A season-ending interception and a missed field-goal attempt doom the Jaguars against the Bills. Buffalo's Josh Allen shines as Trevor Lawrence's playoff dreams crumble in a playoff thriller.
A sensational season for the Jacksonville Jaguars came to a screeching halt Sunday as they lost 27-24 to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Wild Card Playoff.
A crushing interception and surprising special teams miscues led to the Jaguars' early playoff exit and an end to their eight-game winning streak after a 13-4 season and an AFC South title.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence was outmatched by Bills QB Josh Allen in what became a back-and-forth battle between the two. Lawrence finished 18-of-30 for 207 yards with three touchdowns. But the fifth-year starter had two key interceptions -- the second sealed the win for Buffalo.
Allen went 28-of-35 for 273 yards with one passing touchdown and also rushed for two scores, including the game-winning touchdown on the second of back-to-back tush pushes by the Bills -- the first went for 10 yards as the Jaguars' solid defensive line was pushed back into the end zone.
Allen scored his first career playoff victory on the road and his first game-winning drive in the playoffs. Lawrence had a chance to at least tie the game with just over a minute to play, but on the first play of the drive, Lawrence threw a pass that was intended for receiver Jakobi Meyers, but tipped by Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White and picked off by safety Cole Bishop. That play officially ended Jacksonville's season.
Lawrence won't be the only player taking heat for the loss. Kicker Cam Little had missed only four field-goal attempts all season. Little went 3-for-3 on extra points attempts, but his day will be most remembered for his missed 54-yard FG try as time expired in the first half, a kick that would have tied the game 10-10 going into the locker room. Instead, Buffalo took a 10-7 lead into the half.
Little converted on 30-of-34 field-goal attempts during the regular season, including kicking the two longest field goals in NFL history, from 68 and 67 yards. But Jaguars fans are now left wondering what could have been if Little had tied the game before halftime.
Sunday was a back-and-forth battle between two of the top quarterbacks in this postseason. Unfortunately for the Jaguars, Lawrence was the victim of a great defensive play by the Bills which led to the season-ending interception and now Jacksonville has quickly turned into offseason mode instead of playing on into the divisional round.