Buffalo Rumblings
The Buffalo Bills are heading to Duval County, ready to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars for opening weekend of the 2025 NFL playoffs. This matchup has a heavyweight feel, with two of the game’s best quarterbacks taking center stage in what could be a physical game.
Entering Super Wild Card Weekend, FanDuel Sportsbook has the Bills as 1.5-point (-1.5) road favorites over the Jaguars. The over/under opened at O/U 51.5. At first blush, the odds are a bit surprising, given Jacksonville’s recent trajectory and role as the home team, winners of the AFC South.
It’s fair to guess that bettors believe in Josh Allen, which, alone may count for Buffalo’s favorable odds. You can be sure that the Jaguars will use that as a sign of disrespect, though that’s a tough sell to anyone paying attention.
The Bills and Jaguars have a fair bit of messy playoff history between them. The first time Buffalo and Jacksonville faced each other came during the wild card round of the 1996 NFL playoffs. It was a 30-27 losing effort for the hometown Bills, and one where quarterback Jim Kelly injured his knee late in action. Ultimately, it was Kelly’s last NFL game, announcing his retirement at the conclusion of that season.
More recently, Buffalo and Jacksonville faced off during the 2017 NFL playoffs. In a game most of Bills Mafia remembers well due to Buffalo’s 17-year playoff drought ending, the Bills were mostly listless and ill-equipped to stop the Jaguars, losing 10-3 just four months before Josh Allen entered the picture at One Bills Drive.
Now, Buffalo heads back to Duval with a very accomplished Allen at the helm. Will the third time be the charm for the Bills against the Jaguars? We’ll find out during wild card weekend!
