Jags-to-riches ‘D’
Slams door on Bills’ wild Cinderella ride
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey wasted little time turning his attention to Jacksonville’s next playoff game.
He also knew everyone else wanted to look back at that Week 5 matchup at Pittsburgh.
“I’m sure they’re thinking that game was a fluke,” Ramsey said.
The Jaguars (11-6) will try to prove it wasn’t when they return to the Steel City next week.
Jacksonville’s latest defensive gem — a 10-3 victory against Buffalo (9-8) yesterday — set up a rematch with the Steelers (13-3).
The Jaguars stunned Pittsburgh in the first meeting, a 30-9 win in which Ben Roethlisberger threw five interceptions and finished with the lowest passer rating of his career.
“The game was a great illustration on if we play the way we’re capable of playing, then we can beat anybody like that,” Jaguars cornerback Aaron Colvin said.
“We know they’re going to be motivated. Ben said it earlier in the week or whenever that he wanted to see us again, so we know we’re going to get their best shot. But at the same time, they’re to get our best shot, too.
“Whenever somebody gets our best shot, it hasn’t turned out too good for people.”
The Bills experienced that first-hand in yesterday’s AFC wild card game.
Tyrod Taylor completed 17-of-37 passes for 134 yards, with an interception, against the NFL’s best pass defense. LeSean McCoy carried 19 times for 75 yards, but a third of those came on one run. McCoy also had 44 yards receiving.
Jacksonville’s offense was even more inept.
Blake Bortles completed 12-of-23 passes for 87 yards, with a touchdown. Bortles was off all day, but made up for it with his legs. He ran for 88 yards, becoming the second starting quarterback in the past 25 years to win a playoff game with more rushing yards than passing. Atlanta’s Michael Vick also did it against the St. Louis Rams in the 2004 playoffs.
“That’s usually not ideal for a QB,” Bortles said.
It was enough, at least with a defense this stingy.
“I think we should hold every team to zero because that’s just the kind of defense we are,” Colvin said. “Teams are going to move the ball and make plays, but at the end of the day, we’re the most dominant defense in the league. We’ve got to hold teams to zero.”
They might need to if Bortles and the offense don’t play better.
Leonard Fournette ran 21 times for 57 yards against a defense that had been giving up nearly 125 a game. It didn’t help that Bortles misfired early and often.
He put together one decent drive, making as many plays with his feet as his arm, and capped it with a 1-yard scoring pass to backup tight end Ben Koyack on a gutsy, fourth-and-goal call.
“Kind of reference it to a pitcher,” Bortles said. “You go out and something is not right, you don’t have a fastball, you don’t have a curveball. You have to find another pitch to be able to be successful and get guys out.”
The Bills had plenty of chances down the stretch, but a tackle that knocked Taylor out of the game ended any threat of a comeback.
Taylor’s helmet slammed hard against the ground after getting thrown down by Dante Fowler Jr. He had to be helped off the field, forcing backup Nathan Peterman into the game with 1:27 remaining. Ramsey picked off Peterman’s third pass.