Top 3 Things We Learned

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Top 3 things we learned from Bills vs. Jaguars | Wild Card Round

Jan 11, 2026 at 07:06 PM

Alec White

Content Manager

The Bills are heading back to Buffalo with a come-from-behind Wild Card victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars, pulling out the 27-24 victory in the final minute of the game.

Here's what we learned from Buffalo's win.

1 — Josh Allen's toughness and grit on full display

Battered, bruised, but never broken. Bills quarterback Josh Allen was roughed up multiple times, needing to go to the medical tent twice during Sunday's win. But Allen delivered the final punch in the biggest moment, leading a nine-play, 66-yard touchdown drive to take a 27-24 lead with 1:04 remaining.

"He's a warrior," head coach Sean McDermott said of Allen. "It trickles down from him in terms of the team's toughness. I mean, he's when your quarterback — that type of warrior, that type of competitor."

On fourth and one from the Jacksonville 11, the Bills ran a tush push that not only picked up the first down but gained an additional nine yards as the offensive line dragged Allen toward the goal line. The Bills called the same play from the Jaguars 1-yard line, shoving the QB into the end zone.

According to Next Gen Stats, Allen's sneak increased the Bills' win probability by +49.9 percentage points (from 27.5% to 77.4%), the most win probability added on a QB sneak in the NGS era (since 2016).

"17 is a dog," said left tackle Dion Dawkins. "Everybody knows what he's going through, and I'm telling you, you'll never know. He'll never tell you if he's hurt. He'll never show it. I'm telling you, I have the best quarterback in the world."

Allen was sensational throughout with 306 total yards and three touchdowns, but he especially lived up to his billing in the fourth quarter with two separate go-ahead scoring drives. He was 5 of 5 passing for 53 yards on the final possession, including a clutch 36-yard completion to Brandin Cooks, the longest gain of the day by either team.

The QB's message to the team in the huddle before that drive: "I love'yall, I got you, you got me," he said.

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The Bills trailed in the fourth quarter by scores of 17-13 and 24-20. Buffalo initially took a 20-17 advantage on Allen's 15-yard strike to TE Dalton Kincaid but the Jaguars quickly answered with their own scoring drive.

It put Buffalo in need of another heroic drive that Allen delivered, marking the team's first road playoff victory since 1992 — four years prior to when Allen was born. The comeback marked the first time in Bills playoff history that they trailed with 5 or fewer minutes left in 4th quarter and still won in regulation.

"We feel like we've been in situations like this, and now every game presents itself in a different way, but to understand the moment, to not ride the wave," Allen said "That was stuff that we've learned throughout the entire season. We were able to utilize that and use it today."

As for Allen's assortment of bruises, you won't get much from the quarterback's mouth. But officially, he was evaluated for a head injury in the first half and cleared to return. After a one-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, Allen went into the medical tent after grabbing at his right leg.

"It was more of a precautionary thing. Just got rolled up on and they want to take a quick look, but we're all good," he said.

2 — Bills adjust to a stalling run game

Sunday was a battle of strength on strength. The Bills' top ranked rushing offense against the Jaguars' No. 1 rushing defense.

Despite the win, it's fair to say Buffalo did not have as successful of a ground attack as it would've liked. The Bills were held to season lows in rushing yards (79) and yards per rush (3.0).

Coming into the postseason, Buffalo ranked first in the NFL with called run plays on first down (59.7%).

The Bills made an adjustment in the second half with rushes on just 35.7% of their first down plays. On first down pass plays, Allen threw for 107 yards and a touchdown, averaging 13.4 yards per completion.

"You gotta be a two dimensional offense," McDermott said. "We talked about that quite a bit, and you got to be able to pivot if the run game isn't working. I thought Joe (Brady) did a really good job in that regard."

Added Allen, "Sometimes it's the product of who you play. We just found a way to win."

RB James Cook III took home the league's rushing title in the regular season and was named second team NFL All-Pro. The Bills know they'll need to continue to trust him and the run game this postseason.

"We know that moving forward we're going to need to rely on James," Allen said.

3 — Bills defense puts stamp on wild fourth quarter

The final 15 minutes of Bills-Jaguars featured a total of four total lead changes, two of which happened in the last five minutes.

Buffalo's defense ensured there wouldn't be a fifth lead change with a game-clinching interception by safety Cole Bishop with under a minute remaining.

Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence tried to squeeze a ball over the middle of the field to WR Jakobi Meyers that was tipped in good coverage by CB Tre'Davious White and deflected into the waiting arms of Bishop.

"Staying locked in, and then Tre being able to make a play right there, and I just happen to be in the right spot," Bishop explained.

The second-year player gave praise to the veteran White who looked to be in prime form with three pass breakups, one of which would have been a touchdown earlier in the game. Bishop explained that White's PBU on TE Brenton Strange near the end zone was near a zone that Bishop was playing.

"That's kind of my zone, and he was able to help me out on that. I'm super grateful for him," he said.

After the game, Bishop and McDermott had a meaningful embrace at midfield.

"I was just super excited. We're both celebrating each other," Bishop said. "Being able to make a play in this situation is huge, and just having his support has been big."