The Buffalo Bills lost 37-34 in overtime to the Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday afternoon. The Eagles have the best record in the NFL, currently sitting at 10-1, and so going toe-to-toe with a team having a phenomenal year should be a positive for Bills fans and staff alike.
The Bills offense kept up with the high-flying Eagles, who have the most yards of total offense this season. Buffalo generated 505 yards and had 10 third-down conversions in the game. By comparison, the Eagles generated 378 yards and only three third-down conversions.
Additionally, the Bills won the turnover battle in Philly. Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen and Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts threw an interception apiece, and defensive end Greg Rousseau’s fumble recovery gave the Bills the advantage.
Usually when a team gains a lot of yards, converts on third down and wins the turnover battle, it doesn’t lose the game.
And since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, that had happened 39 times, most recently in 2021 between the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals.
ESPN’s Ed Werder noted that the Bills were the first team in that span to lose in a game where it put up over 500 yards, converted at least 10 third downs and had a positive turnover margin:
The #Bills are the 40th team since the 1970 Merger to have 500 yards, 10 third down conversions and a positive turnover margin in a game.
They are the first team to lose in that scenario. Teams were 39-0 entering today, per @ESPNStatsInfo
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) November 27, 2023
And that won’t help Bills fans feel good about Sunday’s loss.
We did some digging to see some other games that fit this criteria, and some were close but missed a piece of the stat here or there:
- Cincinnati Bengals tied Carolina Panthers 37-37 in 2014. Bengals had 10+ 3rd-down conversions and over 500 yards but lost the turnover battle.
- Philadelphia Eagles lost to San Diego Chargers 33-30 in 2013. Eagles had 500+ yards and won the turnover battle, but only converted five 3rd downs.
- Buffalo Bills lost to the Baltimore Ravens 37-34 (OT) in 2010. Led by Ryan Fitzpatrick, the Bills had 500+ yards of offense and 10+ 3rd downs, but lost the turnover battle as Fitzpatrick’s two interceptions were the difference. Both teams recovered multiple fumbles.
Some familiar teams in the last decade highlight that this can happen again, and another team is likely to do it soon.
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