5 takeaways from the Bills’ 25-20 loss vs. the Jaguars
Here are five takeaways from the Buffalo Bills’ 25-20 loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 5:
Jet lag?
The Bills started out… very sluggish.
Could that be jet lag? It’s very possible.
Don’t expect Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott or anyone else to blame the slow start on jet lag. However, it’s going to be curious what the NFL does moving forward.
For the first time, the Jaguars played in back-to-back games overseas. The Bills only just arrived on Friday. Some wondered if that would give Jacksonville an energy advantage.
We’ll have to see if the league changes their stance toward having the Jags play in London twice in a row.
Injuring adding up
The Bills officially have an injury crisis.
Buffalo lost star cornerback Tre’Davious White to a season-ending Achilles injury last weekend. There’s a chance two join him on the injury list.
Defensive tackle DaQuan Jones (pectoral) and linebacker Matt Milano (knee). The latter might be more serious.
Jones did not return to the game after being ruled doubtful to return. Milano’s caused more concern because he was carted off.
If those two are out for an extended period, Buffalo’s defense could be in big trouble. Bills Wire will provide updates when information is made available.
Is AJ Epenesa a stud?
With all their injuries, the Bills needed someone to step up on defense. AJ Epenesa delivered.
The Bills scored with less than two minutes left in the first half after playing poorly for most of the contest. But the Stefon Diggs touchdown put the score to 11-7.
Right after, the Jaguars were driving and looking to add to their lead but Epenesa had a strip-sack of Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
In addition to that one, Epenesa had multiple other big plays. He had a single-game, career-high three passes batted.
Keeping Epenesa and not trading him like Boogie Basham looks like such a smart idea.
Another sluggish run game
The Bills had another 100-plus yard receiving game against the Jaguars from Diggs. That’s great.
But for back-to-back games, Buffalo has failed to establish any sort of momentum on the ground against an opponent. It did not bite them against the Dolphins, but it didn’t seem to help them versus the Jaguars.
It's a week-to-week league still
It is, without a doubt, still a week-to-week. The Bills rolled three-straight opponents. By no means are they dead in the water.
But a week after feeling on top of the world when topping the Miami Dolphins, it’s right back down to earth. Even despite the time difference, travel, and it being a “home” game for Buffalo in London… not much went right.
The Bills are going to have to deal with their new-found injury concerns… and figure out what to do without White. The first showcase since his injury did not go well.
