Jaguars vs. Bills: Under-the-radar plays that deserve more attention

My first viewing of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ win over the Buffalo Bills wasn’t the television broadcast. I was there at EverBank Field. I couldn’t not be. And watching it in person, you miss some plays and individual performances. Whether it was because it was on the opposite side of the field from where I sat, I was waiting in line for a teal beer, or some other reason, there were some plays that really stood out when I watched the broadcast for the first time.

They may or may not be the most impactful plays of the game — and in fact, they’re not. The Jalen Ramsey interception and the Ben Koyack touchdown were the two most impactful plays of the game. But there were a couple of plays that flew under-the-radar because they were hidden within a long drive or didn’t force a costly turnover, but are worthy of watching again.

So without further ado, here are those plays.

Offense: Blake Bortles is fed up

It’s 2nd-and-9 on the Bills’ 28-yard line and late in the third quarter. The score is still tied 3-3 and Blake Bortles is frustrated with himself and the offense. There’s little effectiveness with anything they try and do and Bortles can’t find a rhythm as a passer to save his life.

And yet, here he is, 28 yards away from what everyone in the stadium knew would be the game-winning touchdown. That defense wasn’t going to allow the Bills to score a touchdown. If only Bortles could get it into the end zone, it would be enough.

We’re in the middle of a 15-play drive that’s already taken about four minutes off the clock and Bortles has made a few good passes this drive (a 16-yarder to Marcedes Lewis, a 12-yarder to Leonard Fournette) but he’s also been frustrated when looking downfield (he’s scrambled on two of his four dropbacks up to this point).

This play wouldn’t be any different. Bortles doesn’t see any of his receivers separating and just decides to take off. And he’s not going to allow a third down either — he dives head first just past the first down marker, his third run in five passing plays this drive.

Leonard Fournette and Chris Ivory would take the next five plays and run 11 yards combined down to the 1-yard line, setting up Bortles to Koyack for the go-ahead score.

Defense: Calais Campbell does it all himself

It’s 3rd-and-2 on the goal line and this is the best drive by the Bills offense all day. Calais Campbell is coming off the edge from the defensive end position and he’s going against No. 79 right tackle Jordan Mills.

Try as he might, Mills is just straight outmatched for the absolutely dominating athlete that Campbell is. Tyrod Taylor makes his first read to his right and then decides to take off. Campbell just forces his way through Mills and dives at Taylor’s feet, tripping him up short of the goal line and the first down marker.

Myles Jack would have certainly met Taylor before the goal line, but who knows what could have happened? A missed tackle? Taylor stretching the ball over the line? You never know what can happen in those instances and it doesn’t matter because Campbell made an incredible individual effort to get through the right tackle and tackle Taylor.

The next play was a fourth down penalty on a field goal that led to a 1st-and-goal for the Bills who weren’t able to convert that either. Ultimately, it led to the Bills’ only points of the day, but Campbell’s effort on this play, while on the surface not the most consequential, was an incredible show by him.