JACKSONVILLE – They slugged, they fought and they clawed.
For a while that wasn't enough for the Jaguars on Sunday – and then it was. Because it was, the Jaguars are going to the second round of the postseason.
Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles passed for just 87 yards but ran for 89 – and it was his running and a stifling defense that keyed a 10-3 victory over the Buffalo Bills in AFC Wild Card playoff game front of 69,442 at EverBank Field Sunday afternoon.
The AFC South Champion Jaguars (11-6) will visit the AFC North Champion Pittsburgh Steelers (13-3) at Heinz Field in an AFC Divisional Playoff Sunday at 1 p.m. The Jaguars beat the Steelers, 30-9, in Pittsburgh in Week 5.
A one-yard touchdown pass from Bortles to tight end Ben Koyack gave the Jaguars a 10-3 lead with :52 remaining in the third quarter, and the Jaguars' defense held the Bills on four drives after that.
Jaguars All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey intercepted Bills backup quarterback Nathan Peterman with :32 remaining in the fourth quarter. Bills starter Tyrod Taylor left the game with an injury earlier on the final series.
Sunday marked the Jaguars' first postseason game in a decade, and their first home postseason game in 18 years. The Bills (9-8) hadn't made the postseason since 1999.
The Jaguars are now 3-1 all-time in the postseason at EverBank Field and have won six consecutive games at EverBank Field dating to a mid-October loss to the Los Angeles Rams this season.
Bortles struggled in the first half Sunday, but came up big on a key drive in the third quarter.
Bortles, after finishing the first half completing 6 of 15 passes for 33 yards with no touchdowns, led a 15-play, 86-yard drive that gave the Jaguars their first lead. The drive consumed 8:52 and ended when Bortles threw a one-yard touchdown pass to Koyack.
The touchdown came on 4th-and-goal from the 1 – one play after running back Leonard Fournette was stuffed for no gain trying to jump over the line of scrimmage on 3rd-and-goal.
Bortles, who rushed for 89 yards on nine carries Sunday, rushed three times for 20 yards on the drive. He completed three of three passes for 29 yards on the drive and Fournette rushed for 35 yards on the drive on eight carries.
Bortles completed 12 of 23 passes for 87 yards for the game. Fournette rushed for 57 yards on 21 carries, and the Jaguars finished the game with 231 yards and 15 first downs. The Bills finished with 263 yards and 20 first downs.
The Jaguars converted one of 10 third downs Sunday and forced two turnovers. The Jaguars did not commit a turnover.
Step by step:
*The first quarter ended 0-0 with both teams ending all possessions with punts. The Bills held a 67-27 total-yardage advantage at that point.
*The Jaguars squandered a major opportunity in the second quarter when they failed to score after cornerback Aaron Colvin's interception gave them a first down at the Bills 35. The Jaguars lost three yards on the drive, and the Bills following a punt by Jacksonville drove 71 yards on 18 plays for a 31-yard go-ahead field goal by Stephen Haushcka. The Jaguars tied it when kicker Josh Lambo kicked a 44-yard field goal with :02 remaining in the quarter to cap a 27-yard drive. The Bills had 148 yards and 12 first downs at halftime to 84 yards and five first downs for the Jaguars.
*The Jaguars' go-ahead drive dominated the third quarter and gave them a 10-3 lead entering the fourth quarter. The Bills had just 37 yards in the quarter to the Jaguars' 112.
*Notable: Jaguars wide receiver Marqise Lee was active Sunday after missing the last two regular-season games with a high-ankle sprain. … Marcell Dareus started for the Jaguars at nose tackle. Dareus, acquired in a midseason trade with Buffalo, made his first start for the Jaguars in the regular-season finale against Tennessee last Sunday.
*Injury report: Jaguars middle linebacker Paul Posluszny sustained a hip injury in the second quarter and returned immediately but left again shortly thereafter. … Jaguars wide receiver Jaydon Mickens sustained a hamstring injury and did not return.
Jaguars inactives Sunday: wide receiver Montay Crockett, running back T.J. Yeldon, cornerback Jalen Myrick, nose tackle Eli Ankou, guard Chris Reed, offensive lineman Josh Walker and offensive lineman William Poehls.
*What's next: The Jaguars will play the Steelers in an AFC Divisional Playoff game at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh Sunday at 1 p.m.
