Linebacker Shaq Thompson logged the tackle that stopped quarterback Trevor Lawrence short of the first down. It took two reviews and a Buffalo challenge to overturn the initial ruling on the field, which was a success fourth-down conversion. Lawrence’s shin hitting the ground and Thompson getting his hands on the quarterback before the line of gain forced a turnover on downs.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, the Bills’ pass game got rolling with a combination of three wide receivers: Khalil Shakir, Cooks and Keon Coleman.
On the first two snaps of the drive, Shakir picked up 19 yards, slowly moving Buffalo out of its own territory. On the 15-yard completion, Shakir kept his feet in bounds with a side-step, extending the play longer and reaching the 27-yard-line. Quarterback Josh Allen, two plays later, connected with Cooks, weaving the ball on the outside and into the receiver’s arms just near the sideline for 12 yards.
After running back James Cook III couldn’t successfully cut back on the inside as defensive lineman Travon Walker spun him to the ground at the line of scrimmage, the Bills took a timeout and came out of the 30 second break ready to spark Coleman’s game.
Allen threw a deep pass to the second-year wide receiver. After catching the 18-yard pass, Coleman broke his legs free of the defender and kept moving down the field to the Jaguars’ eight-yard-line for a total 36-yard completion.
Cook picked up six yards before getting stopped on the second-and-goal attempt for no gain. Two yards out, Allen scrambled into the end zone himself, scoring Buffalo’s first touchdown of the afternoon.
Jacksonville had an opportunity to tie the game at halftime. A combination of a 34-yard completion down the field to Washington and a defensive offsides penalty gave kicker Cam Little a 54-yard field goal attempt with one second remaining in the first half. The kick floated too far left, allowing the Bills to enter the locker room up by three.
Little redeemed himself in the third quarter after cornerback Tre’Davious White came up with two key stops. Lawrence sought out tight end Brenton Strange twice in the same set of downs from Buffalo’s 26-yard-line. On first-and-10, White forced the first incompletion. Then on third-and-nine, Lawrence targeted Strange again. White extended his arms in front, deflecting the ball away from Strange and forcing Jacksonville to settle for three.
The 43-yard attempt was good, but the Bills still had a three-point advantage due to a 47-yard field goal Prater hit to kick off the second half on Buffalo’s opening possession.
The Bills were the first on the board on Sunday thanks to an interception from Thompson.