The scoreboard at EverBank Stadium finally went dark last Sunday, but the sting hasn't left North Florida. If you’re looking for what’s the score of the Jacksonville Jaguars, the final number you need to know is 27-24. That was the final tally in their AFC Wild Card matchup against the Buffalo Bills on January 11, 2026.
It was a game that felt like a microcosm of the entire season—brilliant flashes of Trevor Lawrence’s growth met with the crushing reality of playoff football.
One minute the Jags were up, the crowd was deafening, and the divisional round felt like a certainty. The next, Josh Allen (the Buffalo version, though our Josh Hines-Allen did his best) was barreling into the end zone for a 1-yard score to take the lead with under two minutes left. Honestly, watching that final drive was a lesson in how quickly an NFL season can evaporate. One tipped pass, one interception by safety Cole Bishop, and suddenly the 13-4 regular season record didn't mean a thing.
The Wild Card Heartbreak: How It Went Down
You've probably heard fans arguing about the play-calling already. It’s the usual post-loss ritual. But let's look at the actual flow of that 27-24 loss because it wasn't just one play.
The Jaguars actually held the lead in the fourth quarter.
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Lawrence connected with Parker Washington—who had spent a good chunk of the first half in concussion protocol—to put Jacksonville up 17-13. That felt like the momentum shift the bank needed. But the lead changed four times in that final frame alone. Four times! It was exhausting to watch, let alone play in.
Travis Etienne hauled in a 14-yard touchdown pass to put the Jags up 24-20 later in the fourth. At that point, the energy in Jacksonville was electric. People were already looking at flight prices for the next round. Then came the Bills’ final push. Josh Allen lofted a 36-yard beauty to Brandin Cooks on a 3rd-and-1 that basically broke the back of the defense.
When the Jags got the ball back for one last gasp, they needed a field goal to tie. Instead, a tipped ball intended for Brenton Strange ended up in Bishop's hands. Game over. Season over.
A Look Back at the 13-4 Regular Season
Despite the playoff exit, the 2025-2026 season was arguably the best we've seen from this franchise in years. Winning the AFC South wasn't a fluke; they dominated down the stretch.
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They finished the regular season with an eight-game winning streak. Eight!
- Week 18: A 41-7 absolute dismantling of the Tennessee Titans.
- Week 15: Dropping 48 points on the New York Jets.
- Week 11: Putting a 35-6 hurting on the Los Angeles Chargers.
The defense, led by Travon Walker and Devin Lloyd, was top-10 in points allowed for most of the year. Liam Coen, in his first year as head coach, seemed to unlock something in Trevor Lawrence that we hadn't seen consistently before. The West Coast offense was humming. They were averaging nearly 28 points a game.
Why the Final Score Matters More Than the Record
When you ask what’s the score of the Jacksonville Jaguars, you’re often looking for more than just a digit. You’re looking for the status of the "window." Is it open? Is it closing?
Most experts, including the folks over at Pro Football Reference, had the Jags' "Expected W-L" at about 11.8 wins. Outperforming that to get 13 wins shows a team that knows how to win close games—usually. They had overtime wins against the Raiders (30-29) and the Cardinals (27-24).
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But the postseason is a different beast. The loss to Buffalo highlighted a few glaring issues that the front office is going to have to look at this spring:
- Red Zone Efficiency: Settling for a Cam Little field goal in the third quarter after Tre'Davious White broke up two passes was a killer.
- The Pass Rush: While they got pressure, they couldn't finish the job on Josh Allen when it mattered most on that final drive.
- Depth at Receiver: When Parker Washington went down early, the offense looked stagnant until he returned.
What's Next for the Jaguars?
Even though the current score is "0-0" as we head into the 2026 offseason, the schedule for next year is already locked in. Because they won the AFC South, they’re going to have a first-place schedule. That means no easy weeks.
They’ll be facing the AFC North and the NFC East. Think about that for a second. That means matchups against the Steelers, Ravens, Bengals, and Browns, plus the Eagles and Cowboys. It’s a gauntlet.
They’re also slated to host the New England Patriots and travel to face the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears. If this team wants to turn that 24-27 playoff loss into a deeper run next January, the development of the young secondary is going to be the biggest storyline of the summer.
Actionable Insights for Jags Fans
If you're still reeling from the Buffalo game, here is what you should be watching over the next few months:
- Monitor the Coaching Staff: There’s always movement after a successful 13-win season. Keep an eye on whether Grant Udinski (OC) or Anthony Campanile (DC) get head coaching looks elsewhere.
- Draft Focus: Look for the Jags to target interior defensive line or a true "X" receiver in the first round to give Lawrence more weapons.
- Salary Cap: With Trevor Lawrence's big contract numbers looming, the front office has to be surgical with free agency.
The 2025-26 season will be remembered for the 13-win streak and the electric atmosphere at the Bank, even if the final score against Buffalo wasn't the one we wanted. It’s a foundation. Now, they just have to build the rest of the house.