An AFC clash between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Buffalo Bills takes place this Sunday, January 11, in the NFL Wild Card round, with a spot in the Divisional Round on the line. This will be the 21st meeting between these teams, but only the third time they have faced off in an AFC Wild Card game; both previous matchups went Buffalo’s way. Here at BossAction, you’ll find our Jaguars vs. Bills prediction and everything you need to know before kickoff.
How to Watch Bills vs. Jaguars
Date: Sunday, Jan. 11
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
Broadcast: CBS
Venue: EverBank Stadium
Key Matchups That Will Shape Bills vs. Jaguars
Several key elements have shaped both teams’ seasons and could define this Wild Card matchup. Here’s how it breaks down.
The first major factor is Josh Allen’s postseason experience. This marks his seventh consecutive playoff appearance, and his numbers reflect it. In 13 playoff games, Allen owns a 101.7 passer rating with 3,359 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and just four interceptions, while leading Buffalo to two AFC Championship Game appearances (2020–21 and 2024–25). Simply put, Allen has proven to be a legitimate playoff weapon.
Then there’s the ground game. Buffalo finished the regular season as the NFL’s top rushing team, led by James Cook, who claimed the rushing title with 309 carries for 1,621 yards and 12 touchdowns. That strength, however, runs directly into Jacksonville’s biggest asset. The Jaguars rank first in run defense, allowing just 85.6 rushing yards per game, and sit fifth in yards allowed per carry (3.9). Notably, they became just the third team since 2000 to go an entire season without allowing a single 75-yard rusher.
Wild Card combo. @DeltaSonicWash | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/zLTUmWUd0k
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 7, 2026
Buffalo Bills Form Guide Heading Into the Wild Card
The Buffalo Bills started the NFL regular season with 7 victories in their first 10 games, only falling short against the Patriots, Falcons, and Dolphins. Then, in the second half of the season, they beat the Buccaneers, Steelers, Bengals, Patriots, Browns, and Jets, finishing the regular season in second place in the AFC East with a 12-5 record, right behind the Patriots.
One of the keys to their regular-season success has been Josh Allen, and now in the postseason, the Buffalo fanbase’s hopes are at very high stakes. Allen’s playoff production has powered a highly efficient Bills offense, averaging 27.4 points per game since 2019, fourth-best in the NFL, driven largely by explosive plays: Buffalo ranks top five in 20-plus-yard gains (47) and fourth in runs of 10 or more yards (46).
Jaguars Enter the Playoffs as One of the NFL’s Hottest Teams
Jacksonville enters the postseason riding an eight-game winning streak and hosting a playoff game after capturing the AFC South with a 13-4 record. The Jaguars opened the season by winning four of their first five games, with victories over the Panthers, Texans, 49ers, and Chiefs, and their lone early loss coming against the Bengals.
After three midseason losses leading into Week 11, Jacksonville didn’t drop another game the rest of the way. During that stretch, the Jaguars averaged a league-best 33.6 points per game and beat opponents by an average margin of 19.1 points, ranking first in both categories.
A key addition came at the trade deadline with the arrival of wide receiver Jakobi Meyers. In nine games with Jacksonville, Meyers posted 42 receptions for 483 yards and three touchdowns, earning himself a three-year contract extension along the way.
Bills vs. Jaguars Prediction and Final Score
This matchup shapes up as a high-level quarterback duel, but turnovers could ultimately decide it. Jacksonville has been relentless on that front, ranking third in turnover differential at +13, fueled by 31 takeaways (second-most in the NFL) and 18 turnovers. That’s an area where Buffalo has struggled at times in recent playoff runs, making ball security a defining factor on Sunday.
Our prediction at BossAction:
Jaguars 37–31 Bills.
