At Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, Travis Etienne shone as the Jacksonville Jaguars thwarted every attempt by Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills to make a comeback during the final quarter.
Etienne showcased his talent by rushing 136 yards, sealing two critical fourth-quarter touchdowns, leading the Jaguars to a narrow 25-20 victory over the Bills.
Having secured consecutive victories in London, the Jaguars (3-2) demonstrated they are a force to be reckoned with, even against teams like the Bills, and snapped their three-match winning streak.
Despite their recent dominant performances, the Bills (3-2) seemed exhausted in this match. They managed a meager 29-yard rush and had several players injured. Etienne stood out, not only with his 35-yard run for a touchdown but also a 6-yard touchdown. He successfully made four catches for 48 yards. Additionally, Calvin Ridley secured seven catches, amounting to 122 yards.
In the dying minutes, Allen twice got the Bills into a favorable position. His 3-yard run concluded a swift 75-yard drive, narrowing the score to 25-20. With the clock ticking and the Bills devoid of timeouts, a punt left them with just 22 seconds. Their hopes diminished when Stefon Diggs fumbled a pass, which was recovered by Jacksonville.
Amid Etienne’s impressive plays, Allen connected a 19-yard touchdown pass to Gabe Davis, which reduced the deficit to five. Allen’s stats were notable, with 27 completions out of 40 attempts, amassing 359 yards, including two touchdowns. Diggs and Davis also made substantial contributions in the air.
Despite the win, the Jaguars had moments of vulnerability, especially with two significant fumbles by Trevor Lawrence in the Bills’ territory.
The match kicked off in Jacksonville’s favor when Zay Jones brilliantly received a 6-yard touchdown pass during the first quarter, complemented by Etienne’s subsequent 2-point conversion.
Lawrence wrapped up the game with 25 completions out of 37 attempts, accumulating 315 yards. Meanwhile, after netting a 15-yard touchdown pass shortly before halftime, Diggs lived up to his promise of a soccer-themed celebration.
However, the Bills’ defense, especially A.J. Epenesa, showcased their might by stopping the Jaguars’ offensive momentum multiple times.
While the Bills’ defense made notable sacks, the Jaguars couldn’t register any. Furthermore, the Bills felt the absence of their starting linebacker, Matt Milano, who injured his knee early on.
An anticipated face-off between the two Josh Allens became significant when the Jaguars’ edge rusher was penalised, paving the way for the Bills to inch closer with Davis’s touchdown.