BBNFL Recap: Josh Allen helps Jaguars in comeback playoff win

AdamStrattonKSR

Down 27-0 to the Los Angeles Chargers during Wild Card weekend, hopes looked grim for the Jacksonville Jaguars, the NFL team with the most former Kentucky players on the roster. However, you can’t count a team of multiple former ‘Cats out. Led by Josh Allen on defense, the Jaguars shut down the Chargers’ attack and ultimately won the game 31-30 on a last-second field goal.

Allen made it his business to create as much havoc for Chargers’ QB Justin Herbert as possible. Allen sacked Herbert and got four additional hits in on him. He finished with eight total tackles (three solo), including one for a loss. If those numbers weren’t enough, the stat geeks over at PFF graded Allen best on the team overall with a score of 83.4. The 25-year-old is up for a contract extension and making big plays when they count.

Veteran Corey Peters got the start on the defensive line for the Jags. Though he did not make a tackle, he provided a strong front for Jacksonville.

On the opposite side of the ball, Luke Fortner remained the steady, reliable centerpiece of the Jags’ offensive line. In addition to protecting Trevor Lawrence, Fortner also recorded the first tackle of his career after one of his team’s four turnovers.

Watch some postgame celebration footage in the locker room with Allen, the team captain, in the middle of it all.

‘Til the clock says 0:00!#IWATJ | #LACvsJAX pic.twitter.com/uqt8dY8E8y
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) January 15, 2023

Za’Darius Smith and Mike Edwards’ seasons end

On Sunday, the New York Giants upset the Vikings at home, prematurely ending what was the team’s best season in several years. Za’Darius Smith had three tackles (two solo), including one for a loss.

The only former Kentucky player to make the Pro Bowl this season was Smith. After a monster first half of the year that saw Big Z leading the NFL in sacks, his numbers tapered off down the stretch, as did the Vikings’ production in general.

Smith still finished the season with 10 sacks (9.5 of those came in the first 10 weeks), the third-best total of his lengthy career, and good for 20th overall this season. It was a disappointing finish, but at least he’ll get one more week of fun when the Pro Bowl ventures to Las Vegas for a first-of-its-kind revamp of the event.

Mike Edwards and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers also made an early playoff exit during Wild Card weekend. The Bucs looked inept against the Dallas Cowboys, as their 45-year-old quarterback, who we will hear way too much speculation about in the coming months, could not muster enough magic to counteract the team’s lack of a running game.

Despite the loss, Edwards had a solid performance, finishing with 10 tackles (six solo) and a pass deflection. Edwards was in and out of the lineup this season due to injuries, but finished the year healthy and will be ready to run it back next fall no matter who the quarterback of his team might be.

Kelvin “Bossman Fat” Joseph and Quinton Bohanna did not record any official statistics in Dallas’ victory, but their hopes of winning a Super Bowl ring remain alive.