Event of the Day: Jacksonville Jaguars versus Buffalo Bills

Our event of the day is the NFL wild card round clash between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Buffalo Bills at the EverBank Field in Jacksonville. The Jaguars won the AFC South division with a 10-6 record which secured them home field advantage in the wild card round of the postseason playoffs, while the Bills came second in the AFC East with 9-7 record and squeezed into the playoffs with a 22-16 win away to the Miami Dolphins in the last round of the regular season. Jacksonville lost their last two games after having already secured a spot in the playoffs; both away, 44-33 to the San Francisco 49ers and 15-10 to the Tennessee Titans. 

Jacksonville and Buffalo have met 15 times in the past with the Bills victorious on eight occasions, while the Jaguars have won seven games. They have only once faced in the playoffs, back in the wild card round of December 1996 – the Jaguars recorded a narrow 30-27 win as visitors. Jacksonville are the league’s best side in rushing with 141.4 yards per game and the second best defensive side with only 286.1 yards allowed per game. The standout men are defensive end Calais Campbell who had 14.5 sacks in regular season – second most, and cornerback A.J. Bouye with six interceptions – third in the league. Buffalo’s linebacker Preston Brown shared the top position in tackling with 144 tackles, while running back LeSean McCoy was the fourth best rusher with 1,138 yards. Some thrilling playoff football is expected at the EverBank Field in Florida.

 

Honourable mentions around the globe go to the Premiership Rugby duel between Wasps and Saracens at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry. Both teams are in the playoffs zone at the moment, with Wasps third with 39 points from 12 rounds and Saracens second with 40 points. Another Premiership Rugby match sees Newcastle Falcons up against Exeter Chiefs at Kingston Park in Newcastle upon Tyne. The last game of the wild card round in the NFL sees the division rivals, the New Orleans Saints and the Carolina Panthers face  off at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. In the Big Bash League, the Sydney Thunder take on the Adelaide Strikers at the Spotless Stadium in Sydney. It’s Day 4 of the 5th Test of the 2017-18 Ashes series between Australia and England at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney. Also in cricket, it’s the third day of the 1st Test of the Freedom Trophy series between South Africa and India at Newlands in Cape Town. In golf, it’s Day 4 of the Sentry Tournament of Champions at the Plantation Course at Kapalua in Hawaii. It’s final day of the Brisbane International ATP tournament at the Queensland Tennis Centre in Tennyson; and the first day of the Sydney International at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre. In the NBA, the Portland Trail Blazers host the San Antonio Spurs at the Moda Center in Portland. In the NHL, the Washington Capitals take on the St. Louis Blues at the Capital One Arena in Washington.

 

Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!

 

Fixture

 

Photos by NFL