ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Many analysts had previously concluded that the Buffalo Bills’ chances for a Super Bowl were fading, yet right now, they appear to be the top team in the NFL just three weeks into the 2024 season.

On Monday night at Highmark Stadium, the Bills delivered a jaw-dropping performance in the first half, scoring touchdowns on all five of their possessions and racing to a 34-3 lead against the Jacksonville Jaguars. They then maintained control for the rest of the game, finishing with a commanding 47-10 victory.

This match echoed the Bills’ 47-17 playoff crush of the Patriots in 2021, where they flawlessly scored touchdowns on all seven of their possessions, except for kneeling at the half’s conclusion. Interestingly, Mac Jones, the Patriots quarterback from that game, found himself stepping in for the Jaguars in this contest.

Instead of demonstrating the grit expected from a desperate 0-2 team, the Jaguars revealed themselves to be a struggling 0-3 team, raising doubts about their $245 million commitment to quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 draft.

Since their inception in 1995, the Jaguars have never allowed 34 points in a first half, making this match particularly historic. This is only the third occasion in NFL history where a team has entered halftime with a 31-point lead while scoring 34 or more points.

As September comes to a close, who stands above the Bills? The Chiefs are 3-0, but they easily could be without a win. The Steelers also boast a 3-0 record, albeit with only 51 points scored. In the NFC, the Seahawks are undefeated at 3-0 but have faced a lineup featuring a rookie quarterback, the Patriots, and the Dolphins without Tua Tagovailoa. While the 3-0 Vikings appear solid, the question remains: can they match up against the Bills with Sam Darnold?

Josh Allen, who had only accumulated 371 yards in the first two games, excelled this time by completing 22 of 28 passes for 247 yards and four touchdowns to Dalton Kincaid, Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir, and Ty Johnson, all in just the first half.

After the Jaguars managed to score a touchdown following the second-half kickoff, Allen quickly led another impressive drive that culminated in a Tyler Bass field goal, consuming over six minutes of the third quarter.

It was impressive how effortlessly Allen dissected the Jaguars’ defense, making the previous doubts about the Bills quarterback, including concerns about his performance without Stefon Diggs, seem unfounded.

Key Factors in Buffalo Bills’ Victory

▶ Josh Allen’s Exquisite Play: From the start, Allen was clearly fired up for this game. The Jaguars were without two starting cornerbacks, Tyson Campbell and Darnell Savage, and offensive coordinator Joe Brady made sure to take advantage of that. His play calling was spot on, and the team executed flawlessly on multiple occasions.

Brady ensured a diverse attack in the first half as Allen connected with ten different receivers, completing passes to nine of them. Shifting from a run-heavy approach in the first two weeks, Brady opted for only 11 rushing plays compared to 28 passing attempts in the opening half.

▶ Dominant Pass Defense: While Lawrence was able to capitalize on the Bills playing conservatively in the second half, he struggled immensely in the first half, leaving the field down by 31 points.

Cornerbacks Rasul Douglas and Christian Benford excelled in coverage, rendering the Jaguars’ key receivers—Gabe Davis, Brian Thomas, and Christian Kirk—unable to find openings. When Thomas finally managed to get free, Lawrence overthrew the ball, resulting in Bills safety Damar Hamlin’s first career interception.

What’s impressive is how effectively the team has adapted after the loss of star nickel cornerback Taron Johnson, with Cam Lewis stepping up admirably. Defensive coordinator Bobby Babich even called a safety blitz that allowed Ja’Marcus Ingram to record a sack.

▶ Overcoming Past Challenges: Before the game, much attention was given to the Jaguars’ past successes against the Bills, especially the last two encounters—a subpar Jaguars team triumphing 9-6 in 2021 and the London debacle last year when the Bills were missing half their defense.

The rivalry between these teams dates back to the 1996 playoffs, where the young Jaguars surprised the Bills. However, on Monday night, the Bills ensured there would be no surprises.

Key Plays of the Game

▶ Sean McDermott is never one to shy away from taking risks. He remains one of the most adventurous coaches when it comes to fourth downs. Just like the previous week in Miami, he opted to go for it on Buffalo’s opening drive. After six plays, the Bills faced a fourth-and-3 at the Jaguars’ 44. Allen completed a well-executed 12-yard pass to Shakir, allowing the Bills to score quickly with a 6-0 lead.

▶ On their second offensive drive, the Bills managed a third-and-3 at the Jaguars’ 48. Brady called a stellar play as Kincaid found space down the left seam, and Allen connected with him for 28 yards. Following another fourth-down conversion on a quarterback sneak, Allen and Kincaid executed yet another great play.

With a third-and-goal on the 6, Allen encountered pressure but managed to prolong the play, allowing Kincaid to get open in the back of the end zone. Allen delivered a flawless pass for a 13-0 lead.

▶ Rookie receiver Keon Coleman started the game on the sidelines, playing only one snap on the second possession. However, in the third possession, Brady brought him in on first down from the Jaguars’ 24.

Coleman positioned himself on the left side, matched against Montaric Brown. He ran a successful crossing route, outmaneuvering Brown, and Allen found him perfectly for Coleman’s first NFL touchdown, extending the lead to 20-3.

▶ If the Jaguars hoped to stay competitive, their chance faded during the next series. With 4:28 remaining in the first half, Lawrence converted a fourth-and-1 with a sneak but then overthrew Thomas on the next play, resulting in a pick by Hamlin. The Bills quickly capitalized on this turnover, and just five plays later, on a third-and-9 at the 27, Allen connected with Shakir for a touchdown, essentially sealing the game.

Bills Standout Player

There’s no need for controversy here. Allen showcased his star potential, even though he hardly participated in the second half. He managed only 16 yards passing post-halftime as the game was already well secured. He ended the night with 263 passing yards and rushed six times for 44 yards, with five of those runs resulting in first downs.

Bills Underperformer

If we must point fingers, it would be the Bills’ protection unit, which allowed the first extra point attempt to be blocked. There seemed to be a failure in the unit’s execution, and while fans were quick to blame Bass, this was not his doing. Once again, the Bills’ special teams made a costly error, although it became insignificantly inconsequential by the end of the match.

Injury Update

Taron Johnson, the nickel cornerback, and linebacker Terrel Bernard were expectedly sidelined, but it’s a positive sign that neither has been placed on the injured reserve list, suggesting that the medical staff anticipates both returning soon, possibly even for this week’s game against the Ravens.

Lewis also had a brief visit to the medical tent for a head injury assessment but returned to the game shortly thereafter.

Sal Maiorana has reported on the Buffalo Bills for four decades, including 35 years as the dedicated beat writer for the D&C, and he has authored several books on the team’s history.  Follow him on Twitter @salmaiorana.