Moeller: Lawrence Looks To Outduel Allen And Raise His Bar

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 On paper, it looks like a marquee quarterback matchup of Trevor Lawrence against Josh Allen Sunday afternoon before an anticipated electric crowd EverBank Stadium. 



And it likely will be. Even though Lawrence arguably is playing better than any quarterback in the last eight weeks, the thought of facing Allen in a playoff atmosphere can be frightening to Jaguars’ fans. 




Their battle likely will come down to what quarterback throws the untimely interception. For the record, Jacksonville has soared lately, winning eight straight and nine of 10, while the Bills have recovered from a clumsy slide, winning five of their last six.


Both may have similar numbers, but they are ready to take different steps. 


Lawrence has thrown 15 touchdowns and one pick in his last six games (he had a combined four in his other two wins), while Allen has six touchdowns and three interceptions in his last six starts (he didn’t play last week).


Their season stats are eerily similar.


Lawrence has thrown for 4,007 yards with 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, while Allen has tossed for 3,668 yards with 25 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. 


Yet, both have been saddled with the stigma of unfulfilled careers.


Lawrence is finally living up to his preconceived expectations of a general quarterback in his fifth season after being knocked as a bust. Lawrence has a brief postseason resume, bringing his team back from a 28-point deficit against the Chargers and then falling just short against the Chiefs, both in 2022.  


On the other hand, Allen has been recognized as a generational quarterback, but he has dealt with the rap of failing to win the big game and get to a Super Bowl. He is 7-6 overall in the playoffs, and 0-2 in AFC Championship games. He fell short against the Chiefs in the AFC Championship last season.  


When they raise the postseason curtain Sunday, both will be in different roles.


Lawrence appears ready to take his team to the next level with a victory, and Allen can recapture some of the luster lost with the rise of the Patriots with a win on the road.


Both will be in their teams’ lead roles in the main plot, but the subplots of both defenses will also be prominent. 


In most circles, the Bills are seen as a slight favorite, mainly due to Allen’s proclivity to pull out his Superman cap in the kick of time. You know you'll have that thought in the back of your mind before the kickoff.


It certainly will be a matchup worth watching, and maybe the best quarterback duel of the weekend. In the brief meeting of three regular-season games, Lawrence led the Jags to two wins.


However, their last one was a 47-10 Bills’ victory in early September 2024 in which Allen threw four touchdowns. 


This time, though, all signs point to Lawrence having the upper hand.  


 


  

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