Bills, Jags ready to put playoff layoffs aside
The world worried about Y2K. “American Pie” hit theaters. Lance Armstrong won his first Tour de France.
That’s what was happening the year the Bills last made the playoffs.
That drought is over, with the Bills heading back to the NFL postseason for the first time since 1999. They will have their hands full, though, against a Jaguars team that allowed the fewest points in the AFC (16.8 per game) and was second in the league with 33 takeaways. The Jags’ last playoff berth came in 2007.
It doesn’t help the Bills’ cause that running back LeSean McCoy is nursing a tender ankle. He finished fourth in the league with 1,138 rushing yards and 1,586 from scrimmage.
The Jaguars are powered by running back Leonard Fournette, who led all rookies with nine rushing touchdowns and was second in rushing with 1,040 yards.
Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles, making his first postseason start, had been playing surprisingly well for a stretch before finishing with two subpar games. He had a three-game stretch with seven touchdowns and no interceptions but finished with two touchdowns and five interceptions in his last two games.
We meet again: Jaguars coach Doug Marrone coached the Bills for two seasons in 2013-14 but walked away from the job, taking advantage of an opt-out clause when the club changed owners.
The Bills traded star defensive tackle Marcell Dareus to the Jaguars in October. But he told reporters this week he couldn’t help but celebrate the Bills finally making the playoffs.
“I’m just really happy that it came,” he said. “The timing? Hey, it is what it is . ... That’s how it goes. I’m just happy they got over the hump. I’m happy for the guys that have been there and fighting with me to get things going to where it is now and get the opportunity to get in the playoffs.”
That’s the spirits: The Jaguars will sell teal-colored beer for their playoff game. The craft beer, made by Anheuser-Busch, will go with the teal burger buns and teal ice cream, all to celebrate the first playoff game hosted by the Jaguars since 2000.
Farmer’s pick: This game will hinge on the Jaguars’ stingy defense and the Bills’ banged-up offense. With McCoy hobbled, there’s extra pressure on Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor. He’s already going to have his hands full with that smothering Jaguars pass rush. Expect a close, low-scoring game. Jaguars 23, Bills 17.