On the second day of the Wild Card Weekend, too, there is plenty of excitement. In the early duel with Jacksonville Jaguars, one of the elite defenses will face one of the surprise teams of the season, the Buffalo Bills. Then there will be a showdown of two NFC-south heavyweights. The Saints and their new and effective offense will be confronted with the Carolina Panthers, who have twice been at a disadvantage against New Orleans this year. These two games will also be available live on DAZN from 7 pm!
The way to the playoffs:
Jaguars: With the arrival of Tom Coughlin as vice president and head of football affairs, the wind in Jacksonville seems to have finally turned. After scoring a total of 15 victories in the last four years, there were ten of them this season, making it the first division title since 1999. Coughlin already laid the foundation stone in the Free Agency and the draft: Calais Campbell, A. J. Bouye and Leonard Fournette were the highlight new additions.
A good start was made, but there was a lack of consistency in the early phase of the season due to the shaky offense, especially when it came to catching up and making the game over the passing game. The picture changed from the middle of the season onwards. The offense also benefited from the performance of the strong defensive force, which was simply outstanding in the pass rush and coverage categories.
Blake Bortles suddenly seemed secure and could deliver convincing games when needed. The main focus of the offense was the potent running game around Leonard Fournette. The rookie was immediately persuasive. All this was shaking again in the final games of the regular season.
Bills: Even before the first regular game, many suspected that they had caught the Bills in a so-called “Tanking”season. Players who were still top performers in the past few seasons were all involved in deals with Sammy Watkins, Ronald Darby and Reggie Ragland, all of whom were not exactly indicators that the team could make the first playoff appearance since 1999. And yet this succeeded in the end, even though a little help from the Bengals was needed.
Only four teams made it into the Super Bowl era with a worse point differential than the Bills (-57) this season. Buffalo was first and foremost able to convince in the passing-defense, build up good pressure on the opponent’s quarterback and force a turnover. There were, however, very few presentable things to report, most likely the Run Game.
The current situation:
Jaguars: Having already won the playoff in Week 16 despite a defeat, they played pomade in the last game of the season against the Titans. Of course, the risk of injury was played with the handbrake on, but it is precisely these rhythmic fluctuations that are the reason for the unrounded start of the season. Going into the playoffs with two defeats is not an ideal starting point and this, coupled with the team’s lack of playoff experience, could lead to mistakes.
However, this team is borne by their strong defences anyway. Jacksonville is confronted with a weak passing offense and the run game has to work through a weak mccoy if at all. On the offensive side, they will once again rely on the production of Leonard Fournette. Although it will once again run into a stuffed box, it will still be the basis for offensive movements of the Jaguars.
Bills: The Bills’ biggest weapon, Shady McCoy, is a shattered weapon that could change the Jaguar’s defensive concept. Tyrod Taylor enjoys acting via play action, bootlegs and roll outs. If the rushing component is dropped, Jacksonville can concentrate on defending the flanks.
Also on the defensive side you seem to have caught a bad match. The Run-Defense of the Bills is one of the weakest in the league and will have problems with Fournette. Hopes will give the Bills the weak form of Bortles and the chance to take advantage of the recent error rate that Jacksonville’s quarterback has shown recently.
Players to Watch:
Jaguars: Blake Bortles. The fourth season has been Bortles’ strongest and yet the doubts about his game are great. How far can a team with a quarterback like Bortles get in the playoffs? To what extent can he improve and how does he get along with the pressure in the playoffs? Bortles is the big question mark of an otherwise well staffed team, which can be put in the starting position to win every game thanks to its defensive power.
Bills: LeSean McCoy. As already mentioned, the use of Shady is still uncertain. But with him the Bills’ offense stands and falls. He can run extra yards like no other player and give the Bills chances for vital first downs in the running game. If the defenses of the Jaguars have a weak point, then the Run Defense. I don’t think McCoy’s failure could be compensated for.
That’s what matters:
The Jaguars will face the Bills as usual with 8-man-boxes and therefore can’t rely entirely on a great evening of Fournette. Nevertheless, the Bills in the Run Defense are vulnerable. In the Passing Game Bortles won’t take too much risk after the recent performances and the lack of playoff experience and will rarely try long passes. On the defensive side it will be interesting to see how you react to the fakes and misdirection plays of the Bills.
On the other side, you’ll be looking for your chance in those same plays. Buffalo is expected and defended by Run First. Again and again, however, the Bills manage to gain a lot of space in First Down with Play Action. Defensively, Buffalo will do everything he can to stop Fournette and force Bortles to pass. With 18 interceptions, the Bills have put on one of the top scores of the season and can punish mistakes.
forecast:
Due to the many bad matchups, it’s hard to find points that speak for an away win. The Jaguars Defense has also greatly improved in the initial weak run defense and has made great strides since the arrival of Marcell Dareus. Bortles will take little risk after the final performances and manage a passport opener with short passes. The Jaguars are expected to own much of the season and Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger will be given a chance to make amends for the interception debacle against Jacksonville in Week 5. Tip: 27:13 Jaguars
Page 1: Jacksonville Jaguars – Buffalo Bills
Page 2: New Orleans Saints – Carolina Panthers