Updated at 22.05
THE JACKSONVILLE Jaguars became the first team in NFL history to win an international game in back-to-back weeks with a 25-20 victory over the Buffalo Bills at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Many expected in-form quarterback Josh Allen and his hosting Bills to have the upper hand in London, but the visitors were the superior side by almost every measure in the first quarter, where a costly Buffalo penalty led to the Jags’ first touchdown.
And though AFC East leaders Buffalo, looking for a fourth straight win, finally broke through and narrowed the deficit to 11-7 by the halfway point, a scoreless third quarter and a Travis Etienne touchdown extended the Jags’ advantage to double-digits early in the fourth quarter.
Two touchdowns per side in the final 15 minutes kept things interesting as Buffalo twice came within five points of drawing level, but the visitors, who last weekend beat the Atlanta Falcons at Wembley, ultimately did enough to stave off a Buffalo comeback.
What a way to end it @Jaguars 👏
— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
📺: #JAXvsBUF on NFL Network
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/LxW25sxPWA pic.twitter.com/3jhSQ8wppC
The stands — including Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo — skewed overwhelmingly in favour of Buffalo, but it was the visitors who first sparked to life through QB Trevor Lawrence’s sharp 30-yard pass to wide receiver Christian Kirk.
Jacksonville soon took full advantage after Buffalo’s Ed Oliver was punished with a five-yard penalty and Lawrence fired into the endzone, where a leaping Zay Jones completed the six-yard touchdown, Etienne successfully converting for two more.
Brandon McManus’ 44-yard field goal gave his side an 11-0 lead before the second quarter, where Buffalo pressed on in search of a solution to a Jags defence that, five minutes into the period, had held the hosts to just 35 yards on offence to their 167.
Buffalo finally broke through just before half-time, closing that gap with a 12-play, 86-yard drive ending in Stefon Diggs’ classy 15-yard touchdown reception to collect the pass from his QB with Tyler Bass booting the extra point through the uprights.
That drive alone was 32 yards longer than their first four combined and launched the hosts squarely back into the contest.
A promising third-quarter drive began with a promising 48-yard pass cleverly claimed by Diggs, but the hosts ultimately failed to capitalise on the gained ground.
Buffalo were down to the final 15 minutes after the scoreless third quarter and found themselves frustrated early in the fourth by a brilliant interception by Jags cornerback Darious Williams on Allen’s ball intended for Diggs.
Jacksonville extended their lead to double digits through Etienne, who crossed over from six yards, McManus good for the extra point.
With just over four minutes remaining, the Bills saw a touchdown nullified by a penalty but made good on the second attempt when Allen found Davis for the 19-yard touchdown to make it 18-13, Buffalo failing to convert the extras.
The final few minutes of an afternoon dominated by defence suddenly saw an offensive surge as Etienne crossed for another TD, McManus adding another extra point, but Jacksonville barely had time to celebrate before Allen had crossed into the endzone and Bass’ conversion clawed Buffalo back within five.
The frantic, entertaining close was at least enough to stir the Buffalo faithful, who came just short of seeing their side brilliantly bounce back.
Elsewhere, the powerful offenses of the Detroit Lions and the Miami Dolphins fired their teams to 4-1 records in the NFL with victories on Sunday.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff threw for 236 yards and three touchdowns as Detroit crushed the Carolina Panthers 42-24.
Tua Tagovailoa threw for 308 yards and two touchdowns as the Dolphins, defeated the struggling New York Giants 31-16.
The Lions dominated from the outset with two touchdowns in the first quarter — a 43-yard rush from David Montgomery and a four-yard pass from Goff to Sam LaPorta.
LaPorta connected on another touchdown pass, from 31 yards, in the second quarter to make it 28-7 and the Lions never looked back from then on.
Miami’s offense has been on fire this season and they put themself in charge with a first quarter touchdown catch from Jaylen Waddle and extended their advantage early in the second with a brilliant 76-yard rush from De’Von Achane.
Tagovailoa found Tyreek Hill with a 69-yard pass at the start of the third and and made sure of the win with Raheem Mostert’s two-yard rush.
Houston Texans quarterback C.J Stroud set a new record for passes without interception at the start of his career when he reached 177 passes without being picked off.
But the Texans fell to a 21-19 loss at the Atlanta Falcons with a game-winning field goal in the final seconds from Koo Younghoe.
The miserable season for the New England Patriots continued with a 34-0 home loss to the New Orleans Saints leaving Bill Belichick’s team with a 1-4 record.
Later on Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys are in action at the San Francisco 49ers.
