Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville Jaguars: Final Score Prediction

In Week 9, the Buffalo Bills will attempt to pick up their second win in a row. This week’s opponent is the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars. Last week, the Jaguars were routed 31-7 by the Geno Smith-led Seattle Seahawks. The loss dropped Jacksonville’s record to 1-6 on the season.

Things have gone about as poorly as people expected they would for the Jaguars in 2021. Outside of their Week 6 win over the Miami Dolphins, which snapped their 20 game losing streak, the Jaguars have been largely non-competitive. They have lost by two or more scores in all but one of their losses this season.

The Jaguars are 28th in the league in both points for and allowed. One glaring reason why the Jaguars have been so non-competitive in 2021 is their turnover margin. Jacksonville has turned the ball over 13 times in seven games, while only forcing two turnovers of their own. They are tied with the Kansas City Chiefs for the worst turnover margin in the league at -11.

Even the perceived bright spot of the 2021 Jaguars has struggled mightily. Rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence has completed just 59.6% of his passes, and thrown eight touchdown passes, nine interceptions, and registered a very underwhelming passer rating of 74.7. Lawrence has also been sacked 11 times in his seven starts. It is difficult to see things getting better in Week 9 for Lawrence against a Buffalo defense that has been notoriously good against rookie quarterbacks since Sean McDermott arrived back in 2017.

Last time out, the Buffalo offense started slow but turned things on in the second half in their win against the Dolphins. Josh Allen had a solid game against the Dolphins, but it was below the standard he has set himself against the Dolphins. He threw for 249 yards on 49 attempts and threw two touchdowns in the process. The Buffalo offense is still at the top of the league in points scored, and they should maintain their spot after their Week 9 matchup with the Jaguars.

The Bills defense is also atop the league in points allowed, allowing just 15.6 points a game. The league’s best unit allowed just 11 points against Miami in Week 8, holding Tua Tagovailoa to just 205 passing yards on 39 attempts, and intercepting one of his passes. The Bills also held Miami in check on the ground. The Dolphins rushed for just 68 yards on the afternoon. Jordan Poyer came away with an interception for the second game in a row, continuing the ball-hawking ways for Buffalo’s safety tandem.

The Bills and Jaguars are on opposite ends of both offensive and defensive rankings, as well as the league standings. The Buffalo offense will certainly be looking to have a better showing than they did in Week 8, and the Jacksonville defense may not be ready to handle it.

Final Score Prediction: Buffalo Bills 31, Jacksonville Jaguars 10

Things could get ugly quickly in Jacksonville on Sunday, and if both teams stay true to their 2021 form, things will get out of hand. The Buffalo Bills will defeat the Jacksonville Jaguars by a score of 31-10.