Jaguars vs. Bills: 5 Players to Watch

The Jaguars will be in London for the second week in a row as they welcome the Buffalo Bills to the United Kingdom in what should be a showdown of two of the NFL’s best rosters. The Bills, 3-1, are coming off of a dominant performance against the Miami Dolphins, thrashing them in a 48-20 contest. The Jaguars will look to continue their London success alive, welcoming teams across the pond for the 10th year in a row. The Jaguars should feel right at home but will need to play their best football yet to beat a dangerous Bills team.

Here are my five players to watch against the Buffalo Bills.

QB Trevor Lawrence

It’s about time for the Jaguars’ offense to start getting on a roll. The team has struggled offensively, and while some of that can be attributed to playcalling, it will be up to the team leader to start turning it around. There’s no better week to do so against one of, if not the best rosters in the NFL, the Buffalo Bills.

Lawrence has played fairly well through the first four games of the season. He has a very respectable 67% completion percentage, 943 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. The team, however, has struggled mightily on key downs. On 3rd and 4th downs, the Jaguars are converting on just 31% of their tries. That’ll need to improve drastically Sunday morning against a Josh Allen-led Bills team. It does help star cornerback Tre’Davious White won’t see the field after tragically suffering a season-ending Achilles injury.

RB Travis Etienne

The run-blocking this season hasn’t given Travis Etienne many opportunities, even still his impact has been quite limited. Etienne has yet to crack 100 yards rushing in a game and is averaging a measly 3.8 yards per carry. For comparison, he averaged a much more desirable 5.1 yards per carry last season, one of the NFL’s better numbers.

With Cam Robinson slated to return at left tackle and Walker Little sliding inside to guard, the left side of the Jaguars line and the interior should vastly improve. The Bills defense is as tough as they come, allowing just 169 passing yards a game. The team also happens to lead the league in sacks. Against the run, they have been a bit more susceptible, as opposing runners have averaged 6.3 yards per carry. Etienne will need a huge game to help beat a stout Bills defense.

OT Cam Robinson

The Jaguars’ offense will be nearly full capacity Sunday with the return of long-term starter Cam Robinson. Robinson faced a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy. Sunday, Robinson returns to action and it is expected Walker Little will slide to left guard.

While Robinson has been up and down as a pass-blocker, he is a mean run-blocker and his presence should do wonders for the Jaguars’ lacking run game. That should in turn, help to aid the passing game as well. The Jaguars will no doubt have their best five out there against the NFL’s best pass-rush, which could even see the return of future Hall-of-Fame inductee Von Miller.

OLB Josh Allen

While the Bills might lead the league in sacks as a team, it is the Jaguars’ Josh Allen that individually leads the league in that department, along with Steelers’ TJ Watt and Chargers’ Khalil Mack. With the stunted development of Travon Walker and limited impact of K’Lavon Chaisson, the Jaguars will need to rely on the tried and true, Josh Allen.

The last time the teams met, Josh Allen, the good one, had a monstrous game, racking up a sack, two tackles for loss, a fumble recovery, and an interception to put the icing on the cake. Every single play made was crucial as the team squeaked out a tight 9-6 victory at home. Hopefully Allen can find similar success in London as the team will look to him to lead the defense and be a game-changer.

CB Tyson Campbell

The Bills’ offense is as explosive, dynamic, and volatile as they come. The Bills’ Allen thrives on making plays off script and their high-risk, high-reward approach has made Bills’ football must-watch television week in and week out. A huge reason for that success is receiver Stefon Diggs.

Diggs is among football’s best. This season already, Diggs has three 100-yard games and four touchdowns. Tyson Campbell will likely be in coverage for the majority of his routes run as Campbell has developed into one of the league’s best cover corners. This season, Campbell is allowing an NFL Passer Rating of just 77.9. He’ll need to be on his A-game Sunday if he is to slow down the Allen-to-Diggs connection.