JACKSONVILLE – Senior writer John Oehser, senior correspondent Brian Sexton and team reporter/producer Kainani Stevens offer quick thoughts on the Jaguars as they prepare to play the Buffalo Bills at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville in an AFC Wid Card Playoff game Sunday

John Oehser, Jaguars Senior Writer…

1. One for the quarterback … We've discussed quarterback Trevor Lawrence often here recently, and with good reason. The fifth-year veteran has emerged as one of the NFL's best players and a huge reason the AFC South champion Jaguars have won eight consecutive games entering the postseason. Jaguars at midseason were a good team with a chance to fight their way into the postseason. For the last eight games, they have been one of the NFL's best teams – perhaps the AFC's best team – because Lawrence has ascended from a productive and inconsistent player to a confident one, playing above the Xs and Os and lifting his team from playoff possibility to Super Bowl contender. He has thrown 15 touchdowns and run for four with one interception in the last six games – a stretch that has moved him into the conversation for NFL MVP honors. It seems unlikely Lawrence will win that, but considering how his 2024 season ended – with shoulder surgery in the wake of a brutal, concussion-causing hit against the Houston Texans in early December – Lawrence absolutely merits Comeback Player of the Year. Bills quarterback Josh Allen is perhaps the NFL's best quarterback. The fact that Lawrence is gaining ground on that status rapidly could make the coming days – and weeks – intriguing.
2. … and one for the coach. While we're discussing postseason honors, Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen is as deserving of Coach of the Year as Lawrence is of Comeback Player of the Year. This honor seemed certain six weeks ago to go to either Chicago Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson or New England Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel – and considering the Patriots' 14-3 record following a 4-13 season, Vrabel is deserving. But consider: The Jaguars improved this season from 4-13 to 13-4. And they have played a far tougher schedule than the Patriots, with the Patriots losing two of their three games against teams with winning records (a victory over the Bills with losses to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Bills). The Jaguars are 4-3 against teams with winning records and beat the AFC's No. 1 seeded Denver Broncos on the road in December. Why not Coen for Coach of the Year? It's a tough question to answer.

Brian Sexton, Senior Correspondent…

1. No. 1. The Jaguars will put the NFL's No. 1 run defense to the test against the Bills' No. 1 run offense. If the Jaguars didn't always feel like a dominant run defense this season, perhaps that was because teams were able to work the short passing and screen games effectively at times – and those elements of the passing game are essentially the run game. Watching the run defense in a Week 18 victory over the Tennessee Titans erased any doubts I had about this run defense. Nose tackle DaVon Hamilton ate up double teams and linebackers Foyesade Oluokun and Devin Lloyd studded running backs Tony Pollard and Tajae Spears. The Jaguars are ready for the challenge of the Bills – who come in at nearly 160 rushing yards per game with a 1,600-hundred yard back in James Cook and with Josh Allen, who might be the best running quarterback of his generation and whose 79 career rushing touchdowns is the most by a quarterback in NFL history. We'll find out just how good the Jaguars' run defense is on Sunday.
2. The playoffs are when big-time players make big-time plays. Just look back at the Jaguars' first playoff victory over the Bills in December 1996. When they trailed 7-0 and had to punt on the next possession, it felt like that game could get out of hand with Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed and Bruce Smith on the other sideline. But defensive end Clyde Simmons intercepted Kelly and took it 20 yards for a touchdown to tie the game. Trailing 14-10 late in the first half, running back Natrone Means bounced off Bills defensive tackle Phil Hansen and sped down the right sideline for a 30-yard touchdown to give the Jags their first lead. After quarterback Mark Brunell threw a late Pick Six for a 27-20 Bills lead, Brunell put together a masterful drive, threading the ball through the arms of Buffalo defenders to wide receivers Keenan McCardell and Jimmy Smith, who tied it up midway through the fourth quarter. The playoffs are played above the Xs and Os. The Jaguars will win if Lawrence, running back Travis Etienne Jr., tight end Brenton Strange, Jakobi Meyers, defensive end Travon Walker or anyone makes a play or two at a critical moment that changes the momentum as those plays did in Buffalo nearly 30 years ago.

Kainani Stevens, Jaguars Team Reporter/Producer ...

1. Confidence is key in Jaguars recent surge. The catalyst of the Jaguars' eight-game winning streak was their fourth quarter collapse against the Houston Texans in Week 10. Since then, the Jaguars have outscored opponents by an average of 19.1 points per game. Lawrence has shined and is finally getting national recognition. However, winning remains the main focus for Lawrence, who said he has gained unique perspective through his struggles so far in the NFL. Now the Jags' signal-caller is being truly challenged by his head coach and it's paying dividends. There is no one in the NFL playing quarterback better than Lawrence right now. He's playing as confident as we have ever seen at the professional level and Jaguars fans are now reaping the benefits.
2. Allen has one large target that will be a point of concern. Buffalo isn't as flush with receiving targets as they have been in past seasons, but the emergence of tight end Dalton Kincaid could be problematic for the Jaguars. Jacksonville has struggled at times to contain tight ends this season, allowing over 1,000 yards to them this year. Most notably Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers had a field day against the Jaguars in Week 9, scoring three touchdowns with 127 receiving yards on 12 receptions. Kincaid, when healthy, can be a quick release valve for Allen and is a big target in the red zone. Kincaid was limited at practice on Wednesday with a knee injury, but is expected to play Sunday.