(Jacksonville) Josh Allen absorbed the blows to lead the Buffalo Bills to their first road playoff victory in more than three decades, obtained by a score of 27-24 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday in the first round.
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With linebacker Devin Lloyd closing in on him, Allen found Brandin Cooks for a 36-yard play just before the two-minute break and capped the offensive sequence with the game-clinching one-yard rushing touchdown.
On the play before his major, Allen got 10 yards, refusing to fall as he was pushed and pulled back and forth at the goal gate.
“You have to trust all the players on the field,” Allen said. It’s a superb victory, a great team victory. We just have to play our style and find a way to win. We are focusing on the next match. »
The Bills will face the Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers or Houston Texands next week. They will therefore have the opportunity to continue their winning streak abroad in the playoffs, after decades of drought.
“We have to do it again. We have to start again,” Allen insisted.
Looking to throw the ball quickly to limit pressure on the Jaguars’ defensive unit throughout the game, Allen completed 28 of 35 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown. He reached the end zone twice with carries and suffered only one sack.
PHOTO CHRIS O’MEARA, ASSOCIATED PRESS
It was the team’s first road playoff victory in more than three decades.
His contribution was crucial since the season leader in rushing yards, James Cook, was largely neutralized, being limited to 46 yards on 15 carries.
The Bills (13-5) intercepted a deflected pass on the Jaguars’ (13-5) final possession to seal the victory. The Jacksonville team took the lead with 4:03 remaining in the game, but was unable to do so again.
“I would have liked to see us play cleaner in certain aspects of the game,” Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence said. I would have liked to have made a couple of different decisions and thrown better balls here and there. You have to live with that.
“But I know we gave it our all. I know I put my all into this year. It’s a shame not to continue playing because it’s an exceptional group. »
Lawrence completed 18 of 30 passes for 207 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Parker Washington, Travis Etienne Jr. and Brian Thomas Jr. scored majors in the defeat.
Jaguars head coach Liam Coen will certainly be criticized for not utilizing the ground game more against one of the NFL’s worst run defenses.
Etienne and rookie Bhayshul Tuten combined for 118 yards on just 14 carries.
“I ran the match like I always did,” Coen said.
The Bills were 0-5 on the road in the playoffs under head coach Sean McDermott. This streak began with a 10-3 loss to Jacksonville in 2017.
