The Bills’ secondary forced four turnovers, including a game-sealing interception by Stephon Gilmore, and E.J. Manuel led a game-winning drive to defeat the Jaguars 27-20.
It was only the second road win for Buffalo in the first year for Coach Doug Marrone. But Marrone certainly appreciated the team’s ability to overcome a two-game losing streak and some tough plays in today’s game.
“I’m very proud of this team,” said Marrone. “I give the players credit for hanging in there”
Buffalo’s defense made the first big play, with safety Aaron Williams intercepting Chad Henne for his fourth of the season, giving the Bills great field position. However, a 3 and out by the offense led to the drive ending in a 42 yard field goal by Dan Carpenter, his tenth straight of the season.
On the Bills next possession, Manuel floated a screen pass high into the hands of linebacker Geno Hayes, who took it to the Buffalo 34. Josh Scobey tied the game with a 32 yard field goal, and the first quarter ended with that score.
Jacksonville took its first and only lead of the game when Henne ended a 10 play, 56 yard drive with a touchdown pass to rookie receiver Ace Sanders from 12 yards out on the first play of the second quarter. Up to that point, Manuel had struggled immensely, going 3-8 for 37 yards and an interception, and Carpenter had missed a field goal attempt on a previous possession, ending his consecutive made field goal streak at 10.
Manuel and Buffalo answered later in the second with a nine play, 94 yard drive that included beautiful touch throws from Manuel to fellow rookies Robert Woods and tight end Chris Gragg. Manuel and Woods connected on a 7 yard touchdown to tie the game at 10 with 7:07 left.
On their next possession, the Bills went 72 yards in eight plays, with Manuel again making a big throw to Woods. The drive ended with Manuel taking a quarterback sneak into the end zone from 8 yards out to make it 17-10 with just over two minutes left in the half.
The Jaguars appeared to be going in for the tying score in the final minute, but rookie undrafted nickel corner Nickell Robey was able to force the ball out of the hands of receiver Mike Brown and also recover the ball. After a pass interference penalty resulting from a deep pass to rookie speedster Marquise Goodwin, Carpenter made a 40 yard field goal to make it 20-10 at the half.
Following a Buffalo 3 and out, Jacksonville looked to cut into the lead, with rookie running back Denard Robinson appearing to run for a touchdown from 25 yards out. However, safety Aaron Williams made a big play again, stripped the ball from Robinson at the 1 yard line, with the ball going out of the end zone for a touchback for their third forced turnover of the game.
The Jaguars would get within a score on its next possession, with Scobey hitting a 55 yard field goal to make it 20-13. The Bills were looking to put the game out of reach, but a drive that got down to the Jacksonville 35 ended when Manuel bobbled a snap, recovered it and tried to roll out but was strip-sacked by defensive back Winston Guy, and defensive lineman Sen’ Derrick Marks recovered the ball at the Jaguar 42.
The offense capitalized, with Henne finding running back Jordan Todman for a 30 yard gain on 3rd and 12 to get into the red zone. Two plays later, Henne found tight end Marcedes Lewis for a 12 yard touchdown to tie the game at 20 with 13:50 left.
On the next drive, Manuel again answered a period of adversity with one of gutsy throws. He first found Woods for a 20 yard gain, and then went deep to Goodwin, who dropped a deep ball, but took a shoulder to the head from Guy that resulted in a 15 yard unnecessary roughness penalty.
An 18 yard throw from Manuel to Woods got Buffalo into the redzone, where Manuel threw to fullback Frank Summers from a yard out with 9:35 left in the game. Manuel finished 17 of 24 for 193 yards and his two scores to go along with his interception and fumble, and his touchdown pass to Summers gave him 11 on the season, the most for a rookie quarterback in franchise history, surpassing the mark of 10 by Dennis Shaw in 1970.
Marrone said that Woods did a “nice job with his catch radius”, and was very complimentary of Manuel, who had been embattled following a four-interception game last Sunday against the Buccaneers.
“He learns from snap to snap,” said Marrone. “You’re seeing a QB that’s getting better and better.”
Manuel said that the long drives the offense had are part of the team’s “maturation as an offense.”
Jacksonville went 75 yards in 15 plays, but on 3rd and goal from the 5, cornerback Stephon Gilmore made his second interception of the season in the left corner of the end zone. The Jaguars would get the ball back with under two minutes to go, but Nickell Robey’s sack on second down helped the Bills defense force a turnover on downs, ending the game.
Buffalo played with a heavy heart, as after the game, Marrone said that receiver Stevie Johnson lost his mother unexpectedly on Saturday, but decided to play.
“I respect his decision,” said Marrone. “You deal with lots of things in coaching. I’ve always thought (losing family) was the toughest.”
Manuel said that Johnson “just wanted us to go out there and get this win.”
