AFC Wild Card Game Preview: Jackson Jaguars vs. Buffalo Billsa
The early Sunday NFL playoff game features a matchup that absolutely nobody ever saw coming.
The AFC South champion Jacksonville Jaguars (let that sink in) will face the Buffalo Bills in the second AFC Wild Card game at Everbank Field in Jacksonville.
Both teams are making a return to the playoffs following extended absences. The Jags have been on postseason hiatus since 2007 and the Bills on the outside looking in since last century.
10-6 Jacksonville was able to ride one of the toughest defenses in the league despite a still inconsistent offense led by erratic quarterback Black Bortles. The addition of former LSU steamroller Leonard Fournette at running back served to take a good deal of pressure off of Bortles but the quarterbacks need to make plays in the postseason.
The 9-7 Bills backed in after an epic last-minute collapse by the Baltimore Ravens who gave up a miracle 49-yard touchdown pass on fourth and twelve to Andy Dalton on the Bengals. But hey, sometimes it takes luck to get into the playoffs.
The Bills chances of springing the upset rest on star running back LeSean McCoy who is struggling with an ankle injury and is questionable for today’s game. It McCoy is out, the Bills probably have zero chance of winning this one unless Bortles reverts to a turnover machine which is possible.
Even with McCoy in the lineup, this one is a tossup with neither team capable of surviving another week once they are fed into the New England and Pittsburgh buzz saws.
Look for a sloppy, boring and close game and wait for the Saints-Panthers game later in the afternoon for excitement.
