WHEN Jacksonville beat Buffalo 34-31 in a thriller at Wembley in 2015, both teams left London with a losing record and both fell into the pack of mediocrity in the NFL.

The Bills finished the season 8-8 and came third in the AFC East while the Jags finished 5-11 in the AFC South.

5 Buffalo are back in the play-offs after an 18-year drought dating back to the 1999 season Credit: USA TODAY Sports

Two seasons later and both teams have ended their respective play-off drought and look a million miles from that Wembley game.

Jacksonville are in the play-offs for the first time in a decade and won their first ever AFC South title led by the gritty Doug Marrone and his mean defence.

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After a 2-2 start to the season it looked like another season of struggle in inconsistency in northern Florida despite a coaching change that saw Gus Bradley replaced with Marrone.

But their visit to Pittsburgh in week five gave a first real glimpse of what this Jacksonville team could become.

5 Leonard Fournette has pounded teams this season and hopes to get another crack at Pittsburgh Credit: Getty Images - Getty

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The Jags defence intercepted Ben Roethlisberger five times, held Le'Veon Bell to 47 rushing yards and held the Steelers' high-powered offence to no touchdowns.

Rookie running back Leonard Fournette tore Heinz Field up for 181 yards and two touchdowns in a powerful 30-9 victory.

Jacksonville have won the AFC South for the first time ever with defence and the running game.

Quarterback Blake Bortles has looked a different man when asked to simply be steady, keep it simple and don't turn it over unlike the past few seasons when he's been launching it long.

5 Jalen Ramsey has developed into one of the best cornerbacks in the game Credit: AP:Associated Press

5 Blake Bortles and Jacksonville won the AFC South for the first time Credit: USA TODAY Sports

The prize for Jacksonville should they beat Buffalo is a trip to Pittsburgh again in the Divisional Round, and it's the last thing the Steelers want to see.

Buffalo are a similar side to the Jags in the way they play.

LeSean McCoy is their key player and will be a big miss should an ankle injury sustained in the week 17 win over Miami keep him out at EverBank Field.

The Bills also changed head coach to bring in Sean McDermott in place of Rex Ryan.

5 Buffalo beat Miami in week 17 but were helped by Baltimore's surprise loss to Cincinnati Credit: USA TODAY Sports

Buffalo Bills NFL team stretch and warm up ahead of match in snowy blizzard

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They started the season 5-2 and looked refreshed by the change of leadership before three straight losses threatened to derail them.

But three wins in four to end the season and a bit of help from Cincinnati ended the longest play-off drought in all of US sport.

Andy Dalton's touchdown pass to Tyler Boyd to beat Baltimore meant the Bills edged into the final wild card spot instead of the Ravens.

Buffalo were so grateful that fans have even erected a Dalton statue in the city and the team sent 1400 chicken wings to Ohio to say thank you.

And the Bills would love a bite at their AFC East rivals New England if they can edge past Jacksonville.