The Buffalo Bills have been one of the hottest teams in the AFC over the last couple of years and the Jacksonville Jaguars will welcome them at TIAA Bank Field in Week 9. This matchup doesn’t favor the Jags but that doesn’t mean the Bills should be uncorking the champagne just yet. In fact, this is the kind of trap game the better team loses when they look down on the competition.
Now, the Jaguars would have to play their best game of the season in order to beat Buffalo. They would need to cut down on the penalties and create a couple of turnovers, something they have had a hard time doing in 2021.
The one thing the Jags can’t afford to do is to be on the wrong side of a blowout once again. If it weren’t for quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s touchdown pass to wide receiver Jamal Agnew, Jacksonville would have been shut down. They need to show up Sunday and prove they’re a better team than the one that lost 31-7 to the Seahawks in Week 8.
If the Jaguars want to keep up with the Bills, they must keep an eye on these five Bills.
Bills player the Jaguars must keep an eye on No. 1 – Devin Singletary, RB
When you think of the Bills’ high-gear offense, quarterback Josh Allen is probably the first player that comes to mind, maybe wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Due to how dominant their passing game is, it’s easy to forget about their rushing attack but Devin Singletary is a pretty productive player.
The Bills have a backfield committee but Singletary leads the team in carries. The 2019 round pick has toted the rock 67 times for 339 yards and one touchdown. Although those numbers might not jump out of the stat sheet at first sight, the Jaguars’ defense can’t devote too much attention to Buffalo’s passing game and let the third-year running back run amock.
Bills player the Jaguars must keep an eye on No. 2 – Gregory Rousseau, DE
Defensive end Gregory Rousseau entered the 2021 NFL Draft with injury red flags. He might have slid to the second round if the Bills hadn’t used the 30th overall pick on the Miami product. Looking back, all those teams that passed him up, including the Jags, probably regret the decision as he’s started every game this season and has become a key contributor in Buffalos’ defensive front.
Rousseau has logged three sacks, one interception, 22 total tackles, and four tackles for a loss in 2021. While that may not seem like much, keep in mind that he’s just a rookie. If the Jaguars want to keep Trevor Lawrence’s jersey clean, they will need to find a way to contain him, along with defensive end Jerry Hughes and defensive tackle Ed Oliver.
Bills player the Jaguars must keep an eye on No. 3 – Jordan Poyer, S
If safety Jordan Poyer played for a team in a bigger market, he would probably garner more attention around the NFL. The 2013 seventh-round pick currently leads the team with three interceptions. Moreover, his Pro Football Focus overall grade of 89.2 is the second-highest among Bills defenders.
Poyer is one of the reasons Buffalo has allowed the least amount of points in the league in 2021. However, he might not be at full strength in Week 9. The veteran safety injured his shoulder Wednesday and was a limited participant on Friday’s practice. He is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday’s game. The Jaguars must prepare as if he’s going to play but it would be good news for them if he doesn’t.
Bills player the Jaguars must keep an eye on No. 4 – Stefon Diggs, WR
Wide receiver Stefon Diggs is the kind of playmaker that can take over games and help teams get over the hump. While quarterback Josh Allen showed growth in 2019, he didn’t really take his game to the next level until last season, when Diggs arrived via trade.
Diggs earned a First-Team All-Pro designation in his first season with the Bills. Although he’s experienced a slight dip in production in 2021, he’s still as dominant as he was last season. The 2015 fifth-round pick can score in a blink of an eye if left uncovered. It will be up to Jaguars cornerback to slow him down.
Bills player the Jaguars must keep an eye on No. 5 – Josh Allen, QB
Josh Allen is not in the same quarterback echelon as Patrick Mahomes or Aaron Rodgers but he’s not far off and is one of the NFL’s most dynamic young passers.
Jaguars defensive coordinator Joe Cullen recently talked about how difficult it is to bring down the 2018 first-round pick. Jacksonville’s front seven will have to play mistake-free football, and clog up any potential running games, as Allen can leave the pocket and run at any time. This will be one of the toughest matchups in the Jags schedule this year. The Jags will need defensive end Dawuane Smoot and outside linebacker Josh Allen to once again play the way they did against the Seahawks in Week 8.