The 6th-seeded Buffalo Bills will be on the road to face the 3rd-seeded Jacksonville Jaguars in this Sunday's AFC Wildcard Playoff matchup. While the Bills don't usually start their playoff run on the road, this year may actually favor them being away from home.
With all the seedings very close in the AFC Conference this year, the Bills will still have to account for these three high-end Jaguars players.
The Bills must contain these three game changing players
1. QB Trevor Lawrence
When one of the key players for the Jags involves a game-changing quarterback who won a national championship as a true freshman in 2019, then it must be playoff football time in Jacksonville. Trevor Lawrence finally looks like the Trevor Lawrence the Jags were expected to have when they drafted him No.1 overall in 2021.
It wasn't as though he couldn't be a quality NFL quarterback from his rookie year. It was due to bad coaching from a guy who should have just stayed in college under Urban Meyer.
Fast forward to 2022-2024, where during the three-year experiment of Doug Pederson, it started out hot with a 9-8 divisional title and a comeback playoff win over the Los Angeles Chargers, but then after a second 9-8 season with no playoff berth, it cooled down quickly in Duval County in 2024 with a 4-13 record.
During this period, Lawrence started to show flashes of being a franchise quarterback, but the lightbulb still had yet to go off in his head. This is where 2025 and Liam Coen's magic came to be.
This season, Lawrence finally had the light coming on for him as his internal clock became stronger as he grew more comfortable in coach Coen's offense. All he needed was a new head coach who could give him more confidence in his abilities, because the 26-year-old is a naturally gifted passer who threw for 4,007 yards and 29 touchdowns this season, with nine rushing touchdowns.
Look for the gifted quarterback to hand off the ball to his running backs more to take advantage of the Bills' run defense this upcoming Sunday.
2. RB Travis Etienne
While Travis Etienne can be a factor in this Jag's offense, running the football consistently is not one of their strengths. They are more of a from-the-shotgun, passing-the-ball-around-to-their-star-receivers, but Etienne managed to still run for over 1,000 yards, with seven touchdowns.
The Jags have struggled to find a consistent running game, and the Bills have been feast or famine when it comes to stopping the run this year. This game could be a breakout game for the 26-year-old, as the Jags may try to run the ball more to take advantage of Buffalo's weakness.
Etienne and Lawrence also have chemistry that developed back when the two were teammates and were doing all that winning with Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers.
3. WR Brian Thomas Jr.
Yes, Brian Thomas Jr. is currently playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars, but the Bills could have traded up and drafted him in 2024, and we wouldn't be talking about what a talented but disappointing wide receiver Keon Coleman has turned out to be. Since his 1,000-yard season in his rookie year, the 23-year-old has staggered in his play due to hampering injuries.
Still, that doesn't mean he is a big, speedy receiver, as the 6-foot-2-inch, 209-pound receiver ran a 4.33 40-yard dash at the 2024 NFL Draft Combine. His skills also translate to the field, as he can create separation down the field by getting past cornerbacks 1-1.
With 48 receptions totaling 707 yards and two touchdowns this season, he is also a polished route runner who can create yards after the catch.
No matter what happens this Sunday, the Bills must keep an eye on containing these three Jacksonville players, and where else would you rather be than DUUUUUVVVALLL for a road wildcard playoff game?