close
close

first Drop

Com TW NOw News 2024

Josh Allen nearly flawless as Bills beat lackluster Jaguars
news

Josh Allen nearly flawless as Bills beat lackluster Jaguars

ORCHARD PARK, NY — The Buffalo Bills offense was unstoppable Monday night against the Jacksonville Jaguars, winning 47-10 to stay on a season-high. The Jaguars suffered their third loss.

Quarterback Josh Allen led the Bills to touchdown drives on all five possessions in the first half to take a commanding lead at home. The win snapped a two-game losing streak against the Jaguars. This is the fifth time the Bills have scored 30 points in each of their first three games of a season.

Here are the key things you need to know for both teams on Monday night:


Buffalo Bills (3-0)

“Perfect” is a difficult word to use and it is rare that it is actually achieved.

However, there’s an argument to be made that the Bills’ offense and Josh Allen (247 passing yards and four touchdowns in the first half) came pretty close in the first half against the Jaguars.

Allen completed 23 of 30 passes for 263 yards and four touchdowns in the game. He also rushed for 44 yards on six carries. He passed Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes for the top MVP odds, according to ESPN BET, and tied his own record for touchdown passes in a game, all in the first 30 minutes. Through the first drive of the third quarter, he was 6-of-6 for 77 yards with two passing touchdowns on third down.

The stats are impressive, including his performance under pressure. His four passing touchdowns under pressure this season are the best in the NFL.

The Bills have scored 30-plus points in each of their first three games of the season for the first time since 2011. This offense has made it clear to the entire league that it will be no easy task to stop.

Crucial game: Damar Hamlin’s interception. The Bills’ offense gets a lot of credit for this performance, and rightfully so, but the defense did its job. On a rough pass from Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence on first-and-10 deep in the second quarter — with no one near the throw zone — Hamlin intercepted Lawrence and returned the ball 19 yards. Hamlin’s first career interception set up the team’s fourth touchdown of the day, Allen to wide receiver Khalil Shakir five plays later.

Promising trend: The offense involves multiple players. Four different Bills caught touchdowns against the Jaguars, and running back James Cook had a rushing score. Six Bills have caught touchdowns this season — most in the NFL. Getting the ball to multiple players is an early trend for the Bills this season, and one that offensive coordinator Joe Brady should continue. It only adds to how dangerous this unit can be.

Interesting statistic: Allen is the first player with four passing touchdowns in the first half of Monday Night Football since the Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger on Nov. 5, 2007 against the Ravens. The last time before that was Brett Favre (2003 Packers vs. Raiders).

Next match: at Baltimore Ravens (8:20 p.m. ET, Sunday, September 29)


Jacksonville Jaguars (0-3)

It may not be time to panic just yet, but it’s getting close for the Jaguars after their crushing loss Monday night. They’re now 0-3, putting the playoffs — which owner Shad Khan said before the season was his expectation — almost out of reach.

Only six teams since 1979 have made the playoffs after starting 0-3. Only one has done so this century: the 2018 Houston Texans. That list includes the 1992 San Diego Chargers, the only team to make the playoffs after an 0-4 season.

There’s still plenty of football left, and the schedule looks set to ease after next week’s game in Houston, with games against Indianapolis, Chicago and New England. But the poor start following the late-2023 collapse (1-5 finish) will certainly increase the pressure on head coach Doug Pederson.

Describe the game in two words: Defensive debacle. The Jaguars allowed 34 points in the first half, the most they’ve allowed in a first half in franchise history, according to ESPN Research, and just four shy of the most they’ve allowed in a half. The Jaguars were down two starters in the secondary and lost another, as well as linebacker Foyesade Oluokun, but that’s no excuse for letting Allen throw for 247 yards and four TDs in the first half.

Disturbing trend: The Jaguars were already dealing with injuries to cornerback Tyson Campbell (IR/hamstring) and nickelback Darnell Savage (quad), but now cornerback Jarrian Jones (shoulder) — who replaced Savage in the lineup — and Oluokun (foot) are also injured. Defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen likes to play a lot of man coverage, but those injuries will really impact the Jaguars, especially with a short week and the fact that they have to travel to Houston to treat C.J. Stroud, Tank Dell, Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs.

Interesting statistic: The Jaguars finally got receiver Christian Kirk more involved in the offense. After being targeted seven times and catching just two passes for 29 yards in the first two games, Kirk was targeted seven times and caught six passes for 73 yards in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter. Part of that was due to the score and the Jaguars having to pass more to stay in the game, but Kirk needed to be a bigger part of the offense.

Next match: at Houston Texans (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, September 29)