Bills vs. Jaguars: What to look for during MNF in Week 3

The Buffalo Bills play hosts to the Jacksonville Jaguars for Monday Night Football in Week 3. The Bills will look to make a statement on the national stage to improve their record to 3-0, meanwhile, the Jaguars will try to avoid a disastrous 0-3 start. Here's a breakdown of key story lines heading into the game.

Bills' first home primetime game of the season The Bills are set to play under the bright lights of Monday Night Football for the first time this season. Buffalo will be involved in five night games this season and is in the second leg of three primetime games in a row. Hosting a matchup of this magnitude has become the norm in recent years with all of Buffalo's success, but that shouldn't deter the home crowd at Highmark Stadium, and fans can expect an electric atmosphere. This game kicks off the NFL's Monday Night Football doubleheader slate, making it even more special. Check out the Bills' threads for the big night:

Return of Gabe Davis Former Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis returns to Buffalo for the first time since signing with the Jaguars in free agency. Davis, a fourth-round pick by the Bills in 2020, had an impactful tenure with the team, highlighted by his memorable four-touchdown performance in the 2021 AFC Divisional Round.

Gabe Davis with the Bills:

Games Played: 71 (including seven playoff games) Receptions: 185 Yards: 3,204 Touchdowns: 33 So far this season with the Jaguars, Davis has tallied six receptions for 105 yards and zero touchdowns through two games. The "Gabe Davis revenge game" narrative will be a fun one to watch.

Injuries on defense for the Bills Buffalo's defense has been hit hard by injuries early in the season, especially at linebacker. Star linebacker Matt Milano was sidelined before the season even began, and captain Terrel Bernard sustained a pectoral strain just one series into Week 2. As a result, the Bills will likely be without both starting linebackers for the foreseeable future.

In Milano's absence, Dorian Williams has stepped up, showing strong development as the game slows down for him. Last week, Baylon Spector filled in admirably at middle linebacker after Bernard's injury. Despite being injured in previous opportunities in his young career, Spector seems primed to seize this opportunity. Keep an eye on undrafted free-agent rookie linebacker Joe Andreessen, who may see his first action on special teams if he suits up for the game.

Additionally, cornerback Taron Johnson will miss his second consecutive week. The Bills have relied on defensive backs Cam Lewis and Ja'Marcus Ingram, both products of the University at Buffalo, to fill the void. Lewis has been exceptional at nickel cornerback, and in dime packages, he has moved into a linebacker role while Ingram has manned the slot. Ingram had a standout game in Week 2, recording two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown.

Jaguars' struggling offense The Jaguars' offense has struggled through the first two weeks, averaging just 15 points per game and allowing seven sacks. Offensive tackle Cam Robinson had a rough outing in Week 2, which could spell trouble against dynamic edge rushers Von Miller and Greg Rousseau. Buffalo's defensive ends will look to exploit the Jaguars' offensive line woes and continue their pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

So far, Jacksonville's top play-makers, wide receivers Christian Kirk and Gabe Davis, have been relatively quiet. However, rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas, Jr. has flashed his potential with some big plays and may become more involved as the season progresses. The Bills' defense will aim to continue the Jaguars' slow start and keep their offense in check.

Jacksonville's offense has struggled in large part due to two main things: red zone conversions and third-down conversions. Both have been poor through the first two games of the season. They have only converted on only three out of seven trips to the red zone. Even worse, the Jaguars have only been successful on 5-of-19 third-down conversions, which is awful (28th in the NFL). If the Jaguars want a chance to beat the Bills they will have to be better in these two departments.

Can the Bills get the Jaguar-sized monkey off their back? Since quarterback Josh Allen entered the NFL, the Bills are 1-2 against the Jaguars. Their lone victory came in 2018 during Allen's rookie season. In the last two meetings, the Bills lost by a touchdown each time.

Across his three career games against Jacksonville, Allen has accumulated 783 passing yards, five total touchdowns, three interceptions, two fumbles, and a passer rating of 82.4. His best performance came in a loss last year in London, where he threw for 359 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

Overall, the Bills have struggled against the Jaguars in recent memory, with one of their worst defeats coming in 2021 against a struggling Jacksonville team led by head coach Urban Meyer. The Bills will look to break that trend Monday night and finally deliver a solid performance against this pesky AFC opponent.