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Experts Insight: Final Analysis of Jaguars vs. Bills 2024 Monday Night Football Showdown 

0922 Final Analysis

JACKSONVILLE – Each week during the 2024 season, Jaguars "experts" – Frank Frangie, Jeff Lageman, Brent Martineau, John Oehser, Brian Sexton, J.P. Shadrick and Kainani Stevens – will analyze the following day's Jaguars matchup.

Brian Sexton, jaguars.com senior correspondent

  • The Jaguars will win if: They do all the little things right, which is what good teams do. Everyone saw all the mistakes in the second half of the Miami game and the first half of the Cleveland game. What matters is if they're ready to execute the game plan against the Bills. Buffalo is really good but not unbeatable – unless the Jaguars beat themselves, which they certainly have done the last two weeks. They don't need a seismic shift to turn their momentum around; they need a much greater awareness of the little details of assignments and situations. The little things are the difference between good and great.
  • The Bills will win if: The Jaguars' offensive line can't protect quarterback Trevor Lawrence. The Bills bring the heat with their front four. When you have Von Miller, Greg Rousseau and Ed Oliver, you have forces to be reckoned with. If those three control the line of scrimmage, the Jaguars will find it very difficult to stay on the field. In losses to Miami and Cleveland, that was the undoing of the offense.
  • As Sexton sees it: This is a winnable game for the Jaguars, but they must play with a greater sense of urgency than they did last week. You won't fall behind in Buffalo with that crowd on Monday Night Football and ease your way back into the game. The Bills are 2-0 and will look to get Highmark Stadium amped up early. In the first half last week against the Browns, both sides of the ball looked as if they were still thinking about the Week 1 Dolphins loss. They must have this opportunity front and center or Bills quarterback Josh Allen will make theirs a very long evening.

John Oehser, jaguars.com Senior Writer

  • The Jaguars will win if: They get a lead, then get turnovers to extend that lead. The thought here is the Jaguars will be motivated and focused – and play well early. If they can parlay that early emotion into a lead and extend it with some big plays by a defense that has yet to force a turnover in two games, they can get far ahead enough to secure an upset.
  • The Bills will win if: They stay close enough for Allen to make the difference in the fourth quarter. Elite players make plays in the biggest moments. The Bills' quarterback is the best player in the game. If the Bills are close at game's end, Allen could be the difference in front of a rollicking home crowd.
  • As Oehser sees it: This is a tough test for the Jaguars. They're playing a perennially tough team in one of the NFL's toughest venues. The Bills know how they want to play and can play that way. The Jaguars haven't felt as if they are capable of that yet and must play better than they have so far to have a chance Monday.

Brent Martineau, Action Sports Jax Sports Director

  • The Jaguars will win if: They score 27 or more points. The Jaguars haven't hit 27 points since the Cleveland game in early December last season, scoring 21 or more just once since that game. This offense needs to get on track and dictate the flow of the game.
  • The Bills will win if: They control the Jaguars' running game. If the Bills force the Jags into long down and distance, they will be able to take advantage of a struggling offensive line and create possible turnovers.
  • As Martineau sees it: If you like recent trends, the Jaguars have fared well against the Bills. The recent trends also tell us the Jaguars are searching for their offense. I think the Jaguars are going to play well on Monday Night Football, but I don't think it will be enough to beat a Bills team playing well. Buffalo will win, 27-24.
Jacksonville, Fla. — Jaguars wideout group during practice at the Miller Electric Center on September 20, 2024.

J.P. Shadrick, jaguars.com Senior Reporter

  • The Jaguars will win if: They have better all-around communication and operation of the offense. At times last week, they were slow out of the huddle, had little rhythm on offense and couldn't find a feel. Hopefully a better feel leads into better down-and-distance situations while utilizing the running game and play action to keep a talented Bills defensive line off balance.
  • The Bills will win if: They run the ball effectively with running back James Cook, then set up Allen to put together his first massive statistical game of the season. This is a top-tier quarterback talent in the league with the ability to beat you through the air and on the ground. At 6-feet-5, 237 pounds, he is not the easiest to bring down if you get to him. If they're a balanced offense, then look out.
  • As Shadrick sees it: Iron Mike Tyson said everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face. The Jags haven't taken those punches well early in the season, and adversity has gotten the best of them. Many fans and observers have piled on after an 0-2 start, and that will not go away until the Jaguars perform better. It's up to the coaches to get the plays in promptly and accurately, and up to the players to go execute them and prove that they have some fight in them. Few will expect them to win this game, so it's a perfect setup to go circle the wagons and play well – if they want it. We will find out a lot about this Jags team in Buffalo.

Jeff Lageman, Jaguars Analyst and Former Jaguars Defensive End

  • The Jaguars will win if: They eliminate the mistakes that have plagued them in the first two weeks. Everyone – and I mean everyone – must perform better on offense and it must start with quarterback Trevor Lawrence. To raise the level of play of those around you … first, your performance needs to be higher than what his has been.
  • The Bills will win if: They continue to win the turnover battle and have Allen protect the ball. The first two games have seen the Bills score 24 points off four takeaways and Allen has yet to throw an interception.
  • As Lageman sees it: This is a tough game in an extremely rowdy environment with the Bills Mafia. Monday night will be rocking in Orchard Park. Lawrence and the offense must have a focus and determination in dealing with the crowd noise. The Jaguars' offensive line will be challenged across the whole front as Buffalo has a talented group. Allen will also challenge the Jaguars' defense with his legs. The Jags play a lot of man-to-man coverage and defensive end Josh Hines Allen and Co. must keep him corralled.

Frank Frangie, Radio Voice of the Jaguars

  • The Jaguars will win if: They find some rhythm on offense. It has been a struggle so far. Part of that is involving wide receiver Christian Kirk more than they have. This could be a track meet;you have to keep up. And they must keep playing that solid defense. The defense has kept the Jags in games but this is a big challenge.
  • The Bills will win if: Their defensive line creates havoc, as the Dolphins and Browns both did. And if Allen gets going, making plays off schedule.
  • As Frangie sees it: The Bills are really good. And playing at home. The Jags have struggled. It's a good week to play their best game.

Kainani Stevens, Jaguars Team Reporter

  • The Jaguars will win if: They get the offense going. The offensive line has seriously struggled in two games, and I think that has limited *some* of the play-calling. However, offensive line play is down across the league, and the onus is now on quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the playmakers to indeed make plays.
  • The Bills will win if: They get some early stops and don't turn the ball over. The Bills have a distinct advantage in this game as they come in well-rested after an impressive performance against the Dolphins last week. If they take the Jaguars seriously and get an early lead, that will likely be enough to hold on for a win.
  • As Stevens sees it: I truly have no idea what to expect from this Jaguars team. I hope to see a coming out party for rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. on a national stage. I can't say I expect the Jags to win after the poor showing in the home opener. I'm hoping for a close game in which the Jags keep it competitive and give themselves a chance to win it in the end.

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