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Alaina Getzenberg
Jacksonville, Florida – The buffalo bill Had come here before also.
Close games with opportunities to win – yet failing to do so – had resulted in the Bills being eliminated from the postseason in three of the last four years. The offense had a chance to mount a game-winning drive the last two years. The defense had opportunities to make game-sealing stops, with special teams mishaps along the way.
But this was not one of those departures.
Fourth quarter comebacks are a key part of the team’s success this season – all behind the quarterback. josh allen – And it continued on Sunday as the reigning MVP led the Bills jacksonville jaguars In the AFC wild-card round 27-24,
“It’s a beautiful feeling,” left tackle Dion Dawkins Said. “When the ball’s in our hands, shoot, the ball’s in Josh Allen’s hands. We want the MVP to have the ball, and he’s going to have to continue to rely on the other 10 guys on the football field to get the job done.”
Buffalo also exorcised another demon, ending the second-longest postseason losing streak in NFL history (detroit lions12) With their first playoff win away from home since the 1992 AFC Championship Game (0-8 during that span).
Allen mounted the first game-winning drive of his career in the fourth quarter or overtime in the playoffs, with the help of his defense and especially the veteran cornerbacks. tradavious white,
“We feel like we’ve been in situations like this,” Allen said. “And now every game presents itself in a different way, but understanding the moment, not riding the wave, was something we learned throughout the season. We were able to use that and can use it today.”
tied to the bill denver broncos Five wins for the second most comebacks in the fourth quarter this season (Chicago Bears7).
The two teams exchanged touchdowns in the fourth quarter, and after the Jaguars’ second frame, the Bills got the ball back with just over four minutes remaining. Allen led the offense on fourth-and-1 from the Jaguars 11, and the quarterback was forced down to the 1 (a score called back after review).
With 1:05 remaining, Buffalo coach Sean McDermott admitted that the team discussed taking a knee to take overtime, but Allen was instead pushed to the next play.
“You sit there and say you take a knee and lose a few yards and you don’t score there, now you’re beating yourself up for not scoring first,” Allen said. “Then, we did what we felt was right and that’s what happened.”
On the Jaguars’ upcoming drive, White offered a tip trevor lawrence pass and security cole bishop Intercepted it to seal the game. White had three passes defended on the day and has become a key part of the Bills’ defense in his return to the team.
“When [White] Coming back, he still wasn’t really Trey because he was working through two major injuries, and yet in the fashion of Trey, there’s no one who works harder, and he’s got himself back to where he’s playing really good football now,” McDermott said. “…He’s just as good in terms of his determination, his heart and his resilient nature.”
McDermott’s first draft pick with the Bills in 2017, White played elsewhere in 2024 after being released by Buffalo following a torn ACL and torn Achilles over a two-year period.
“These games come down to the last few minutes,” White said. “As I’ve been saying for weeks, man, we’re ruthless as a team. When we get in situations like that, we don’t blink. The best quarterback in the league is going to get us points. It’s up to us to make big stops, and we were able to get one at the end of the game. We got a big pick today.”
Allen’s performance – 28 of 35 passing for 273 yards and a touchdown and 11 carries for 33 yards and two rushing scores – came despite two trips to the medical tent. During the first, he was evaluated and cleared for injury. In the second, he limped away from his first touchdown run but did not miss a beat.
Allen said after the game that he had just recovered and was fine.
“It drips from below [Allen]Team strength,” McDermott said. “When your quarterback is that type of warrior, that type of competitor … from a leadership standpoint, it rubs off on the entire team. “However, we have to keep him as healthy as possible for the next week, and that’s not something we take lightly.”
Allen became the second player in NFL history with a go-ahead passing touchdown and a go-ahead rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter of the same playoff game (Alex Smith, 2011 Divisional Playoffs).
The Bills are now in the divisional round for the sixth consecutive year. They play against the Broncos on Saturday in Denver.
“Feeling good,” said Alan. “At the same time, it means we get another game, and we have to find a way to play our best in practice this week, come up with a good game plan, and go out there to execute whenever we play next Saturday or Sunday.”
