Will the Browns’ draft pick be in the No. 23-24 range, or worse? It depends on this game.
Sunday’s Wild Card Round of the NFL Playoffs begins at 1:00 PM ET as the Buffalo Bills take on the Jacksonville Jaguars. The game will air on CBS, with the action being called by Jim Nantz and Tony Romo. This game has direct implications on the Browns’ second first-round draft pick in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, as we wrote about yesterday:
If the Jaguars lose this weekend, the Browns will acquire the 23rd or 24th pick overall. If Jacksonville moves on with a win over Buffalo, that range falls to 27th or 28th, most likely, if the Jaguars do not lose until the Divisional Round. A lot is on the line for Cleveland fans this weekend.
Unlike the two exciting match-ups we saw on Saturday from the NFC bracket, the Bills and Jaguars have not squared off against each other this season, making this the freshest match-up of the postseason so far. The Bills have an opportunity they haven’t had for years: advancing to the Super Bowl without Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in their way.
The Bills had a solid season, finishing at 12-5, but new AFC foes entered the mix, including the division-leading New England Patriots, and these Jaguars that they face this week. The Bills remained an offensive juggernaut most weeks, with Josh Allen being able to carry the team on his back and running back James Cook having a fantastic season as well. They scored 30+ points in 9 of their 17 games.
The Jaguars, meanwhile, bounced back from a 4-13 season to finish at 13-4 this year. After a 5-4 start, they won out their remaining 8 games, with Trevor Lawrence having the best season of his career. That included the Jaguars beating the top-seeded Denver Broncos in convincing fashion during the stretch, and blowing out another playoff contender in the Chargers by a score of 35-6. They have had a great mix of high-octane offense and solid defense. Both teams, in fact, have been great on both sides of the ball.
I feel like I’m doing a disservice to the Jaguars here, after how good they’ve been. I’m picking Buffalo because I am envisioning that path to the Super Bowl and Allen having another playoff moment. But the outcome of this game won’t surprise me either way. Bills 34, Jaguars 27.
What do you think, Browns fans? Use this as your open thread to discuss the game.
Category: General Sports
