The six-seeded Buffalo Bills (12-5) face the three-seeded Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4) at 1 p.m. EST this afternoon in the Wild Card round of the AFC playoffs, and this will be the third time these two teams have squared off in the postseason.

Before this playoff showdown, let’s revisit the series history, relive some of the more memorable matchups, break down those common connections, and go through the list of players who played for both teams. Hint: there are 57 players who saw action for both the Bills and Jaguars.

Bills vs. Jaguars series history

Sunday’s game will mark the 21st meeting all time, with the teams having split the first 20 matchups. Buffalo is 10-8 against Jacksonville in the regular season and 0-2 versus the Jaguars in the playoffs.

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The first-ever matchup was a painful one for Bills fans, as it was the final game of Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly’s illustrious Bills career. Hosting Jacksonville in the Wild Card round of the 1996 season, running back Thurman Thomas caught a seven-yard touchdown pass from Kelly for a 7-0 lead, and ran in from two yards out for a 14-7 lead late in the first quarter. The teams were tied at 20 after three quarters, but the Bills seized a 27-20 lead when cornerback Jeff Burris picked off quarterback Mark Brunell and raced 38 yards for the touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

But Brunell responded with a two-yard touchdown toss to wide receiver Jimmy Smith to tie the game with 8:40 remaining, and Jacksonville’s defense knocked Kelly out of the game on a sack from safety Chris Hudson and recovered the ensuing fumble, setting up kicker Mike Hollis’ 45-yard field goal that doinked in off the right upright with 3:07 remaining.

Kelly was carted off the field after suffering a concussion on the sack fumble, and backup quarterback Todd Collins was sacked twice and lost a fumble to seal Buffalo’s fate in what was the franchise’s first home playoff loss at then Rich Stadium. Kelly completed 21 of 32 passes for 239 yards with a touchdown and an interception, while wide receiver Quinn Early caught nine passes for 122 yards and Thomas added a rushing and a receiving touchdown in the loss for the Bills.

It was Buffalo’s first home playoff loss at Rich Stadium.

Last postseason matchup: The Bills snapped their 17-year playoff drought during the 2017 season before dropping a 10-3 clunker at the Jaguars in the Wild Card round.

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Tied at three heading into the second half, quarterback Blake Bortles directed an 86-yard scoring drive, culminating with a one-yard touchdown toss to backup tight end Ben Kovack on a 4th & Goal from the one for a 10-3 lead. The Bills never could mount the potential game-tying scoring drive, punting on their next three possessions.

Starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor was knocked out of the game and suffered a concussion when he was tackled hard by defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. Backup quarterback Nathan Peterman relieved Taylor on Buffalo’s last-gasp drive and guided the Bills to the Jacksonville 38-yard line, but an intentional grounding penalty pushed Buffalo back 10 yards and Peterman’s pass intended for wide receiver Deonte Thompson was picked off by cornerback Jalen Ramsey and the Jaguars ran out the clock for the win.

Both teams struggled to move the ball, with Buffalo amassing 263 yards of offense (led by 119 combined rushing and receiving yards from running back LeSean McCoy), while Jacksonville managed only 230 yards of offense. This was Taylor’s final start for the Bills, as Buffalo used the No. 7 pick in the 2018 NFL draft to select Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen.

Last regular season matchup: Speaking of Josh Allen, he put on a clinic during a 47-10 win over the Jaguars in Week 3 of the 2024 NFL season on Monday Night Football.

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Allen orchestrated touchdown drives on Buffalo’s first five possessions, beginning with a six-yard touchdown run from running back James Cook III and featuring touchdown passes to tight end Dalton Kincaid (six yards), wide receiver Keon Coleman (24 yards), wide receiver Khalil Shakir (27 yards), and running back Ty Johnson (16 yards) as the Bills took a 34-3 lead into halftime. Safety Damar Hamlin added his first career interception and the Bills sacked quarterback Trevor Lawrence four times while holding Jacksonville to 239 yards of total offense.

Allen finished the day completing 23-of-30 passes for 263 yards with four touchdowns and zero interceptions, and added 44 rushing yards on six carries. Shakir caught six passes for 72 yards with a touchdown, while Cook added 87 yards of offense (48 receiving and 39 rushing). Defensively, defensive ends A.J. Epenesa, Von Miller, Casey Toohill, and Javon Solomon, plus defensive back Ja’Marcus Ingram each recorded sacks in the primetime win as the Bills improved to 3-0 while the Jaguars fell to 0-3.

Franchise Comparison

Bills

Jaguars

Year Formed

1960

1995

Overall Record

498-510-8

215-286

Playoff Record

21-22

8-8

Super Bowls Won (Appearances)

0 (4)

0 (0)

Championships

2 AFL titles

0

Hall of Famers

12

1

Who has played for both the Bills and Jaguars?

There are a total of 57 players who appeared in a game for both the Bills and Jaguars, including defensive tackle Marcell Dareus (2011-17 with the Bills, 2017-19 with the Jaguars), wide receiver Zay Jones (2017-19 with the Bills, 2022-23 with the Jaguars), center Mitch Morse (2019-23 with the Bills, 2024 with the Jaguars), linebacker Bryce Paup (1995-97 with the Bills, 1998-99 with the Jaguars), linebacker Paul Posluszny (2007-10 with the Bills, 2011-17 with the Jaguars), and defensive tackle Marcus Stroud (2001-07 with the Jaguars, 2008-10 with the Bills).

Among the other notable players with ties to both the Bills and Jaguars:

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Cornerback Ronald Darby (2015-16 with the Bills, 2024 with the Jaguars)

Wide receiver Gabe Davis (2020-25 with the Bills, 2024 with the Jaguars)

Quarterback Trent Edwards (2007-10 with the Bills, 2010 with the Jaguars)

Cornerback Drayton Florence (2008 with the Jaguars, 2009-11 with the Bills)

Linebacker Keith Goganious (1992-94 with the Bills, 1995 with the Jaguars)

Kicker Mike Hollis (1995-2001 with the Jaguars, 2002 with the Bills)

Quarterback Rob Johnson (1995-97 with the Jaguars, 1998-2001 with the Bills)

Linebacker Jeff Posey (2001 with the Jaguars, 2003-05 with the Bills)

Linebacker Eddie Robinson (1996-97 with the Jaguars, 2002 with the Bills)

Fullback Daimon Shelton (1997-2000 with the Jaguars, 2004-06 with the Bills)

Defensive end Dawuane Smoot (2017-2025 with the Jaguars, 2024 with the Bills)

Defensive back Kiwaukee Thomas (2000-04 with the Jaguars, 2006-7 with the Bills)

Defensive back Mickey Washington (1993-94 with the Bills, 1995-96 with the Jaguars)

Defensive end Marcellus Wiley (1997-2000 with the Bills, 2005-06 with the Jaguars)

Fun fact: There have been two players to throw a pass in both a Bills and Jaguars uniform:

Trent Edwards
Rob Johnson