Josh Allen is gearing up in a surprisingly calm manner for the Wild Card Round playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. This time, Allen has taken a different mental approach to his game. The Buffalo Bills WR Brandin Cooks has some insight into what the quarterback has been doing this past week.

“I think the special thing about him, he’s not making it bigger than what it needs to be,” said Brandin Cooks to the media on Friday, via the Buffalo Bills YouTube. “He’s coming out here, approaching his everyday task like he’s been doing all year. How you do one thing is how you do everything. So, you can tell it’s not too big for him. Obviously excited to get back out there and play Sunday.”

Cooks’ words suggest that the quarterback has a stunningly calm approach for the playoff game. Allen would be eager to get the first taste of adding the Lombardi Trophy to his cabinet. However, his demeanor seems to be calm and collected. Fortunately, he is a veteran when it comes to the playoffs. This year marks the seventh consecutive year that the Buffalo Bills have made it to the playoffs after drafting the quarterback.

Josh Allen’s history against the Jaguars has never settled into a clean narrative. He is 2–2 against Jacksonville, but those numbers hide sharp swings. There have been games where Allen struggled to impose himself, including the 2021 loss in Jacksonville, where turnovers defined the afternoon. Even in defeat, like the 2023 loss in Buffalo, Allen still moved the ball well, throwing for 359 yards.

That unpredictability shifted in their most recent meeting. In September 2024, Allen delivered his most complete performance against Jacksonville, throwing four touchdowns with no interceptions. And now, the star is gearing up for his next game. Meanwhile, Cooks arrived in Buffalo late in the season after being released by New Orleans. This left him him little time to fully carve out a role. With no touchdown yet in a Bills uniform, the veteran receiver enters the Wild Card game eager to make his first mark.

While the Jaguars have been excellent this year. But perhaps, the reigning NFL MVP will be happy not to see the Chiefs in the playoff bracket. In the last five years, the Chiefs have thrown them out of the playoffs four times. During the 2020 and 2024 seasons, they lost to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game.

The Bills have the best rushing offense in the league thus far. Allen approaching this game calmly could be a sign of him bringing the storm against the Jaguars if his last game is anything to go by. But the Jaguars won’t just sit there and watch. Amidst Allen’s mental preparation, Cooks has warned that the Bills need to be cautious about the Jaguars’ defense.

Brandin Cooks warns the Bills about the Jaguars’ defense

Similar to the Bills, the Jacksonville Jaguars are one of the many NFL franchises that have never won the Lombardi Trophy. But this year, they have built an exceptional roster with Liam Coen as their head coach. The franchise topped the AFC South, and their defense has been a talking point throughout the regular season, especially their rushing defense. Even Buffalo’s Brandin Cooks is wary of it before facing them on Sunday.

“They got a great rush,” said Brandin Cooks, via the Buffalo Bills YouTube. “Those guys up front can get in the back field, and the guys in the back end they’ve been taking the ball away. We just got to focus on our job, focus on our details, really not get caught up in the numbers.”

The Jaguars have an impressive rushing defense in the league, allowing only 85.6 yards per game. Even in turnovers, they rank third, behind the Bears and the Texans. With that in mind, Buffalo’s record against franchises with better rushing defense and turnovers has not been impressive this season. They have lost to the Texans, Falcons, and Eagles.

Top Stories

Sean McDermott Announces Bad News for Josh Allen as Bills QB Rings Alarm Bells

NFL Legend Terrell Owens, Terry Bradshaw’s Wife & More Share Messages After ICE Shooting Controversy

Veteran NFL Announcer Al Michaels Makes Decision on Retirement

Outcast CB Sends Strong Message to Jerry Jones After “Serious Loss” as Cowboys Owner Laments Mistake

Baltimore Ravens Make Kevin Stefanski Announcement After Firing John Harbaugh for Lamar Jackson Fallout

Josh Allen and the Bills will take the field at EverBank Stadium at 1:00 PM ET for their Wild Card clash. Calm on the surface, Allen’s approach sets the tone, but against a Jaguars defense built to disrupt, Buffalo knows this postseason test will demand precision from the opening snap.