The bad blood between two NFL teams who met in last season’s AFC wild-card game boiled over on Sunday with only 2:57 left in the third quarter.
A Jaguars receiver had what was initially ruled a 30-yard touchdown reception at the left pylon. He was on the ground battling for control of the ball with when a Jaguars player struck Bills safety Micah Hyde from behind.
Players then began shoving each other — and Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette ran across the field to target Buffalo Bills defensive end Shaq Lawson. Both players received penalty flags and were ejected from the game.
Video of the brawl has since gone viral on Twitter —
Leonard Fournette vs Shaq Lawson is better than Jaguars vs Billspic.twitter.com/FFo5Q5eIC1
— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) November 25, 2018
They exchanged punches in the left corner of the end zone on the Bills side of the field before eventually being separated.
As Fournette and Lawson were escorted off their respective sidelines, they met once again just before entering the tunnel.
Lawson had to be held back by a Bills official while Fournette was asked to wait — he was then struck in the left shoulder by a fan, who had reached out from the stands. Fournette also said he was doused with beer.
“I don’t know, maybe you call it frustration on their part, I’m not sure,” Hyde said, not realizing Fournette left his own sideline to get involved.
“At that time, it was 14-14. No reason for anything on their part especially someone running on to the field when they were on the bench,” he said.
Even Bills coach Sean McDermott had blood smeared on his hooded sweatshirt.
“You know what, part of it’s mine, and part of it’s a little bit from the scrum right there. We’ll take it,” McDermott said. “I was glad that the players supported one another.”
The game went south for Jacksonville after that.
Buffalo took over and needed three plays — and two personal fouls against Jacksonville — to put together a 68-yard drive that ended with Buffalo’s quarterback Josh Allen’s run.
“I won’t say an empty feeling. I don’t know how to describe it,” Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey said. “It (stinks) losing over and over and over again.”
Lack of discipline, injuries and turnovers have combined to scuttle the Jaguars, who were coming off a 20-16 loss to Pittsburgh in which they squandered a 16-0 third-quarter lead.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.