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Jaguars in NFL playoffs: Elite run defense vs. Bills' elite run game
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- Jaguars in NFL playoffs: Elite run defense vs. Bills' elite run game
Debuting in 1988, "Headbangers Ball" was one of MTV's flagship shows, a place for metal heads to watch videos of Metallica, Megadeth and Pantera, among others. It ran for eight years, but it returns Jan. 11 in the Jacksonville Jaguars ' AFC wild-card game
The Buffalo Bills have the NFL's top-ranked rush offense (159.6) and the Jaguars the top-ranked rush defense (85.6).
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The Bills have the league's rushing champion ( James Cook with 1,621 yards ) and the Jaguars haven't allowed a player to reach 75 rushing yards this season.
"They're (darn) good at running the football," Jaguars coach Liam Coen said.
And the Jaguars are (darn) good at stopping the run.
In a season of turnaround stories, the rush defense is one of the most eye-popping. Last year, they allowed 132.6 rushing yards per game (25th in the league). This year, they set a franchise record for stopping the run.
The Jaguars won the rush defense title for the first time in franchise history.
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"A huge badge of honor," defensive tackle Arik Armstead told me after the Jaguars' 41-7 win over the Tennessee Titans on Jan. 4. "You set yourself up to have a good defense if you stop the run and that's not an easy feat. There are a lot of talented players and great teams in this league so it's something we should all be proud of."
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Players bought into system
A look at the Jaguars' rush defense history makes you appreciate the current group.
In the franchise's first 30 years, they finished in the top 10 only five times (the previous best finish was second in 2003, 87.9) and 25th or lower seven times (the worst finish was 30th in 2012 and 2020).
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During the offseason, with so many needs to address, the Jaguars didn't allocate money or draft capital at the defensive tackle position, players who are basically the foot soldiers of pro football. Little glory, but plenty of bruises.
Armstead was moved from defensive end back to tackle, but the Jaguars didn't sign end/tackle Dawuane Smoot for a second tour with the team until June 3, Austin Johnson until Aug. 4 and Matt Dickerson until Aug. 28 (practice squad). They traded for Khalen Saunders in mid-August but he was eventually released. Maason Smith , a second-round pick in 2024, can't get on the field.
Don't forget about ends Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker , who are willing and effective run defenders.
The Jaguars simply got consistent play from their returning guys complimented by the newcomers.
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Defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton is the anchor, a 335-pound boulder at the point of attack.
"He's 'That Guy,'" Johnson said.
Said defensive line coach Matt Edwards: "I love D-Ham. He does everything we ask him to do and what he does on a week-to-week basis may not show up on the stat sheet, but he is a pivotal piece of our success in the run game."
Dickerson went from practice squad call-up to starter late in the season when the Jaguars managed Armstead's snaps due to a hand injury.
Dec 21, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; The Jacksonville Jaguars defense reacts during the second half at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
"When we got Matt, I knew at some point he would be up (on the roster)," said Edwards, who coached Dickerson in Tennessee. "He has earned every rep he's gotten and done a great job carving out a role for himself."
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The run-stopping momentum started in Week 1 when Carolina's Chuba Hubbard rushed 16 times for 57 yards. Other top backs were unable to gain much or any traction, including Houston 's Nick Chubb (nine carries-38 yards), San Francisco 's Christian McCaffrey (17-49), Seattle 's Kenneth Walker (10-34), Las Vegas ' Ashton Jeanty (13-42), Indianapolis ' Jonathan Taylor (21-74 and 21-70) and the New York Jets ' Breece Hall (12-32).
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The Jaguars' lowest ranking was 19th after Week 1. They moved into the top spot after Week 12 and stayed there. They allowed only 21 "explosive" rushes (gain of at least 12 yards) and their three rushes allowed of at least 20 yards were tied for fewest. The Bills had 45 "explosive" rushes according to Stathead.
Helping the numbers are lopsided wins; the Jaguars faced the league's fewest total rushing attempts (369).
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"The most important thing is we're judged by letters and not numbers," Edwards said. "The letters we're chasing are W's and some of the statistical things that come with that are benchmarks. When the numbers reflect our pillars, it means the players have bought in and believe in it and they do take great pride in stopping the run."
Scheme or mindset?
Is great run defense about scheme or mindset?
"Football is about beating the man in front of you," Smoot said.
Said Edwards: "There is a certain mindset that goes with stopping the run. A big part about playing good run defense is doing your job and knowing what the man next to you is doing and all functioning at a high level as a team. It's not just, 'Hey, this is my gap, I did my job.' It's about whipping blocks and getting to the ball."
Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd (0) tackles Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard (20) during the third quarter in an NFL football matchup at EverBank Stadium, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Titans 41-7 [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
Edwards called the Jaguars' approach as "aggressive discipline."
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"What makes a good run defense is the ability to play blocks and not stay blocked," he said.
The Times-Union has charted the Jaguars with 76 run "stuffs," gains of 1 or fewer yards not including plays that resulted in touchdowns or first downs. That means they're creating a new line of scrimmage to either make the tackle or create room for the linebackers to play downhill.
Hamilton had 34 combined run-game tackles, Hines Allen 32, Walker 29, Armstead 18, Smoot 17 and Johnson and Dickerson nine apiece. Linebacker Foye Oluokun and Devin Lloyd have 71 and 40 run-game tackles, respectively.
The Bills represent the Jaguars' biggest test. Among the eight best running teams in the league, the Jaguars faced only one (Rams).
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Check those chinstraps, fellas.
Contact O'Halloran at rohalloran@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars vs Bills: Jacksonville defense 's big test? Bills running game
