful Mitch Wishnowsky punt put the Jaguars inside their own five yard line. Emotion: holding steady.

The Jaguars were gifted a field goal try by the referees after the clock appeared to strike 0:00 before Jacksonville got the snap off, but the NFL’s leader in longest field goal conversion missed the kick wide left. Emotion: furious, then relief.

The Bills got the ball to start the second half and moved it into Jacksonville territory. A Dawson Knox false start on third and five backed the Bills up, but a Shakir pass brought them back into long field goal range. Matt Prater, who had been dealing with a quad injury, nailed a 47-yarder through to help the Bills gain a 13-7 lead. Emotion: cautious optimism.

The Jaguars appeared to be moving the ball with ease against the Buffalo defense on the next drive before Tre’Davious White made broke up passes on first and third downs to force the Jags to settle for a field goal to match the Bills’ second-half scoring to that point and make it 13-10. Emotion: mild dread.

The Bills offense laid an egg and went three and out, and a suboptimal Wishnowsky punt gave the Jags solid starting field position. The Jaguars continued their ease of downfield movement with safety Jordan Poyer out of the game with a hamstring injury until the third quarter concluded. A touchdown pass to Parker Washington gave the Jaguars a 17-13 lead after an extra point. Emotion: creeping pessimism.

The Bills finally got some plays in the passing game out of their tight ends on the next drive. Dalton Kincaid caught a pass to convert a third down and capped off the drive with a touchdown to help the Bills regain the lead 20-17. Dawson Knox got a 20-yard gain in a rare explosive for Buffalo. Emotion: stabilized, but worried.

The Bills forced a third and long early in the next Jaguars offensive drive before a defensive holding penalty gave them new life close to midfield. An explosive pass to Parker Washington (who terrorized the Bills in this game with over 100 yards receiving) put the Jaguars close to the red zone, and a Travis Etienne receiving touchdown gave the Jaguars the lead 24-20 with 4:03 remaining in the game. Emotion: panicked.

Khalil Shakir set a new high in single game receptions (10; he ended with 11) early in the next drive, and a deep pass to Brandin Cooks (who finished with three catches for 58 yards) gave the Bills an opportunity for two QB sneaks: one of which converted a fourth and inches and the next which gave the Bills the lead once again. The four fourth quarter lead changes was an NFL postseason record. A coaching blunder (in the writer’s opinion) by Sean McDermott allowed the Bills to give the Jaguars the ball with enough time to get into field goal range by scoring on first down inside the two when Jacksonville wanted them to score…

…(emotion: negatively nostalgic)

…but then Tre White (who had a solid game with multiple pass breakups) made a play on the ball and safety Cole Bishop caught the tip to end the game. Emotion: happiness and profound relief.

What were you feeling at each major point in the game?

…and that’s the way the cookie crumbles. I’m Bruce Nolan with Buffalo Rumblings. You can find me on Twitter and Instagram @BruceExclusive and look for new episodes of “The Bruce Exclusive” every Thursday on the Rumblings Cast Network — see more in my LinkTree!