The Jaguars were coming off a last-minute thriller at home against the Colts that had the team feeling good at 2-2. It was a fresh start. But the question was would they be able to take that momentum and ride it to Buffalo to go above .500 for the season? The Bills were a lowly 0-4 off a couple of beatings by the Patriots and Jets consecutively. But, I always fear a team like the Bills because they are hungry for a win and pull out all the tricks to get it. Me, being the fanatic Jaguar fan I am, traveled to this game, as I do with a few away games every year. The city already gave up on the team for the year; every conversation I had with Bills fans consisted of "we stink but I hope Trent Edwards gets in the game so we can smack him around a little like the bum he is."
In this game, the match ups seemed in the Jaguars favor, as the Bills had given up consecutive 200 yard rushing games, so with the Jaguars' run-first mentality, it should serve them well. Ryan Fitzpatrick had given the Jaguar defense fits last time he had played them with the Cincinnati Bengals (I vividly recall a couple touchdowns to Chad Ochocinco and a couple scrambles for huge gains). Fred Jackson was the newly anointed starting running back. But, the Jaguars got some production out of some unsung heroes too: Deji Karim in his first game action since the preseason, Zach Miller, Mike Thomas, and the perfect-on-the-season Josh Scobee. This was a good one.
1st Quarter
- A quick 3 and out by the Bills defense highlighted by a sack on third down by Aaron Kampman for a loss of 5. He started on the outside and bull rushed right up the middle to nail Fitzpatrick. Kampman's impact on this team's defense was fantastic, evidenced early in the season. Unfortunately, the next play, Mike Thomas fumbles the punt return (he was kind of a sitting duck) and the Bills recover. The next play: the dagger we are so accustomed to seeing. Fitzpatrick drops back, reads the defense, steps right up and hits Lee Evans down the sideline for a 45 yard touchdown that seemed flawless as David Jones never turned his hips and was left looking like a fool. 7-0 Bills.
- A nice reverse to Mike Thomas for 17 yards turns sour as the next play David Garrard gets intercepted by linebacker Andre Davis. The ball is tipped at the line, Davis tips it to himself a few times, and secures the interception. These turnovers are setting the team back a lot.
- C.J. Spiller takes off for 19 yards, but a false start on offense, followed by a screen pass batted down by Kampman sets up a 3rd and 14 where Fitzpatrick settles for a 3 yard pass. Rian Lindell boots an easy field goal and it's 10-0 Bills.
- Deji Karim returns the kickoff to the Jacksonville 42 yard line. Jones-Drew gets a couple runs of 5 yards and 23 yards where he takes the hand off, literally sits still waiting for his blocks, then just cuts back for a huge gain. A 3rd and 5 bootleg in which Garrard just has to run out of bounds with no one open leads to a Josh Scobee 49 yard field goal to remain perfect on the season without a kick under 40 yards. 10-3 Bills.
2nd Quarter
- Fred Jackson runs of 18 yards, 11, and 8 yards gouges the defense. A holding penalty on 2nd and goal stalls the drive and the Bills must settle for a field goal to make it 13-3 Bills.
- A good drive develops for the offense. A play-action bootleg pass to Zach Miller, which I love, goes for 11 yards and starts the drive well. A 3rd down conversion to Marcedes Lewis running across the middle for 14 yards was a thing of beauty. He is a huge mismatch for any Bills linebacker. A couple 4 yard runs by Jones-Drew and Karim gets the Jaguars in field goal range. On 3rd down Garrard gets clobbered immediately on the snap to stall the drive. Another Scobee 49 yard field goal makes it 13-6 Bills. This game is definitely still within reach.
- A quick 3 and out for the Bill offense highlighted by a first down sack by Knighton that just put the offense in too much of a hole. Knighton has really improved his pass-rush game when we already know about his staunch run defense.
- A beautiful, classic Jaguar drive ensues. A couple Jones-Drew runs of 5 yards gets a first down. The first one on a drive is always the hardest. A deep pass to Mike Thomas nets 25 yards where he took the inside on a post route and Garrard delivers a laser to him. A reverse to Mike Thomas the next play goes for 33 yards all the way to the Buffalo 15 as he followed Zach Miller, his lead blocker, all the way down the field; the execution was perfect. A couple plays later, with 25 seconds left in the half, a quick bootleg by Garrard hits a crossing Marcedes Lewis for an easy touchdown-linebacker Chris Kelsay couldn't keep up with the athletic tight end. 13-13 at halftime and the Jaguars have some nice momentum and have shown they are a resilient team.