Josh Allen led the Buffalo Bills to a 27-24 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC wild-card opener, securing Buffalo’s first road playoff win in over 30 years. Allen’s crucial plays included a 36-yard pass to Brandin Cooks and a 1-yard touchdown run that put Buffalo ahead. Despite facing strong pressure, Allen completed 28 of 35 passes for 273 yards and ran for two touchdowns.
The Bills’ defense intercepted a pass on Jacksonville’s final drive to seal the win. The victory marked a significant milestone for Buffalo, breaking a streak of playoff road losses dating back to the early 1990s. Trevor Lawrence of the Jaguars put up a fight with three touchdown passes, but the Bills’ resilience and strong performance by Khalil Shakir helped secure the win.
In another wild-card game, the San Francisco 49ers defeated the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles 23-19. Quarterback Brock Purdy’s 6-yard touchdown pass to Christian McCaffery and a trick play involving Jauan Jennings contributed to San Francisco’s victory. The 49ers will face top-seeded Seattle in the next round after splitting the season series.
New England Patriots also emerged victorious, beating the Los Angeles Chargers 16-3. Drake Maye’s touchdown pass to Hunter Henry and a solid defensive performance propelled the Patriots to their first playoff win since 2018. The Patriots will host the winner of the Pittsburgh vs. Houston game in the divisional round.
