This past Sunday at the place dubbed (Tr)EverBank Stadium, the Duval Devout felt that their Jacksonville Jaguars would most assuredly win their home opener against the Browns. Now that the Jaguars are 0-2 after their disappointing showing, the Bills may have an opportunity to get payback for the previous two outings against Jacksonville where they too were 0-2. Here are the main keys to the upcoming contest.

Josh (Hines-)Allen on Josh Allen Crime

Whether it was them having the same name in the past or some other cosmic force of nature, Josh Hines-Allen has been a big part of both of Jacksonville’s previous two matchups. The Bills quarterback Josh Allen has referred to Hines-Allen as “scary” in the past. Now Travon Walker and Arik Armstead help form a complete defensive front to rain more terror upon Buffalo’s Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback. . . provided the Jags defensive coordinator doesn’t rotate them out and keeps them on the field together long enough to make an impact.

This trio probably needs more screen time in the game’s TV broadcast than Micheal Douglas gets in a Beetlejuice movie or else it will be the Duval Devout who are screaming at the game more like it’s a horror film.

The Jaguars Offensive Line

It’s probably trite by now to see this mentioned this as a key to a Jaguars game. After all, this is the third straight week that it’s come up. This time it’s due to the Bills defensive tackles. Ed Oliver and Daquan Jones are both forces to be reckoned with. Considering they will be familiar with former Buffalo Bill Mitch Morse who is the Jags center on the offense while also knowing this offensive line gave up a safety to help clinch their home debut loss, one can imagine Buffalo’s defensive front is licking their chops.

 

The Intangibles

There are things in football that aren’t necessarily in the “X”s and “O”s that can turn the tide in the game. One of them comes with being a road team. In 2021, the Bills lost to the Jags 9-6 at Everbank Stadium in large part to Josh Hines-Allen pulling the trifecta of recording an interception, a sack, and a fumble recovery. Last season in England, Jacksonville’s defacto home turf, Buffalo lost in a nailbiter, 25-20. This time, the game is at Highmark Stadium in front of the Bills Mafia. Will the taste for revenge drive the Bills who are 2-0 in life without former star wide receiver Stephon Diggs, or will the prospect of going on a three-game Jags losing streak mess with the team’s head?

Considering the Jags are 0-2 thus far in the season, there is an essential element for both teams to avoid falling into a lull of “here we go again” so one of these sides come out struggling.

Evan Engram’s Hamstring Injury

While it isn’t the most devastating injury in sports, hamstrings are unpredictable in how long they linger. Moreover, the risk of more harm for a player running with a compromised hamstring is high. That’s why Evan Engram’s pregame warmup injury last Sunday is concerning for the Jags. They need their star tight end more now than ever considering how often Trevor Lawrence needs help from an escape valve that Engram can provide.

Taking nothing away from backup Brenton Strange who is performing well, it’s not the same as having an explosive guy like Engram who can turn a short checkdown hot route into a large gash of a gain.That being said, based on Jags head coach Doug Pederson said calling Engram’s status, “week-to-week”, don’t think it Strange if Brenton gets the start.