Among the matchups on Wild Card Weekend, the AFC duel between the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars might be receiving the least amount of attention. While it might not be the talk of the national media, here’s a chance it could be one of the best games in the first round of the NFL Playoffs.
Let’s dive into four bold predictions for Sunday’s Bills vs Jaguars matchup in Florida.
Travis Etienne Eclipses 90 Scrimmage Yards
The path to victory against Buffalo for the Jaguars likely won’t come through the air. In the regular season, the Bills allowed the fourth-lowest completion rate (59.7 percent) and yards per attempt (6.2) while placing seventh in passer rating allowed (79.8) with the fewest passing yards per game (156.9) allowed.
Instead, Liam Coen can use Travis Etienne as a driver for success on Sunday. Buffalo allowed the highest yards-per-carry average (5.1) during the regular season with the eighth highest Rushing Success Rate (43.3 percent) allowed to opponents. Etienne, who finished with the 10th-highest yards after contact (2.0) among starting running backs. Coming off a season where he averaged 82 scrimmage yards per game, Etienne will clear 90 scrimmage yards versus Buffalo.
Josh Allen Finishes Under 200 Passing Yards
Across his first 10 starts this season, quarterback Josh Allen averaged 245.6 passing yards and 1.8 passing touchdowns per game with a 105.6 QB rating and 8.4 yards per attempt. In the next six starts, he averaged just 202 passing yards and 1.2 passing touchdowns per game with a 96.2 passer rating and 7.3 yards per attempt. While those are still good numbers, they highlight the fact that Buffalo’s passing game has been very stoppable in the second half of the season.
That likely won’t change on Wild Card Weekend. Since Week 11, opponents have averaged just 178.9 passing yards per game versus Jacksonville. In that eight-game stretch, the Jaguars defense has limited quarterbacks to 4.9 yards per attempt with five times as many sacks taken (20) as passing touchdowns recorded (four) and an abysmal 3.61 adjusted yards gained per attempt (AY/A). With Buffalo lacking a real difference-maker at wide receiver who can create separation, the Jaguars’ pass rush and secondary should fare very well.
Read More: NFL Defense Rankings 2026, Evaluating Playoff Defenses
Cam Little Makes Two Field Goals from 50+ Yards
Cam Little has made his presence felt all season, so why not expect the same on Wild Card Weekend? Jacksonville’s kicker finished the regular season with an 80% conversion rate on field goal attempts from 50-plus yards out, including conversions from 67 and 68 yards away to shatter the record books. Defensively, Buffalo allowed the eighth-fewest yards per game in the NFL this season. While that means finding the end zone could prove difficult for Trevor Lawrence and Co., they’ll get close enough to Little’s range for him to convert twice from distance.
Dalton Kincaid Finds the End Zone
One of the few ways teams have found success this season against Jacksonville’s defense is targeting tight ends. Tight ends drew the second-most targets against the Jaguars during the regular season, pulling down 104 receptions for 1,004 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. The combo of Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid will be key for Buffalo to find any rhythm offensively. Thanks to his athleticism, it’ll be Kincaid who makes the big play and finds the end zone.
Related: NFL Wild Card Round Predictions, including Bills vs Jaguars Winner
