It happened again. The air in EverBank Stadium was thick, the kind of heavy Florida humidity that usually makes visiting teams wilt by the third quarter. But this time, the heat didn't save the home team. If you’re asking who won Jacksonville game this past Sunday, the answer is a tough pill for Duval to swallow. The Buffalo Bills pulled off a 27-24 heist, ending a Jaguars season that felt, for the first time in decades, like it was actually destined for a Super Bowl run.
Honestly, the atmosphere was electric at kickoff. 70,250 people screaming. You could feel the bleachers shaking. The Jags came into this Wild Card matchup on a massive eight-game winning streak, having just stomped the Titans 41-7 to clinch the AFC South. They looked unstoppable. But playoff football is a different beast, and Josh Allen—the Buffalo version—reminded everyone why he’s likely the 2024 MVP.
The Momentum Shift: Who Won Jacksonville Game and Why?
It wasn't a blowout. Far from it. This game was a heavyweight fight where both teams spent most of the afternoon trading body blows. The Jaguars' defense, led by Foyesade Oluokun, actually did a decent job of containing James Cook, the league's leading rusher. They held him to just 46 yards. That should have been the recipe for a win.
But Josh Allen just wouldn't stay down.
The guy was basically a human battering ram. He went into the medical tent twice in the first half—once with his left ear actually bleeding after a hit from Josh Hines-Allen—and he still didn't miss a single snap. He finished 28 of 35 for 273 yards. He ran for two touchdowns, including the one-yard plunge with 1:04 left on the clock that ultimately decided who won Jacksonville game.
Breaking Down the Fourth Quarter Chaos
The final fifteen minutes were pure insanity. We saw four lead changes in the fourth quarter alone, which is basically unheard of in the postseason.
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- The Parker Washington Score: Lawrence found Washington to take a 17-13 lead. The stadium was ready to explode.
- The Bills' Answer: Allen hit Dalton Kincaid for a 15-yard TD. 20-17 Buffalo.
- The Etienne Go-Ahead: Trevor Lawrence escaped a collapse in the pocket and flipped a 14-yarder to Travis Etienne Jr. Jags up 24-20 with only 4:07 left.
At that point, most people in the stands thought it was over. The Jaguars' defense had been "scrappy" all day, as head coach Liam Coen put it later. But the Bills marched 66 yards in nine plays. They used their size. They used the clock. When Allen pushed over the goal line for that final score, you could hear a pin drop in Jacksonville.
Where It All Went Wrong for Trevor Lawrence
Trevor Lawrence finished the day with 255 yards and three touchdowns. On paper, that’s a winning performance. He even broke the Jaguars' single-season record for total scores during this stretch. But the memory that’s going to haunt him all offseason is the first-and-10 play right after Buffalo took the lead.
He dropped back, looking for Jakobi Meyers. The ball was a little high, maybe a little behind. Tre'Davious White, the Bills' veteran corner who has been under a lot of heat lately, got a fingertip on it. The ball fluttered in the air for what felt like ten minutes before safety Cole Bishop snatched it.
Game over.
That interception was the definitive answer to who won Jacksonville game. It wasn't a lack of talent or a bad game plan; it was one single, tipped pass that went the wrong way. The Jags outrushed Buffalo 154-79. They controlled the line of scrimmage for 40 minutes. But in the playoffs, the stats don't matter as much as the final two minutes.
The Liam Coen Era and What's Next
This was Liam Coen’s first year at the helm, and despite the heartbreak, you’ve gotta admit the progress is staggering. Last year, this team was 4-13. This year, they went 13-4 and won the division. They found a gem in rookie Travis Hunter, who has been a revelation on both sides of the ball.
The Jaguars are no longer a "get right" game for the rest of the NFL. They’re a problem. However, the loss highlights a few gaps. The secondary struggled to contain Khalil Shakir, who caught 12 passes for 82 yards. When the Bills needed a first down, they just looked for Shakir in the slot, and the Jags didn't have an answer.
Key Takeaways for the Offseason
- Red Zone Efficiency: The Jags missed a huge chance to take a seven-point lead before halftime when Lawrence was stopped inches short of a first down at the Bills' 8-yard line. Points left on the board.
- Kicking Woes: Cam Little missed a 54-yarder right before the half. In a three-point game, every yard matters.
- The "Josh Allen" Factor: No, the other one. Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker were relentless, but they couldn't quite wrap up the Buffalo QB when it mattered most.
If you're looking for a silver lining, it’s that this team is incredibly young. Lawrence is still ascending. The offensive line, which was a sieve last year, actually gave him time to work on Sunday. The core is there.
The next step for this franchise isn't about finding more talent; it’s about finding that "playoff-savvy" composure that the Bills showed. Buffalo has won a postseason game for six straight seasons now. They know how to handle the 2-minute drill when the season is on the line. Jacksonville is still learning that part.
For those looking to catch the highlights or see the full box score of the 27-24 loss, the official NFL Game Center has the play-by-play breakdown. It’s worth watching the fourth quarter again, if only to see the absolute chess match between Coen and Sean McDermott.
Don't let the final score fool you. The Jaguars belong in this conversation now. They didn't win the game, but they definitely proved the 2025 regular season wasn't a fluke.
Keep an eye on the injury reports for Josh Hines-Allen and Arik Armstead over the next few weeks as the team enters exit physicals. Most of the defensive front took a beating trying to stop the Buffalo run game. While the stadium lights are off for now, the expectations for 2026 are already through the roof.