The Jacksonville Jaguars needed a win in Week 4 against the Atlanta Falcons because, this week, they face off against arguably the best team in the NFL: the Buffalo Bills.
While the Bills suffered a loss in Week 1, they have since won three straight, winning blowouts by 28, 34 and 28 points.
Buy Jaguars TicketsBuffalo has an explosive offense, a strong defense, and the team has proven itself a top team through the last few years.
Here are five Bills players who could cause problems for the Jaguars in Week 5:
QB Josh Allen
What’s more dangerous than a top-three quarterback who can hurt defenses with his arm or his legs?
Allen has one of, if not the strongest arm in the league, and is a physical runner that can wear defenses down when he runs the ball. And Allen’s 6’4, 237-pound body makes him hard to bring down in the pocket and in the open field.
While the Jaguars will do what they can to slow Allen, they may need his decision-making to help them out. Allen has 1,048 passing yards and nine passing touchdowns this season, but he has also thrown four picks in as many games.
If Jacksonville can keep him under pressure, he may be prone to making bad throws and ill-advised decisions.
WR Stefon Diggs
Now take that top-three quarterback and give him a top-five wide receiver. That’s what the Bills have in Diggs.
Wide receiver Stefon Diggs has proven himself one of the position’s premium players, and this season has been more of the same. Diggs is Allen’s favorite target by far, earning him more than twice the amount of targets and catches that any other Bills player.
Diggs has 31 catches for 399 yards and four touchdowns so far this season. Jaguars cornerbacks Tyson Campbell and Darious Williams have played well this season, but no cornerback is guaranteed a good day when facing Diggs.
The Buffalo receiver hasn’t faced much trouble this season, so the Jaguars will need to step up if they want to be the first team to stop Diggs.
LB Terrel Bernard
Second-year linebacker Terrel Bernard has stepped up in an increased role in 2023. Bernard was a third-round pick out of Baylor and has started this season following the free agency departure of Tremaine Edmunds.
Bernard currently leads the team with 29 total tackles; he’s also tallied two sacks and two interceptions through the first four weeks of the season.
He can get pressure on the quarterback and bring down ball carriers, so Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and running back Travis Etienne Jr. will need to ensure Bernard doesn’t get the best of them.
S Micah Hyde
Micah Hyde has been one of the best safeties in the NFL for years. After not playing most of the 2022 season due to injury, Hyde has picked up right where he left off.
The former Second Team All-Pro safety has 17 total tackles and two interceptions on the year. Lawrence has done a good job protecting the ball this year, but Hyde is the kind of player who could make a play for the Bills defense.
Hyde also plays alongside Jordan Poyer, who rounds out what has been one of the best safety duos in the league for years. Lawrence will need to be cautious while throwing in the direction of either safety.
DT Daquan Jones
The Bills’ entire defensive line is dangerous, and they could be adding three-time All-Pro Von Miller to the mix, but defensive tackle DaQuan Jones has been at the center of the unit’s success.
Jones has been strong in rush defense and has gotten to the quarterback. He’s currently at 10 total tackles with 2.5 sacks this year.
The Jaguars’ interior offensive line of Brandon Scherff, Luke Fortner, and likely Walker Little will face a top defensive front on Sunday. If Lawrence is under constant pressure, the Jacksonville offense may once again struggle to be productive.
