Josh Allen, Payments outlast Jaguars to advance to AFC divisional spherical

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Buffalo Payments wanted a landing. Down 4 factors with simply over 4 minutes remaining within the sport, the ball was in quarterback Josh Allen’s arms, simply because the crew would love.

After Allen launched a 36-yard move to extensive receiver Brandin Cooks, he then introduced the ball all the way down to the 1-yard line on a tush push play to arrange the game-winning rating. The quarterback punched it into the top zone on the next play, with the Jaguars letting him rating.

On the Jags’ ensuing drive with lower than a minute remaining, the protection did its job to protect a 27-24 win, as cornerback Tre’Davious White tipped a Trevor Lawrence move and security Cole Bishop got here away with the game-ending interception.

Allen led the Payments as soon as once more, placing on his postseason Superman cape regardless of being banged up within the first half — requiring two journeys to the medical tent, together with one for a concussion take a look at that needed to be cleared — to assist a struggling dashing offense that put up its lowest complete of the 12 months.

He accomplished 28 of 35 passes for 273 yards, with one passing landing and two dashing touchdowns. Broad receiver Khalil Shakir was his safety blanket, catching all 12 of his targets (the second-most catches in a sport in Payments postseason historical past) for 82 yards.

For the primary time, the Payments received a playoff sport after trailing within the last two minutes, following the script of their many comeback victories this common season. And for the primary time beneath coach Sean McDermott, the Payments received a playoff sport on the street, conserving their Tremendous Bowl ambitions alive.

Most shocking efficiency: Protection within the second half.

The ultimate two quarters are when this Payments protection has often thrived, however the reverse was the case in opposition to Jacksonville. After permitting solely seven factors within the first half, Buffalo gave up scores on the Jaguars’ first three drives of the second half, together with consecutive double-digit-play landing drives. The Payments’ lack of ability to cease the Jaguars continued to place the stress on the offense.

However when the Payments’ protection wanted a play most, it got here away with a game-ending takeaway to seal it, simply because it has in among the largest video games this season.

Development to observe: Accidents have been seemingly unrelenting for the Payments this season, and Allen was not resistant to that development. The Payments QB did not miss a snap, however the crew continued to lose different vital gamers, and their absence was felt. Security Jordan Poyer didn’t return after halftime due to a hamstring harm, and extensive receiver Gabe Davis, a former Jaguar, was carted off the sphere with a left knee harm (he suffered a season-ending torn meniscus in his left knee final season).

Stat to know: The Payments are actually 19-0 when main at halftime for the reason that begin of the 2024 season (together with playoffs) — the one crew with an ideal document in that span. They continued that development regardless of struggling early within the second half and falling behind within the fourth quarter. The victory additionally broke a streak of eight consecutive street playoff losses for the franchise (for the reason that 1992 AFC Championship Sport). — Aliana Getzenberg

The Jaguars’ season ended with a heartbreaking loss at residence, however there’s optimism that the franchise goes to be a constant playoff contender.

The Payments’ game-winning landing with 1:04 remaining and Lawrence’s interception off a deflected move with 54 seconds to play will sting all offseason, however that should not put a damper on what Liam Coen did in his first season as a head coach at any degree. The Jaguars received 13 video games, which included an eight-game successful streak to finish the common season and safe the AFC South title.

The Jaguars additionally set a franchise document for factors scored (474) and Coen appeared to unlock quarterback Lawrence, who had the perfect season of his profession with 38 complete touchdowns and greater than 4,000 yards passing. However the Jaguars weren’t as crisply in opposition to the Payments as they have been over the ultimate two months of the season.

Lawrence (who had thrown only one interception in December) had two picks, kicker Cam Little (who hit 68- and 67-yard subject targets this season) missed a 54-yard try on the finish of the primary half, and the protection simply could not put sufficient stress on Allen (28-for-35, 273 yards).

What to make of the QB’s efficiency: An up-and-down day for Lawrence. He threw a first-half interception (his sixth in three profession postseason video games, tied with Patrick Mahomes for essentially the most since 2021, per ESPN Analysis) and got here up quick on a fourth-down rush contained in the Payments’ 10-yard line as a result of he dove ahead when he did not must with a purpose to get the primary down. Lawrence rebounded for a lot of the second half with two touchdowns, together with one to Travis Etienne Jr. with 4:03 remaining. However the sport was sealed with a Lawrence interception with lower than a minute to play within the fourth quarter.

Greatest gap within the sport plan: The run sport within the first half. The Payments’ protection ranked twenty eighth within the NFL, however the Jaguars did not run the ball as a lot as anticipated within the first half regardless of having success once they did. They ran it 11 occasions and gained 99 yards, together with 51 yards on 4 carries by Bhayshul Tuten. Regardless of their effectiveness on the bottom, the Jaguars threw it 15 occasions within the first half, which ended with them trailing 10-7.

Turning level: The Jaguars allowed the Payments to maneuver into scoring place on their last drive when Allen connected with Cooks for a 36-yard reception to the Jaguars’ 20-yard line simply earlier than the two-minute warning. Cooks was extensive open behind CB Greg Newsome II, and S Antonio Johnson was unable to get to Cooks in time earlier than the ball arrived. Linebacker Devin Lloyd hit Allen as he launched the ball, however Allen was nonetheless in a position to get sufficient on the throw. The Payments scored the successful TD 5 performs later. — Michael DiRocco