Bills overcome Jaguars 27-24 to end road playoff woes
Josh Allen threw a touchdown pass and ran for two more scores to lead the Buffalo Bills to their first road playoff victory in 33 years in a 27-24 win over the host Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday in an AFC wild-card round matchup.
Allen, who went to the injury tent twice in the first half after sustaining head, hand and knee injuries, led a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown drives, scoring the game-winner on a 1-yard keeper with 1:04 left.
On the first play of the ensuing drive, Trevor Lawrence's pass was intercepted by Cole Bishop off a deflection to secure the victory with 54 seconds remaining.
The Bills snapped a streak of eight straight road playoff losses at the end of a dramatic fourth quarter which saw 28 points scored -- more than the 23 scored in the first three quarters. Four fourth-quarter lead changes were tied for the most in a postseason game in NFL history.
Allen completed 28 of 35 passes for 273 yards and ran for 33 yards, leading the Bills to their sixth straight win in a playoff opener. Khalil Shakir caught 12 passes for 82 yards, and Brandin Cooks had three receptions for 58 yards, including a 36-yard grab on the game-winning drive.
NFL rushing leader James Cook III was held to 46 yards on 15 carries.
Trevor Lawrence threw three touchdowns, two of which gave the Jaguars a lead in the fourth quarter, along with two interceptions on 18-of-30 passing for 207 yards.
Parker Washington had a game-high 107 receiving yards om seven receptions and a TD despite missing much of the first half while being evaluated for a concussion. Travis Etienne Jr. had 67 rushing yards, 49 receiving yards and a touchdown catch for Jacksonville.
Buffalo struck first after taking over at the Jaguars' 33 on a Shaq Thompson interception. However, the Bills were unable to pick up a first down and forced to settle for a 50-yard Matt Prater field goal.
Jacksonville did not waste its first scoring chance, converting on a 3-yard pass from Lawrence to Thomas to give Jacksonville a 7-3 lead with 14:14 left in the first half.
The Jaguars had a prime chance to extend that lead when they forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff but came up just short on a Lawrence keeper in the red zone.
Buffalo delivered a 10-play, 92-yard drive finished with a 2-yard Allen TD run to take a 10-7 lead with 5:37 left in the half Jacksonville's Cam Little missed a field goal just before halftime.
The teams traded field goals to begin the second half before Jacksonville forced a punt and reclaimed the lead at 17-13 with 12:55 left on Washington's 6-yard touchdown catch.
Buffalo responded with a touchdown drive of its own, with Allen finding Dalton Kincaid for a 15-yard score to take a 20-17 lead with 8:56 left.
Jacksonville reclaimed the lead on a 14-yard catch by Etienne with 4:03 left.