Jaguars' Allen: Matchup against Chiefs is 'personal'

Jacksonville Jaguars outside linebacker Josh Allen is making Sunday's matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs personal.

"It's a little personal for me because the last two times we played them last year, I wasn't at my best," Allen said Monday, according to the Florida Times-Union's Demetrius Harvey.

The Jaguars dropped both of their games against the Chiefs last season, including a 27-20 loss in the AFC divisional round. Jacksonville's pass rush failed to get home against Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who got hit just six times during the playoff contest while playing on an injured ankle.

"I know he's Patrick Mahomes. … At the end of the day, I got a job to do, and for me to be where I need to be, I also need to know what I'm doing out there," Allen said, adding that studying film would be pivotal to potential success.

The 2019 Pro Bowl pass-rusher is looking to get his hands on the Chiefs star after tallying three tackles and zero quarterback hits in their postseason meeting on Jan. 21.

Despite entering just the second week of the season, Allen said the Jaguars would treat their home opener as "a playoff game."

The Kentucky product enjoyed a productive start to his 2023 campaign. Allen recorded three sacks, the most in any game during his career, to go along with 10 tackles and three tackles for loss in the opening-week victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

Kansas City lost its opener to the Detroit Lions last Thursday.

Allen is playing in the final year of his rookie contract after Jacksonville selected him with the seventh overall pick in the 2019 draft.

He's compiled 195 tackles, 39 TFLs, 30.5 sacks, and 72 quarterback hits in the NFL.