Bills notebook: Defense has bad memories of Jaguars' run game
Ed Oliver doesn’t have good memories of last year's game against the Jaguars in London, or the previous meeting with the Jacksonville (a 9-6 loss in 2021).
The Buffalo Bills’ defenders have good reason to express respect for Jacksonville running back Travis Etienne heading into Monday’s game.
Etienne killed them in last year’s meeting in London.
Jaguars running back Travis Etienne ran wild against the Bills in London in 2023. Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
The Jaguars rolled up 196 rushing yards, with Etienne getting 136 and two touchdowns on 26 carries. It was the worst run-defense performance of the season for the Bills.
“Oh, he run that rock, now,” said Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver. “I can say he’s one of the hardest runners in the league, as far as downhill running. I remember I had met him in the hole one time, and I felt like my shoulder was about to break. He really runs the ball hard.”
Etienne ripped off four runs of more than 10 yards, including 31- and 35-yarders, in the Jaguars’ 25-20 win over the Bills last season. Jacksonville held the ball for 38:12.
The Bills played most or all of that game without DaQuan Jones, Greg Rousseau and Matt Milano, and Von Miller was a bit player in his first game back from injury. But the Bills don’t have Milano, Terrel Bernard or Taron Johnson for this meeting.
Oliver doesn’t have good memories of the game, or the previous meeting with the Jaguars (a 9-6 loss in 2021).
“The London game was a weird game,” Oliver said. “Started very weird. ... And I addressed the team, when I addressed my D-Line about how weird these games could be. I remember the game we played in Jacksonville. Sunny day, I mean great day. I remember vividly but it was just a weird aura. And then playing in London just weird. I can’t even explain it. ... And I never beat these guys.”
While the Jacksonville offense is off to a disappointing start, the run game has been effective.
Etienne and Tank Bigsby combined for 117 yards on 24 carries in the opener against Miami. Bigsby sat out against Cleveland due to injury but Etienne ran 13 times for 52 yards vs. the Browns.
Bills middle linebacker Baylon Spector played with Etienne for four years at Clemson and recalls his first impression of the back.
“Travis showed up in the summer, goofy kid, was funny,” Spector said. “We went out one day and were doing skills and drills, 7-on-7, 1-on-1s, and he took off. We were like, ‘Who’s that kid? Where’d he come from?’ Just knew he was really fast. We got into training camp and he showed who he was right away.”
The Jaguars use Etienne’s speed to test the defense wide. Jacksonville is second in rush average off left end (9.5 yards on 10 carries) and third off right end (7.6 yards on six carries).
“He’ll get on the edge,” Spector said. “He’ll take his shoulders square and get downhill. He’s elusive, got great balance and he’s got the speed to get out there.”
Injury report
The Bills conducted only a walk-through practice Friday, but have a full practice scheduled for Saturday. Defensive ends Dawuane Smoot (toe) and Javon Solomon (oblique) remained limited. Defensive end Casey Toohill (knee) was upgraded to full participant.Jaguars injuries to watch when the final injury report comes out Saturday include tight end Evan Engram, dealing with a hamstring injury. Engram led all NFL tight ends in catches last season with 114, second most ever in a single season by an NFL tight end. He sat out last week. Meanwhile, running back Tank Bigsby (shoulder) and safety Darnell Savage (quad) have been limited.
Seeking better field days
Staying on the field is a big talking point for the Jaguars offense this week. Jacksonville held the ball only 26:50 vs. Miami and 25:37 vs. Cleveland.“The rhythm is a real thing,” receiver Christian Kirk told Jacksonville reporters this week. “When you have multiple three and outs and you’re not on the field for that long, you’re waiting a couple minutes to get back on the field. It’s tough. I think we have to do a better job of staying on the field and be efficient on first and second down, putting ourselves in third and manageable.”
