The Jacksonville Jaguars defeat the Buffalo Bills in a defensive battle

The Jacksonville Jaguars hosted a playoff game in front of a sellout crowd.  The Jags and their opponents the Buffalo Bills played the game with similar styles.  

Stout defenses and anemic offenses ruled the day.  The Jaguars defense won the day.

The first half was an old fashioned defensive battle.  The half ended in a 3-3 tie.  Both defenses played very well.  In fact the Bills held the Jags to under 100 total yards in the first half.  Also the Bills bottled up the run and dared Bortles to pass.  As a result the run game was totally ineffective.  Also Bortles was completely inaccurate as a passer and looked upset and nervous.  Bortles discovered his ability to run at the end of the first half and the confidence returned.

The Jaguars eight minute and fifty two second scoring drive dominated the third quarter.  Bortles continued to run when needed.  As a result the running game for Fournette opened up a tiny bit and Bortles rediscovered his ability to pass. Coach Doug Marrone made a gutsy fourth down call and the newly confident  Bortles threw a touchdown pass to Ben Koyack.

The fourth quarter began with a poor placement of the ball that resulted in a Bills first down.  However the Bills went three and out in the next series.  The Jags followed with an ineffective drive.  The Bills looked like they had some momentum but a Miles Jack sack gave the ball back to the Jags.  The Jags ran Fournette into a wall and put the game in the hands of the defense.  The defense rose to the occasion once again and the Jaguars ran Fournette into a wall again.  The ball went back to the Bills.  Tyrod Taylor, the Bills quarterback, had  a head injury during the next series.  Nathan Peterman, back up quarterback, came in the game.  The quarter ended with a Jalen Ramsey interception and the Jaguars continue their post season in Pittsburgh next week.

To summarize the Jags defense played nearly flawless football.  Blake Bortles running made the difference and was a huge factor in the win.  Despite the lack of scoring the game was quite exciting.  Next week will be a huge challenge but today…Go Jags!