Welcome to Big Cat Country’s staff roundtable!
Today, we’re previewing the Wild Card Round playoff matchup between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Buffalo Bills at EverBank Stadium.
Question 1: Who has been your favorite player(s) to watch during Jacksonville’s current eight-game win streak?
Dillon Appleman: Obviously, Trevor’s ascension has been awesome to watch, but I have to give some shine to Jarrian Jones. He’d fallen down the depth chart before the win streak but has since earned more playing time and has been terrific. His energy stands out and he’s become one of the biggest playmakers on this defense. Since his snaps started to increase in Week 9, Jones has seven pass deflections, two interceptions, and six tackles for loss.
Travis Holmes: It’s hard for me to name a player I’m more passionate about than Jarrian Jones here. Jones began the season as a guy who was theoretically set to be in a fight for the outside corner role early in camp, to seemingly be in a (losing) fight for a starting role with Jourdan Lewis, to playing at such a high level currently that I couldn’t envision him not being on the field. He and this Jacksonville secondary are playing at such a level of confidence on the tape that it screams coaching clinic, high-IQ football, and development oozing out of every snap. Jones exemplifies that, along with multiple others, in that DB room.
Gus Logue: It’s hard not to go with Trevor Lawrence. I’ve been writing about the Jaguars since 2019, and I’d say more than half of the feature-length articles I’ve posted have essentially been titled “Lawrence is good, I swear!” Right now, he’s doing everything you could ask for: playmaking from both in and out of the pocket; changing calls and protections at the line of scrimmage; using his legs in high-leverage situations; and taking what the defense is giving him rather than forcing the ball. It took long enough, but the Trevor Lawrence Show has been a thrill to watch over the second half of this season.
Henry Zimmer: My favorite players from this win streak have been the rookie running backs. LeQuint Allen Jr. and Bhayshul Tuten have injected such a fun energy into this offense because neither guy is afraid to bow up to anyone. If you can have two newcomers who have zero fear anytime they step on the field, that not only permeates through the whole locker room but is also a great reflection on what the coaching staff is preaching. Not to mention both have produced when called upon.
Question 2: What’s a matchup you’re looking forward to watching?
Dillon: Josh Allen vs. Josh Hines-Allen. Jags fans will never forget when these two faced off back in 2021 when they were going by the same name. The Jags’ Josh Allen got the best of the matchup as he had a sack, fumble recovery and an interception in that one, which led to Jacksonville faithful giving Hines-Allen the nickname “The Good Josh Allen.” A lot of time has passed since then, as the Bills’ Josh Allen is now the reigning MVP while the Jags’ all-time sack leader has since changed his name to Joshua Hines-Allen, but what’s to say this matchup doesn’t decide who “The Good Josh Allen” is once and for all?
Travis: It’s Trevor Lawrence versus the media narrative, for me. After recently rewatching Jacksonville’s 2024 blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills, I couldn’t help but wonder how Lawrence would perform this coming Sunday in what is expected to be a pretty similar defensive scheme, with a significant upgrade at offensive coordinator in Jacksonville. In that matchup against Sean McDermott and Bob Babich’s defense, Lawrence was 21 of 38 for 178 yards, a touchdown, and an interception (65.5 passer rating) and was sacked four times. With the team continuing to be disrespected and ignored by national media at every turn, a quality game from Trevor would go a long way towards shedding the narrative from those who clearly don’t watch the team on a weekly basis. However, a rough game would be Exhibit A for that same group were Lawrence to struggle, whether he won or lost. Sunday, at home, could be a prime-time opportunity to shut up the talking heads while also shifting his recent ascension from a temporary streak conversation to a placement into the new age elite quarterbacks.
Gus: Much has been made this week of Buffalo’s No. 1 run offense against Jacksonville’s No. 1 run defense — and for good reason — but I’m interested in the flip side as well. How will Travis Etienne and Bhayshul Tuten perform against a Bills defense that, by deploying high rates of light boxes and two-high safety structures, invites opposing offenses to run against them? According to SūmerSports, the Jaguars rank 31st in EPA per designed rush and 31st in rushing success rate since the Jakobi Meyers acquisition in Week 10. The ground game
has to be more efficient for the Jaguars to make a run (no pun intended) in the playoffs.
Henry: How will the Jags continue to stop the run? James Cook won the NFL’s rushing title with a monstrous 1,621 total rushing yards. Cook, combined with the big body rushing ability of Josh Allen, will certainly be the biggest test for the league’s No. 1 rushing defense. At home, I think I would give the Jags the edge, but the Jags rush defense vs. the Bills rush attack could easily determine this game.
Question 3: Who will be the biggest X-factor?
Dillon: Foye Oluokun. The Bills are the league’s No. 1 rushing team and have a trio of tight ends that they like to use in a multitude of ways. Those two attributes lend themselves to Foye Oluokun needing to play a big role in this one. He’s the team’s best run defender and rarely makes mistakes when filling gaps in that space. He’s also going to be leaned on to help keep Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, and Jackson Hawes from picking up chunk plays at the second level, particularly in the red zone.
Travis: Bills running back James Cook has, rightfully, gotten a lot of attention for leading the NFL in yards this season. But, similar to the Colts’ Jonathan Taylor, the Jaguars aren’t novices in facing league-leading rushers while holding them to ho-hum days. Cook could potentially be the player who creates a matchup nightmare for Jacksonville should he become the first player to rush for over 100 yards against the Jaguars. However, Cook could equally end Sunday as Buffalo’s biggest problem should he be unable to get going or turn the ball over. Since week 10, Cook has fumbled five times, losing three of them. Meanwhile, Buffalo faces a Jaguars defense that’s top 10 in the NFL in fumbles forced (11) and fumbles recovered (9). That sets this week’s stage as a prime opportunity for a week when the first defender wraps up the ball carrier, with the second defender on the scene punching it out for Jacksonville’s defense.
Gus: Quintin Morris, of course. The fourth-year tight end has climbed up Jacksonville’s depth chart to the point that I’d be surprised if he isn’t re-signed in 2026 to continue serving as TE2. Morris scored his first touchdown of the season in Week 18 and could be a difference-maker in Sunday’s game due to Buffalo’s defensive structure. The Bills keep light bodies (defensive backs) on the field as much as possible because their top goal is to prevent explosive passes. However, that strategy often leaves them exposed against 2- or 3-TE sets. Look for the Jaguars to establish the run with Morris on the field early in the game; if that forces the Bills to adjust their personnel, Liam Coen’s entire playbook will open up from there.
Henry: This might be a cop out, but Josh Allen is my X-Factor. Allen is as good as it gets at the quarterback position and he is flanked by pretty good talent on his offense. The Jags defense is solid, but they haven’t seen someone like Allen in a while. If he plays to his regular playoff level, it could be a big issue for the Jags.
Final score prediction?
Dillon: Jaguars 23, Bills 21
Travis: Jaguars 34, Bills 24
Gus: Jaguars 34, Bills 20
Henry: Jaguars 35, Bills 34
What are your Week 17 predictions, Jaguars fans? Let us know in the comments!
