The Buffalo Bills vs jacksonville jaguars match player stats from the AFC Wild Card round show a tight finish at EverBank Stadium on January 11, 2026. Buffalo won 27-24 on the road against the AFC South champion Jaguars. The Bills entered the game at 12-5 while Jacksonville carried a 13-4 record and home-field advantage. Buffalo played without running back Ty Johnson, linebacker Terrel Bernard and cornerback Maxwell Hairston, all ruled out with injuries.
Jacksonville was missing left tackle Cole Van Lanen depth piece Hunter Long and edge rusher Emmanuel Ogbah among its inactives. A late fourth quarter surge from Josh Allen, including a game winning one yard touchdown run with 65 seconds left, decided the outcome after Jacksonville had taken a 24-20 lead.
Match Overview Table
| Date | Venue | Round | Final Score | Records |
| January 11, 2026 | EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, FL | AFC Wild Card | Bills 27, Jaguars 24 | BUF 12-5, JAX 13-4 |
Pre-Match Context
Buffalo qualified for the playoffs as an AFC East runner-up and extended its active postseason streak to seven straight years. Jacksonville won the AFC South at 13-4, its best regular season mark since 1999, and hosted a home playoff game for the first time in years. The Jaguars needed a win to keep their first ever run past the divisional round alive under first year head coach Liam Coen.
Buffalo needed a road playoff win after going 0-5 away from home in the postseason under Sean McDermott. Buffalo dressed running back Frank Gore Jr, elevated from the practice squad, after Ty Johnson was ruled out. Jacksonville moved right guard Patrick Mekari back into the lineup after a two game absence with a back injury, while Walker Little shifted to left tackle in place of the injured Van Lanen.
Quarter by Quarter Score Table
| Quarter | Bills | Jaguars |
| 1st | 3 | 0 |
| 2nd | 7 | 7 |
| 3rd | 3 | 3 |
| 4th | 14 | 14 |
| Total | 27 | 24 |
Quarter by Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter
Buffalo opened the scoring on a 50 yard field goal from Matt Prater at the 12:06 mark. Jacksonville failed to find the end zone in the opening period. The Bills controlled the ball for much of the quarter behind their rushing attack. Neither defense allowed a touchdown as the game stayed low scoring early.
Second Quarter
Trevor Lawrence found Brian Thomas for a 3 yard touchdown pass with 46 seconds left in the half, giving Jacksonville its first lead at 7-3. Buffalo answered before halftime when Josh Allen scored on a 2 yard run with 9:23 remaining in the quarter, putting the Bills back in front 10-7. Both offenses moved the ball but settled for one scoring drive apiece. Buffalo took the 10-7 lead into the locker room.
Third Quarter
Matt Prater extended the Buffalo lead with a 47 yard field goal at the 6:48 mark, making it 13-7. Jacksonville answered with a 43 yard field goal from Cam Little at 9:13, cutting the deficit to 13-10. The quarter produced only two scoring drives as both defenses tightened. Buffalo carried a 13-10 lead into the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter
Jacksonville took its first lead since the second quarter when Lawrence hit Parker Washington for a 6 yard score at 2:05, making it 17-13. Buffalo responded when Allen found Dalton Kincaid for a 15 yard touchdown at 6:04, moving the Bills ahead 20-17. Lawrence then connected with Travis Etienne for a 14 yard touchdown at 10:57, putting Jacksonville back in front 24-20.
Buffalo closed the game with Allen rushing 1 yard for the go ahead score with 65 seconds on the clock, finishing 27-24. The Bills defense held Jacksonville scoreless on the final possession to secure the win.
Team Stats Comparison Table
| Category | Buffalo Bills | Jacksonville Jaguars |
| Total Yards | 340 | 359 |
| Passing Yards | 273 | 207 |
| Rushing Yards | 79 | 154 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of Possession | 33:49 | 26:11 |
Key Numbers That Decided the Game
The numbers show Buffalo winning through ball control and takeaways despite gaining fewer total yards than Jacksonville.
- Buffalo held the ball for 33:49, more than seven minutes longer than Jacksonville’s 26:11.
- Josh Allen completed 28 of 35 passes for 273 yards with zero interceptions.
- Buffalo forced two interceptions off Trevor Lawrence while committing zero of its own.
- Jacksonville out gained Buffalo 359 to 340 in total yards but lost the turnover battle.
- Buffalo converted 2 of 2 fourth down attempts while Jacksonville went 0 for 1.
Full Box Score — Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen carried the Buffalo offense, completing 28 of 35 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown while adding two rushing scores. Khalil Shakir led all receivers with 12 catches for 82 yards. James Cook paced the ground game with 46 yards on 15 carries. Matt Prater made both his field goal attempts and all three extra points.
Passing
| Player | Comp/Att | Yards | TD | INT |
| Josh Allen | 28/35 | 273 | 1 | 0 |
Rushing
| Player | Carries | Yards | Average | TD |
| James Cook | 15 | 46 | 3.07 | 0 |
| Josh Allen | 11 | 33 | 3.00 | 2 |
Receiving
| Player | Receptions | Yards | Average | TD |
| Khalil Shakir | 12 | 82 | 6.83 | 0 |
| Brandin Cooks | 3 | 58 | 19.33 | 0 |
| Dalton Kincaid | 3 | 28 | 9.33 | 1 |
| Dawson Knox | 3 | 30 | 10.00 | 0 |
| James Cook | 2 | 5 | 2.50 | 0 |
| Gabriel Davis | 2 | 14 | 7.00 | 0 |
| Keon Coleman | 1 | 36 | 36.00 | 0 |
| Frank Gore Jr | 1 | 6 | 6.00 | 0 |
| Tyrell Shavers | 1 | 14 | 14.00 | 0 |
Kicking
| Player | FG (made/att) | XP (made/att) | Total Points |
| Matt Prater | 2/2 | 3/3 | 9 |
Returns
| Player | Returns | Yards | Average |
| Re’Mahn Davis | 4 | 119 | 29.75 |
Defense (Top 8 by Tackles)
| Player | Tackles | Sacks | Key Play (INT/PD/FR) |
| Shaq Thompson | 8 | 0.0 | 1 INT |
| Gregory Rousseau | 6 | 1.0 | – |
| Jordan Hancock | 6 | 0.0 | – |
| Matt Milano | 5 | 0.0 | – |
| Deone Walker | 3 | 0.0 | – |
| Christian Benford | 3 | 0.0 | – |
| Cole Bishop | 2 | 0.0 | 1 INT |
| Jordan Poyer | 2 | 0.0 | – |
Full Box Score — Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence threw for 207 yards and three touchdowns but was intercepted twice. Parker Washington led Jacksonville receivers with 7 catches for 107 yards and a touchdown. Travis Etienne combined for 67 rushing yards and a receiving score. Cam Little made 1 of 2 field goals and all three extra points.
Passing
| Player | Comp/Att | Yards | TD | INT |
| Trevor Lawrence | 18/30 | 207 | 3 | 2 |
Rushing
| Player | Carries | Yards | Average | TD |
| Travis Etienne | 10 | 67 | 6.70 | 0 |
| Bhayshul Tuten | 4 | 51 | 12.75 | 0 |
| Trevor Lawrence | 6 | 31 | 5.17 | 0 |
| LeQuint Allen | 1 | 3 | 3.00 | 0 |
| Parker Washington | 2 | 2 | 1.00 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Receptions | Yards | Average | TD |
| Parker Washington | 7 | 107 | 15.29 | 1 |
| Travis Etienne | 5 | 49 | 9.80 | 1 |
| Brenton Strange | 2 | 9 | 4.50 | 0 |
| Brian Thomas | 2 | 21 | 10.50 | 1 |
| LeQuint Allen | 1 | 9 | 9.00 | 0 |
| Jakobi Meyers | 1 | 12 | 12.00 | 0 |
Kicking
| Player | FG (made/att) | XP (made/att) | Total Points |
| Cam Little | 1/2 | 3/3 | 6 |
Returns
| Player | Returns | Yards | Average |
| Bhayshul Tuten | 3 | 49 | 16.33 |
| LeQuint Allen | 1 | 26 | 26.00 |
Defense (Top 8 by Tackles)
| Player | Tackles | Sacks | Key Play (INT/PD/FR) |
| Eric Murray | 7 | 0.0 | – |
| Antonio Johnson | 6 | 0.0 | – |
| Montaric Brown | 6 | 0.0 | – |
| Devin Lloyd | 6 | 0.0 | 1 FR |
| Foyesade Oluokun | 5 | 0.0 | – |
| Travon Walker | 5 | 0.0 | – |
| Joshua Hines-Allen | 4 | 1.0 | – |
| Andrew Wingard | 4 | 0.0 | – |
Game Leaders / Top Performers
Josh Allen delivered the decisive performance, throwing for 273 yards and running for two touchdowns, including the game-winner. He extended a fourth-down sneak for 10 yards before punching in the final score with 65 seconds left. Trevor Lawrence kept Jacksonville in front for most of the fourth quarter with three touchdown passes, but his two interceptions proved costly.
Khalil Shakir set a career playoff high with 12 receptions, giving Buffalo a reliable target on third downs. Parker Washington paced Jacksonville with 107 receiving yards and a touchdown catch.
| Category | Buffalo Leader | Jacksonville Leader |
| Passing | Josh Allen, 273 yds, 1 TD | Trevor Lawrence, 207 yds, 3 TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | James Cook, 46 yds | Travis Etienne, 67 yds |
| Receiving | Khalil Shakir, 82 yds, 12 rec | Parker Washington, 107 yds, 7 rec |
Starting Lineups Table
| Position | Buffalo Bills | Jacksonville Jaguars |
| QB | Josh Allen | Trevor Lawrence |
| RB | James Cook | Travis Etienne |
| WR | Khalil Shakir | Brian Thomas |
| WR | Keon Coleman | Parker Washington |
| TE | Dalton Kincaid | Brenton Strange |
| LT | Dion Dawkins | Walker Little |
| RG | O’Cyrus Torrence | Patrick Mekari |
Injury Report Table
| Player | Injury | Status |
| Damar Hamlin (BUF) | Injured reserve | Out |
| Joshua Palmer (BUF) | Ankle | Out |
| Ty Johnson (BUF) | Ankle | Out |
| Terrel Bernard (BUF) | Calf | Out |
| Maxwell Hairston (BUF) | Ankle | Out |
| Cole Van Lanen (JAX) | Knee | Out |
| Emmanuel Ogbah (JAX) | Not disclosed | Out |
Buffalo’s absence at running back forced Frank Gore Jr into a larger role off the practice squad. Jacksonville lost its starting left tackle, Cole Van Lanen, moving Walker Little into the lineup and shifting its offensive line just before the biggest game of the season.
Season Series and Head to Head
Buffalo and Jacksonville had met 20 times before this game, with the series even at 10 wins apiece, and Jacksonville had won both of the teams’ previous playoff meetings.
| Date | Location | Result |
| December 28, 1996 | Rich Stadium (AFC Wild Card) | Jaguars 30, Bills 27 |
| 2018 season (Wild Card) | EverBank Field | Jaguars 10, Bills 3 |
| September 23, 2024 | Highmark Stadium | Bills 47, Jaguars 10 |
| January 11, 2026 | EverBank Stadium (AFC Wild Card) | Bills 27, Jaguars 24 |
Conference / League Standings
Buffalo finished the regular season second in the AFC East while Jacksonville won the AFC South at 13-4, giving the Jaguars home-field advantage for this Wild Card game.
| Team | Division | Regular Season Record |
| Buffalo Bills | AFC East (2nd) | 12-5 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | AFC South (1st) | 13-4 |
Broadcast and Stream Information Table
| Detail | Information |
| TV Network | CBS |
| Announcers | Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson |
| Streaming | Paramount+, NFL+, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV |
| Kickoff Time | 1:00 PM ET |
FAQ
What was the final score of the Bills vs Jaguars Wild Card game?
Buffalo defeated Jacksonville 27-24 in the AFC Wild Card round at EverBank Stadium on January 11, 2026.
Who won player of the game between Allen and Lawrence?
Josh Allen edged Trevor Lawrence, throwing for 273 yards and rushing for two touchdowns including the game winner.
How many interceptions did Trevor Lawrence throw?
Trevor Lawrence threw two interceptions in the loss, both coming at costly moments in the fourth quarter.
Who led all receivers in the game?
Khalil Shakir led all players with 12 receptions for 82 yards, setting a playoff career high.
Did Buffalo win despite fewer total yards?
Yes, Jacksonville out gained Buffalo 359 to 340, but Buffalo won the turnover and time of possession battles.
Where did Buffalo play next after beating Jacksonville?
Buffalo advanced to face the Denver Broncos in the AFC Divisional round the following weekend.
Was this Buffalo’s first road playoff win in years?
Yes, this marked Buffalo’s first road playoff win in more than three decades under head coach Sean McDermott.
Conclusion
Buffalo’s win over Jacksonville ended the Jaguars’ best regular season in over two decades and advanced the Bills to the divisional round. Turnovers and time of possession, not total yardage, decided the outcome in Buffalo’s favor. Jacksonville now turns to build on its 13-4 season under Liam Coen heading into next year. Buffalo moved on to face the Denver Broncos on the road in the divisional round.
