Jacksonville Jaguars 25, Buffalo Bills 20: Final score, recap, highlights
LONDON - The Buffalo Bills will be putting their three-game win streak on the line Sunday morning when they face the Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
During the three-game stretch that has vaulted the Bills to the top of the AFC East, they have outscored the Raiders, Commanders and Dolphins by a combined 123-33.
This is the second time these two teams are playing a game in London, the first occurring in 2015 at Wembley Stadium.
The Bills have been designated as the home team, though the Jaguars have much more history in London. They have played at least one “home” game in London since 2013, and now for the first time they are playing here twice.
Last week, as the “home” team, they defeated the Atlanta Falcons 23-7 at Wembley. They have been in London for a week and a half and have had more than enough time to get adjusted to the time change. The Bills just arrived Friday morning so they may still be playing catchup on sleep.
This story will be updated all morning before and during the game.
Report card: Buffalo defense gets battered, offense sleep-walks in loss to Jaguars
The Bills had a rough time on both sides of the ball and that resulted in a 25-20 loss to the Jaguars. Here's how Sal Maiorana graded the performance.
Bills go from elite to dysfunctional in a week: 6 reasons they were worn out by Jaguars
It was not a good day for the Bills in London as they dropped a 25-20 decision to the Jaguars. Here are Sal Maiorana's Six Points.
Final score: Jacksonville Jaguars 25, Buffalo Bills 20
Buffalo might've rushed the lateral attempt. The Bills had 22 seconds to get to the end zone. Allen fired a quick completion to Stefon Diggs for 16 yards but Diggs elected to try to lateral the ball as he was being wrapped up, instead of getting to the line of scrimmage for a spike. The ball was loose on the field and recovered by linebacker Travon Walker.
Josh Allen completed 27 of 40 passes for 359 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, and led the team with 14 rushing yards and a touchdown. The Bills had two, 100-yard receivers. Stefon Diggs had eight receptions for 121 yards and a touchdown and Gabe Davis made six catches for 100 yards and a TD.
Trevor Lawrence went 25 of 37 for 315 yards and a TD. Travis Etienne rushed for 136 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries and Calvin Ridley had seven catches for 122 yards for the Jaguars.
Terrel Bernard led the Bills' defense with 16 tackles and A.J. Epenesa and Leonard Floyd each had two sacks.
Jacksonville controlled the clock, possessing the ball for 38:12. There were 19 penalties, 11 by the Bills.
What a way to end it @Jaguars 👏
📺: #JAXvsBUF on NFL Network
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/LxW25sxPWA pic.twitter.com/3jhSQ8wppC— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
Bills still have a chance - :22 4th quarter
Jacksonville didn't put the game away with a first down. Travis Etienne got three straight carries totaling 4 yards and Logan Cooke punted 39 yards and Buffalo returner Deonte Harty muffed the catch. The ball went out of bounds at the Bills' 6.
Bills onside kick attempt goes out of bounds - 2:11 4th quarter
Buffalo attempted an onside kick and it had a chance but Jaguars tight end Evan Engram was able to ensure the ball went out of bounds at the Bills' 49.
Josh Allen runs in touchdown on incredible, four-play drive - Jaguars 25, Bills 20
The Josh Allen experience is so addicting. The Bills scored on a four-play, 75-yard drive that took 45 seconds. On the first play, Allen heaved a 43-yard completion to Deonte Harty and then followed it up with a 29-yard pass to Gabe Davis, who made a spectacular play to keep his feet in bounds. Just like that the Bills were at the Jaguars' 3-yard line. On second-and-goal, Allen took an RPO himself and was pushed into the end zone by his teammates.
SHOVED IN FOR THE TD! @BuffaloBills are not done yet 👀
📺: #JAXvsBUF on NFL Network
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/LxW25sxPWA pic.twitter.com/UvOEf9Izp7— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
Travis Etienne beats worn-down Bills defense for 35-yard TD - Jaguars 25, Bills 13
Buffalo needs a stop and another touchdown. Jacksonville began the possession with 4:03 remaining. Travis Etienne rushed for 6 yards on first down and was stopped for no gain on second down to set up third-and-4. The Jaguars aired it out and Lawrence dropped an over-the-shoulder pass to Calvin Ridley for 32 yards. Two plays later, Etienne broke free for a 35-yard touchdown.
CONFIRMED DOT ✅
📺: #JAXvsBUF on NFL Network
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/LxW25sxPWA pic.twitter.com/2gNB6xGLXV— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
TRAVIS!! @Jaguars extend the lead at exactly the right time 😱
📺: #JAXvsBUF on NFL Network
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/LxW25sxPWA pic.twitter.com/khpc0POPQ6— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
Josh Allen throws TD pass to Gabe Davis on wild drive - Jaguars 18, Bills 13
That was a wacky drive with seven penalties, five of which were enforced. It eventually ended with Josh Allen's 19-yard touchdown pass to Gabe Davis. The two-point conversion attempt from Allen to Khalil Shakir failed. Rookie guard O'Cyrus Torrence was called for two offensive holding penalties which nullified completions early in the drive. The Bills dug themselves out of a first-and-20 with three straight completions and linebacker Chad Muma was flagged for unnecessary roughness. Three plays later, Jaguars linebacker Josh Allen was called for unnecessary roughness on a would-be sack of Bills quarterback Josh Allen on third-and-1. That put the ball at the Jaguars' 9. Josh Allen's 9-yard TD pass to Gabe Davis was nullified by an offensive pass interference penalty but on the next play, Allen stepped up in the pocket and hit Davis for the 19-yard touchdown.
Bills not done yet 👀
📺: #JAXvsBUF on NFL Network
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/LxW25sxPWA pic.twitter.com/SBRfzXEWTO— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
Travis Etienne rushes for 6-yard touchdown: Jaguars 18, Bills 7
Jacksonville has dominated total yards and time of possession but only had 11 points. This time, they went 10 plays and 91 yards and finished in the end zone. Buffalo's defense is wearing down.
Trevor Lawrence opened with a 20-yard completion to Calvin Ridley. Jacksonville converted a third-and-5 with a 10-yard catch by Travis Etienne and Bills cornerback Taron Johnson was flagged for a 26-yard pass interference penalty to put the ball at the Bills' 32. Jacksonville fed Etienne on three straight plays, which ended with his 6-yard touchdown run.
A.J. Epenesa went to the bench for an oxygen mask and Von Miller stood on the sideline in a baseball hat.
ETIENNE. @Jaguars take an 11-point lead in London!
📺: #JAXvsBUF on NFL Network
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/LxW25sxPWA pic.twitter.com/MYHmNtdYNQ— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
Josh Allen throws interception to Darious Williams - 13:06 4th quarter
It was another Josh Allen interception punt. Allen launched a deep ball intended for Stefon Diggs on third-and-15 from the Bills' 41-yard line but it was picked off by cornerback Darious Williams, who wrestled the ball from Diggs on the jump ball. Williams was ruled down by contact at the Jaguars' 7. Williams returned an interception for a touchdown last week against the Atlanta Falcons in London.
DARIOUS WILLIAMS WITH HIS SECOND PICK IN LONDON THIS YEAR.
📺: #JAXvsBUF on NFL Network
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/LxW25sxPWA pic.twitter.com/oJAAQ4wuD5— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
Bills defense forces another turnover in their own territory - 14:48 4th quarter
Jacksonville drove 17 plays but came up empty. On third-and-11 from the Bills' 24, Lawrence tried to escape pressure but was spun around by defensive tackle Ed Oliver, who got the strip sack. Linebacker Tyrel Dodson pounced on it at the Bills' 32. It's Lawrence's second lost fumble of the game.
ANOTHER big @BuffaloBills takeaway!
📺: #JAXvsBUF on NFL Network
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/LxW25sxPWA pic.twitter.com/Dq3MTTjTuY— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
Bills come up empty after Stefon Diggs' 48-yard catch - 7:56 3rd quarter
Josh Allen unleashed a 48-yard bomb to Stefon Diggs on the first play of the Bills' possession from their 10-yard line. The Bills didn't gain another yard. James Cook made a catch for no gain, Gabe Davis dropped a pass on the right sideline and Allen's throw to Dawson Knox was incomplete. The Bills opted to punt from the Jaguars' 42 and Jacksonville will start from its 8-yard line.
DIGGS TOO OPEN.
📺: #JAXvsBUF on NFL Network
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/LxW25sxPWA pic.twitter.com/jdAJXyJYr3— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
Jaguars lose 19 yards on wild fumble, forced to punt - 9:30 3rd quarter
Jacksonville was pushed back to the Bills' 3-yard line after a false start to start the possession. Buffalo safety Jordan Poyer was flagged for unnecessary roughness on a hit to Calvin Ridley on a tipped ball to keep the drive alive. Lawrence scrambled for 11 yards and Travis Etienne got to the left sideline for a 31-yard scamper to the Bills' 38. That's when the Jaguars' follies began. A.J. Epenesa sacked Lawrence for a 7-yard loss and then the Jacksonville lost 19 yards on a fumble. Lawrence couldn't handle a high snap, was able to pick the ball up but it was knocked out his hands again as he tried to make a throw. Several players tried to fall on it before it was knocked out of bounds.
There's a football on the loose!
📺: #JAXvsBUF on NFL Network
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/LxW25sxPWA pic.twitter.com/lG2F7qhYfX— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
Bills punt to start third quarter - 13:34 3rd quarter
Buffalo did something on its first play of the third quarter that took nearly them nearly the entire first quarter to accomplish: record a first down. Josh Allen connected with Stefon Diggs for 14 yards to open the half. But after that, James Cook rushed for no gain and Josh Allen threw two incompletions. Sam Martin punted 50 yards and Jacksonville will start at its 6-yard line after a holding penalty on the punt return.
Halftime score: Jacksonville Jaguars 11, Buffalo Bills 7
Buffalo is only down four points despoite being outplayed most of the half. Trevor Lawrence has completed 16 of 23 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown. Josh Allen went 13 of 18 for 116 yards and a touchdown. Buffalo had just 23 yards on 10 carries in the first half. Jacksonville outgained Buffalo 232-139 but has committed the game's only turnover.
Bills defense recovers fumble to keep points off board - :04 2nd quarter
Buffalo forced a huge turnover at the end of the half. Jacksonville got the ball with 1:14 left in the second quarter and marched down the field. Trevor Lawrence completed five straight passes of 10, 7, 22, 16 and 8 yards to reach the Bills' 12-yard line. On third-and-2, defensive end A.J. Epenesa hit the trifectqa with a sack, fumble and recovery. Epenesa hit Lawrence from behind and raked at the quarterback's arm, causing the ball to pop out, and Epenesa pounced on it.
AJ Epenesa with a HUGE strip sack and recovery before the half
📺: #JAXvsBUF on NFL Network
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/LxW25sxPWA pic.twitter.com/XR5ybwEbjM— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
Josh Allen throws touchdown to Stefon Diggs - Jaguars 11, Bills 7
Allen really struggled the first four possessions, all of which ended on punts. But finally, he got things rolling on an 11-play, 86-yard drive that ended with a laser beam of a TD throw to Stefon Diggs with 1:14 left in the half.
Two big plays on the drive before that, Deonte Harty made a 19-yard reception on third-and-6 from the Bills 18, and Gabe Davis 10-yarder on third-and-4 at the Jags 25.
Bills hit the "LEBRON JAMES" audible 😂 @KingJames
📺: #JAXvsBUF on NFL Network
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/LxW25sxPWA pic.twitter.com/xh7kO4Xp5J— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
Four straight punts - 5:44 2nd quarter
The Bills' string of three-and-outs has ended but they still haven't crossed midfield. Buffalo finally earned a first down with 34 seconds left in the first quarter when running back Damien Harris ran for 2 yards on third-and-1. Buffalo couldn't gain another first down and punted to the Jaguars' 22.
Jacksonville looked like it'd extend its lead to three scores. Zay Jones couldn't handle a pass that would've been a first down and the Jaguars' drive ended at their 42-yard line with a punt.
Buffalo got a first down on its first play with a Josh Allen completion to Stefon Diggs for 15 yards but James Cook was taken down for a 6-yard loss two plays later and Sam Martin punted 53 yards to the Jaguars' 21. Jacksonville went three-and-out when Lawrence misfired on a second-down pass to Evan Engram and then Engram gained 8 yards with an extra effort on third-and-10.
Brandon McManus makes 44-yard field goal - Jaguars 11, Bills 0
The Bills are down two scores for first time this season.
The Bills’ defense gave up a couple big plays, but ultimately they stiffened and held the Jaguars to a Brandon McManus 44-yard field goal and now they trail 11-0.
To say the start has been disastrous is an understatement. Matt Milano is out for the game with a knee injury, and DaQuan Jones is doubtful with a pec injury.
The defensive secondary has had no answers for the Jaguars passing game and the offense has gone three-and-out on its only two possessions.
Bills offense goes the unthinkable, two straight three-and-outs - 5:02 1st quarter
Buffalo punted after another fourth-and-short. James Cook lost a yard on a first-down carry and Josh Allen completed 5-yard passes to tight end Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid. Sam Martin punted 41 yards and Jamal Agnew returned it 5 yards to the Jaguars' 30.
Trevor Lawrence throws TD to former Bills wide receiver Zay Jones - Jaguars 8, Bills 0
Zay Jones revenge game?
The Bills’ defense just endured a miserable possession which ended with ex-Bill Zay Jones catching a TD pass from Trevor Lawrence, and because Ed Oliver was called for a personal foul penalty, the Jags went for the two-point conversion and made it with a Travis Etienne run.
Along the way, the Bills lost Leonard Floyd, Matt Milano and Kingsley Jonathan to injuries, though Floyd did return on the TD play.
It was a mess all the way, and Oliver’s first penalty killed a third-down stop by the Bills and allowed the Jags to bypass kicking a field goal.
Mmm whatcha Zayyy?
📺: #JAXvsBUF on NFL Network
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/LxW25sxPWA pic.twitter.com/KoBoPo2DnR— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
DaQuan Jones injury: Defensive tackle in the medical tent
The Bills are already without injured edge rushers Greg Rousseau and Shaq Lawson, and defensive tackle Poona Ford is a healthy scratch. Now, defensive tackle DaQuan Jones is injured. Jones made a huge third-down run stop in the backfield on Jacksonville's first possession.
DaQuan Jones in the backfield BEFORE the handoff https://t.co/7yC6ZMgjty pic.twitter.com/a6J0xIERP2
— Dan Fetes (@danfetes) October 8, 2023
Bills go three-and-out on first possession - 11:09 1st quarter
Buffalo went three-and-out for just the fourth time this season. James Cook opened with a 5-yard run and Stefon Diggs made a 3-yard catch but James Cook couldn't come up with a pass from Josh Allen on third down. Sam Martin punted 45 yards to the Jaguars' 27.
Jaguars get the ball first and punt - 12:33 1st quarter
Jacksonville started from its 15-yard line after a 10-yard kickoff return by D'Ernest Johnson. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence opened with two straight completions in the flat to tight ends Luke Farrell and Evan Engram for 16 and 9 yards, respectively. That's where the drive ended. Travis Etienne was stopped for no gain and then Tank Bigsby got a carry for no gain on third-and-1. Logan Cooke punted 60 yards into the end zone for a touchback.
Bills inactive list is problematic
This is the Bills most extensive injury list of the season as edge rushers Greg Rousseau and Shaq Lawson, and cornerback Christian Benford will not play due to injuries.
Thus, Von Miller is indeed active for the first time since Thanksgiving Day 2022. He will join A.J. Epenesa, Leonard Floyd and Kingsley Jonathan on the edge.
As for the other inactives, they are safety Damar Hamlin, defensive tackle Poona Ford and offensive linemen German Ifedi and Alec Anderson.
Ford was bypassed on the game-day 53 by Kendall Vickers who was elevated from the practice squad. Ford has now been inactive three weeks in a row, so that free agent signing certainly doesn’t seem to be working out.
Bills Mafia has overtaken London
While on a tour bus taking in the magnificent sights of London on Saturday, the guide asked my wife and I if we were in town for the American football game because, of course, there is a distinction between American football and European football.
Yes, we answered. He then said he knew the Bills were playing in the game because everywhere you look this weekend there are fans decked out in full Bills gear, yelling and carrying on and greeting each other with “Go Bills.”
He then asked me, “Where’s the other lot?” Meaning, where are the Jaguars fans because he hasn’t seen many of them.
It’s true. I saw one guy in a Jaguars jersey while on the bus tour. One. And I saw a woman Sunday morning during breakfast at the hotel. One. Meanwhile, Bills fans were everywhere. In fact, our tour bus drove right past The Admirality, the pub where Bills Mafia had a huge party Friday night during which ex-Bills greats Thurman Thomas, Lorenzo Alexander and Fred Jackson appeared.
Sunday on the way to the game, yes, some Jaguars fans started to appear, but there were also fans wearing jerseys of probably every team in the NFL, an illustration of our version of football is becoming more and more popular in the United Kingdom.
But leave no doubt - this will be a pro-Bills crowd.
Von Miller expected to make season debut
On Friday Von Miller said he was 94.5% sure that he would be playing for the Buffalo Bills Sunday in London.
“I think that’s a safe bet,” he said. “It’s been a long road. Long road to recovery. I’ve had two really good practices. Had a really good practice today. I think it’s a safe bet that I’ll be out there.”
You can probably now make that 100% as he was activated off the physically unable to perform list Saturday night. The Bills likely wouldn’t do that if he wasn’t ready to go, and with Greg Rousseau out of the lineup due to a foot injury, and Shaq Lawson questionable with a toe injury, there may be a need to get Miller on the field.
We’ll know at 8 a.m. EST when the inactives are announced.
Sal Maiorana can be reached at maiorana@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @salmaiorana and on Threads @salmaiorana1. To subscribe to Sal's newsletter, Bills Blast, which comes out twice a week during the season, please follow this link: https://profile.democratandchronicle.com/newsletters/bills-blast
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Jacksonville Jaguars 25, Buffalo Bills 20: Final score, recap, highlights