The NFL play-offs continued with another nail-biting game as the Buffalo Bills claimed a 27-24 win at the Jacksonville Jaguars.
A late interception by Buffalo safety Cole Bishop allowed the Bills to clinch victory after Josh Allen, the league’s reigning Most Valuable Player, put them back in front with one minute four seconds of the game remaining.
Buffalo were the pre-season Super Bowl favourites but have had to hit the road in the play-offs having failed to retain the AFC East title, while Jacksonville won the AFC South.
The Jaguars ended the regular season on an eight-game winning streak to secure the AFC’s third seed, while Buffalo are the sixth, and most of Sunday’s Wildcard Weekend game was a tight affair.
Buffalo led 10-7 at half-time, then 13-10 heading into the fourth quarter, when the lead changed hands four times in a nerve-racking finale.
Quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence and Allen then produced a shootout, with former number one draft pick Lawrence making touchdown passes to Parker Washington and Travis Etienne.
Buffalo replied with Allen finding Dalton Kincaid for a score before barging over for his second rushing TD, which ultimately proved decisive.
There was enough time for Lawrence to lead a game-winning drive but he was picked off by Bishop to keep alive Allen’s hopes of reaching his first Super Bowl.
This season could be his best chance yet to reach the NFL’s championship game as the Kansas City Chiefs, who knocked Buffalo out in four of the past five years, have failed to reach this season’s play-offs.