NFL Exec Compares Bills to 'Prizefighter That Has Been Knocked Out' Before Jags Game

An anonymous NFL executive expressed doubt Monday over the Buffalo Bills' chances of beating the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFC Wild Card Round of the playoffs.

Speaking to Mike Sando of The Athletic, the exec said, "Jacksonville is playing with confidence, and Buffalo has the look of a prizefighter that has been knocked out, was kind of almost a champion but is weary. I just don't know if Buffalo can take it. If Jacksonville pops Buffalo, does that make them the favorite?"

Additionally, an anonymous veteran coach told Sando he "liked the Jaguars as much as he liked anyone in the AFC."

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The Bills are in the playoffs for a seventh consecutive season, but the path to get there was rockier than it had been in recent years.

Buffalo's five-year streak as AFC East champion came to an end, making way for the 14-3 New England Patriots to capture the division crown.

The Bills still managed to finish 12-5, which was a better record than they achieved in 2021 and 2023, but their potential path to the Super Bowl won't be an easy one.

It starts with a road game against the 13-4 Jaguars, and if they win that game, they will have to go on the road again in the Divisional Round to face the Denver Broncos, New England Patriots or Pittsburgh Steelers.

A home game in the AFC Championship Game is possible if both the Bills and Los Angeles Chargers go the distance, but it is more likely Buffalo will need to win three road games in order to reach the Super Bowl for the first time since 1993.

The Bills have not won a road playoff game during quarterback Josh Allen's career, but they have won at least one playoff game in each of the past five seasons, and they reached the AFC Championship Game twice during that stretch.

One thing working in the Bills' favor is the fact that the Kansas City Chiefs, who eliminated them from the playoffs in four of the past five seasons, did not reach the playoffs.

The same is true of other AFC teams with elite quarterbacks in Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens, and Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals.

Allen is the reigning NFL MVP and the most accomplished quarterback who is still in the running in the AFC aside from the Steelers' Aaron Rodgers.

Buffalo also has the 2025 NFL rushing champion in running back James Cook, plus the league's No. 1 pass defense and the No. 7 defense in terms of total yards allowed.

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Conversely, the Bills rank 28th against the run, and on offense, they lack a true, go-to weapon in the passing game for Allen.

The Jags have the No. 1 rush defense in the NFL, which could allow them to take Cook away and force Allen and the passing game to beat them.

Jacksonville also has a wide array of offensive weapons to support quarterback Trevor Lawrence, including running back Travis Etienne, wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr., Jakobi Meyers and Parker Washington, and tight end Brenton Strange.

The Jaguars look to be a tough matchup for the Bills on paper, but Buffalo has a significant experience edge on the playoff stage, which could potentially come into play.