There is no way of hiding it — this Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville Jaguars game looks like a fairly easy one to make a prediction, given that it features two teams heading in opposite directions. However, things are never that simple in the NFL week to week. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the storylines for this Bills at Jaguars game before making a prediction for how things may turn out.
Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville Jaguars storylines for Week 9
From a playoff perspective, all eyes will be on the Bills in this game against the Jaguars. Buffalo should sweep Jacksonville aside as they look to go on and earn that all-important No. 1 seed in the AFC. Meanwhile, the Jaguars’ vision is more long-term than the 2021 season. However, they will not want to be embarrassed again after what happened in Seattle last week.
The Bills are in the midst of an easy stretch, but they can’t look past the Jaguars
The Bills are aiming to capitalize on a more forgiving part of their schedule. Their trio of games between Weeks 8 and 10 sees them face teams with a combined four wins this season. They made it look tough, but ultimately, they beat the Dolphins comfortably in the first of those contests.
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Now, once again, all predictions have the Bills as easy winners against the Jaguars. But they now need to go out and actually do it. The AFC East is theirs for the taking, but the No. 1 seed is going to be a tight battle. A slip-up in this part of the schedule could be the difference between having that bye week or having to play an extra game.
Trevor Lawrence needs a bounce-back performance
Expecting immediate success from a rookie QB on a bad roster is not a smart gamble. However, Jacksonville’s performance against a mediocre Seahawks defense in Week 8 came in below even those tempered expectations. Trevor Lawrence had put together a solid trio of games before Jacksonville’s bye, so the club’s output in Seattle was even more disappointing in contrast.
Now, we need to figure out if Week 8 was just a letdown game for a rookie QB coming off his first-ever NFL bye week, or a sign of more inconsistency coming down the road. This matchup with Buffalo’s defense will be a tough one. The Bills lead the league in net passing yards allowed per attempt, interceptions, and touchdowns allowed. They will give Lawrence a great test, and how he handles it could be very telling for the Jaguars’ outlook in the next few years.
Bills vs. Jaguars betting line and game prediction
The Bills are comfortable favorites — by roughly 2 touchdowns — in this game. They were double-digit favorites last week and managed to cover. Realistically, they should be able to do so again this week — but covering 14 points in an NFL game is never a foregone conclusion.
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If the Bills are leading by 17-20 points in the fourth quarter, they have no incentive to risk the health of their players in order to stop the Jaguars from a last-minute touchdown. If Buffalo is winning comfortably, they are more likely to rest some of their key contributors in the latter part of the game. They have the talent to win by 14, but it is never comfortable to be betting on either side of a line this large.
Bills vs. Jaguars prediction: Bills 30, Jaguars 13