Bills Hold Off Jaguars in Rainy Season Opener

BUFFALO, NY — The Buffalo Bills began their quest for redemption with a gritty 20-10 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars at a rain-soaked Highmark Stadium. After missing the playoffs for the second time in three seasons, and coming off a Week 1 home loss last year, the Bills were determined to start this season on the right foot.

Game Recap

The Bills wasted no time getting on the board in the first quarter. Quarterback Josh Allen connected with wide receiver Curtis Samuel for a 5-yard touchdown pass to cap a methodical drive. Later in the quarter, Tyler Bass drilled a 49-yard field goal to extend the lead to 10-0.

The Jaguars clawed back in the second quarter, with kicker Cam Little hitting a 26-yard field goal to make it 10-3 at halftime. Despite struggling to find consistency on offense, Jacksonville’s defense kept the game within reach.

In the third quarter, the Bills added another Bass field goal, this time from 45 yards out, to increase their lead to 13-3. However, Jacksonville finally found the end zone early in the fourth quarter when running back Travis Etienne Jr. powered through the Buffalo defense for a 7-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 13-10.

With the game hanging in the balance, the Bills responded with a clock-chewing drive capped by a 1-yard touchdown plunge from running back Ray Davis. The touchdown sealed the game at 20-10 as the Bills’ defense held strong down the stretch.

Key Stats

Buffalo’s Josh Allen completed 16 of 30 passes for 176 yards and one touchdown, facing challenging conditions with a 53.3% completion rate. Tight end Dalton Kincaid led the way with 70 receiving yards on four catches. Running back James Cook carried the load on the ground, tallying 72 rushing yards on 20 carries, while Curtis Samuel added three receptions for 12 yards and a touchdown.

For Jacksonville, quarterback Trevor Lawrence struggled in the rainy conditions, completing 15 of 26 passes for 142 yards. Wide receiver Christian Kirk led the Jaguars with six catches for 86 yards, including a 42-yard reception that set up Travis Etienne Jr.’s touchdown.

Defensively, Buffalo’s pass rush was led by Ed Oliver and DaQuan Jones, who each recorded a sack. For Jacksonville, David Onyemata tallied 1.5 sacks, and Devin Lloyd broke up two passes.

Injuries

No injuries were reported for either team.

Up Next

The Bills (1-0) hit the road in Week 2 to take on the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Meanwhile, the Jaguars (0-1) continue their road trip with a visit to SoFi Stadium to face the Los Angeles Rams.

Buffalo’s win showcased their determination to rebound from last year’s disappointment. “This was a test of grit,” said Allen. “We stuck together and found a way.” Jacksonville will look to regroup after a frustrating opener. “We didn’t capitalize on our chances,” said Lawrence. “We’ll fix it and bounce back.”