Trevor Lawrence, upstart Jaguars take aim at Josh Allen, Bills
Only one team enters the playoffs hotter than the Jacksonville Jaguars, who won their final eight regular-season games to claim their second AFC South title over the last four seasons.
However, Jacksonville (13-4) is a slight underdog in its second home playoff game in four seasons in the AFC wild-card round against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
It's probably just how first-year Jaguars coach Liam Coen would like it considering the "small-market team" underdog chatter he's played into over the last few weeks.
Coen already had made NFL history as the first coach to inherit a team that won four or fewer games and lead them to 12 or more wins in his debut season.
Now he's one of two men (along with Chicago's Ben Johnson) trying to become the first rookie head coach since George Seifert in 1989 to win a Super Bowl.
"To say I assumed we would win 13 games when I took the job, I can't say that," Coen said. "But I think that, I guess you could say we've, I'm not going to say overachieved, but I think you can say that we've probably gotten a lot better in some ways."
As it turned out, Jacksonville needed each and every one of those wins down the stretch as Houston won its final nine games to finish one game back in the division and earn a wild-card berth.
The reasons for the Jaguars' late surge are many, but quarterback Trevor Lawrence playing the best football of his career likely ranks at the top of the list.
After the former No. 1 pick threw 14 touchdowns to 11 interceptions in his first 11 games of the season, Lawrence threw 15 TDs and one pick over the final six contests. Adding a career-high nine rushing touchdowns, Lawrence set the franchise record with 38 total touchdowns in his first season in Coen's offense.
"He's been in command of what they do, knows where to go with the ball," Bills coach Sean McDermott said of Lawrence. "... You watch him against some really good teams and he's given them fits."
Jacksonville's defense also set a franchise record with 22 interceptions this season.
Buffalo (12-5) had its five-year streak of AFC East titles snapped by New England this season. The Bills could set up an encounter with the Patriots next week should both teams win this weekend.
But in order to get that chance, they'll have to do something they haven't in 33 years.
Win a road playoff game.
Buffalo has lost its last nine road playoff games, last winning one in the 1992 (season) AFC Championship Game at Miami. McDermott is 0-4 in the playoffs on the road and quarterback Josh Allen is 0-2.
However, one major hurdle already has been removed. The team that eliminated the Bills from the playoffs each of the last two years and four of the last five, the vaunted Kansas City Chiefs, will be watching from home.
Allen, the reigning MVP, has better historical numbers in the playoffs than the regular season, averaging more passing yards (258.4 to 235.2) and passing touchdowns (1.92 to 1.72).
"His process is really strong, especially this time of year," McDermott said of Allen.
Allen (foot) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice after sitting out Sunday's low-stakes season finale.
Cornerback Maxwell Hairston (ankle), linebackers Terrel Bernard (calf) and Matt Milano (illness), receiver Josh Palmer (ankle), running back Ty Johnson (ankle) and kicker Matt Prater (quad) did not participate in practice Wednesday. Tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee) and safeties Jordan Poyer (hamstring) and Damar Hamlin (pectoral) were limited.
Jacksonville had just two active players sit out of Wednesday's practice in left tackle Cole Van Lanen (knee) and cornerback Jarrian Jones (illness). Cornerbacks Greg Newsome II (shoulder) and Montaric Brown (neck), defensive tackle Danny Striggow (elbow/ankle) and right guard Patrick Mekari (back) were limited.
The all-time series is tied 10-10. Buffalo smashed the Jaguars 47-10 the last time they played in 2024, but Jacksonville has won both times they've faced off in the playoffs, a 10-3 win in 2018 and a 30-27 win in 1996, both in the wild-card round.