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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Adam Stites

Studs and duds in Jaguars’ 25-20 win vs. Bills

The Jacksonville Jaguars got a massive win in London, beating the previously red-hot Buffalo Bills, 25-20.

While it was another game that saw Jacksonville making some crucial errors that wasted offensive opportunities, the Jaguars got points when they needed them late. Trevor Lawrence orchestrated 93- and 75-yard touchdown drives in the fourth quarter to lead the Jaguars to a victory.

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The Jaguars defense allowed only seven points through the first three quarters and kept a Bills offense that averaged 41 points in the last three weeks to less than half that total Sunday.

Ultimately, the positives vastly outweighed the negatives for the Jaguars in the upset win. Here’s who stood out most for Jacksonville:

Stud: QB Trevor Lawrence

While Lawrence fumbled away two possessions in Bills territory (only one of which could reasonably be called his fault), the Jaguars quarterback was dealing Sunday.

He put up his first 300-yard performance of the season and did it against a Bills secondary that was previously allowing 169.5 passing yards per game.

Stud: RB Travis Etienne Jr.

Running room was hard to come by for Etienne for most of the day against the Bills. But when the creases started forming in the Buffalo defense in the fourth quarter, the Jaguars running back made them pay.

He finished with 136 rushing yards, 48 receiving yards, two touchdowns, and a performance that didn’t do him any fantasy football favors.

Duds: C Luke Fortner and OT Anton Harrison

Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports

The Jaguars’ two youngest offensive linemen looked, well, young.

Fortner struggled to make much room for Etienne and was easily beaten on more than one occasion by Bills defensive linemen. Harrison picked up two inopportune penalties that wiped out 18- and 19-yard gains for the Jaguars offense.

Stud: WR Calvin Ridley

After a few quiet games, Ridley looked more like the player most expected to see in 2023. Lawrence and Ridley were on the same page on several quick out routes to move the chains, and they connected for a huge 32-yard play late in the game.

Stud: S Rayshawn Jenkins

Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports

The Jaguars’ veteran safety was given the best run defense grade on the team in PFF’s initial review of the win and he was credited with allowing only one reception for one yard in coverage. Jenkins has played down in the box often in 2023 and it has proven to be a good strategy for the Jacksonville defense.

Dud: OLB K'Lavon Chaisson

Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports

The Jaguars’ only sack of the game Sunday was nullified by a roughing the passer penalty, but Jacksonville still recorded a lot of pressures. Josh Allen was credited with recording four hurries, while Travon Walker recorded two hurries and two hits. Even Yasir Abdullah got a hit on one of his four defensive snaps.

But when Chaisson was on the field in relief of Allen late in the first half, the Bills offense finally found life against a non-existent pass rush. Chaisson finished with zero pressures.

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