After a close contest, Buffalo comes away with a 28-21 win over Jacksonville at home.
Buffalo Bills Insider Chris Brown provides the details. Here is his report:
Regular season records: Buffalo (6-5), Jacksonville (2-9)
In a nutshell:
Buffalo did not get off to the start they wanted, but in a second half that saw five lead changes the Bills scored three touchdowns and the defense got a key fourth down stop with three minutes remaining in what wound up being a 28-21 Bills victory.
LeSean McCoy was the engine of the Bills offense with 133 total yards from scrimmage (103 rushing) and a pair of touchdowns, including a 75-yard run on the first play from scrimmage in the second half. Sammy Watkins in his return to action contributed 80 yards on three catches and drew a critical pass interference call to set up Buffalo’s final touchdown drive.
Marcell Dareus was a force on defense with eight tackles, a pair of sacks, two quarterback hits and three tackles for loss.
The win lifted Buffalo above the .500 mark for the first time since Oct. 23rd as they improved to 6-5 on the season and 3-4 in the AFC.
How it went down:
-The Jaguars scored on their opening drive for the first time all season staging an 11-play 75-yard march culminating in a two-yard touchdown run by Chris Ivory (7-0) midway through the first quarter.
-The Bills finally got on the board just before the end of the half when LeSean McCoy ran in from seven yards out for a touchdown. Dan Carpenter missed the extra point attempt however, leaving the Jaguars ahead by a point at the half (7-6).
-Buffalo took the lead for the first time in the game when McCoy struck again. On the first play from scrimmage in the second half McCoy ran through a hole and into the Jaguars secondary for a 75-yard touchdown and a 13-7 lead just seconds into the third quarter.
-Jacksonville had an answer on the ensuing drive as Blake Bortles found Marqise Lee for a 20-yard touchdown to cap an 11-play 65-yard drive to go back ahead by a point (14-13) with nine and a half minutes left in the third quarter.
-The Bills regained the lead when a 62-yard hook up between Tyrod Taylor and Sammy Watkins set Buffalo up 1st-and-10 at the Jaguars 13-yard line. Taylor then scrambled in for a seven-yard touchdown to make it 20-14 with three minutes left in the third quarter.
-Once again after a touchdown drive by the Bills, the Jaguars put together one of their own going 65 yards on seven plays before Allen Hurns took a receiver screen into the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown for the fourth lead change of the game just eight seconds into the fourth quarter (21-20).
-Buffalo got a big catch and run from LeSean McCoy and Sammy Watkins drew a pass interference call to set the Bills up at the Jaguars 25. Four plays later Justin Huntermade a leaping grab for a touchdown in the end zone to put the Bills back in front. McCoy then converted a two-point attempt to give Buffalo a seven-point lead (28-21) with 10:46 remaining.
Subplots:
-LeSean McCoy had a career long 75-yard touchdown to start the second half. He finished the game with 103 yards and averaged 5.4 yards per carry in the game.
-Tyrod Taylor rushed for a touchdown, and went 12 for 18 passing for 166 yards and a touchdown. He was sacked five times and had a passer rating of 114.6.
-Sammy Watkins had three catches for 80 yards in his first game since Week 2.
-Brandon Tate had a 45-yard punt return to set up Buffalo’s first touchdown drive of the game.
-Ronald Darby suffered a concussion in the first half and did not return. Corey White, who was part of the rotation at safety shifted back to cornerback to replace him.
-Buffalo’s offense went three-and-out on their first two possessions of the game and had just five net yards of offense in the first quarter.
-James Ihedigbo started at safety opposite Corey Graham, but CB Corey White also rotated in at safety in obvious passing situations.
-Percy Harvin was unable to play Sunday due to migraines.
Inactives:
QB Cardale Jones, WR Robert Woods, WR Percy Harvin, RB Mike Gillislee, LB Brandon Spikes, OT Seantrel Henderson, DT Corbin Bryant.
Up next:
The Bills make their final west coast trip of the regular season to take on the Raiders in Oakland for a 4:05 pm kickoff.