The Buffalo Bills lost in overtime to the Philadelphia Eagles, 37-34. The loss keeps the Bills outside of the playoff picture for another week.
Buffalo blew a 10-point halftime lead in the losing effort.
The Bills (6-6) and Eagles (10-1) started slowly, with each team trading three-and-outs. The offenses would start to find their footing.
Philadelphia would answer first. Jalen Hurts finished a 10-play drive with a one-yard dive to give the Eagles the early 7-0 lead.
Buffalo would respond with a long, 11-play drive. However, penalties would lead to the drive stalling out, and the Bills would have to settle for a 48-yard Tyler Bass field goal.
Buffalo’s defense would make the first big-time play on defense. Pass rusher Leonard Floyd deflected a Hurts pass. Linebacker Terrel Bernard came away with the interception, and the Bills were back in business.
Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen put the offense on his back from this point forward. Allen would work to extend plays and give his receivers time to find space.
When Allen didn’t find a receiver, he would use his legs and sheer grit to make things happen. Allen scored on a nine-yard scramble, bowling through defenders to give the Bills their first lead of the game, 10-7.
Buffalo’s offense drove deep into Eagles territory. They were on the cusp of another score, but circumstances prevented their progress. Referees missed a clear horse-collar tackle on Allen. Instead, Allen was called for intentional grounding.
Philadelphia blocked Bass’ field goal attempt, giving the Eagles possession deep in their territory late in the half.
The Bills defense would make quick work of the next drive. Hurts fumbled a handoff, and Buffalo’s Greg Rousseau recovered the ball. Allen would quickly get Buffalo on the board, sending a perfect pass to Stefon Diggs.
Buffalo went into the half up 17-7. The Bills were the superior team in the first half. Buffalo outgained the Eagles 276-99 in total yards over the first two quarters. Allen was 19-of-32 for 209 passing yards and had a hand in both Bills touchdowns.
The Bills would move the ball well once again on their opening drive in the second half. However, Bass would miss wide right, giving the Eagles a bit of life.
Philadelphia took the ball and ran with it, literally. Running back D’Andre Swift rattled off his longest rush of the game for 36 yards. Hurts would complete the drive with a three-yard pass to A.J. Brown to bring the Eagles back within three points.
Not to be deterred, Buffalo would respond with a nine-play, 70-yard drive. The Eagles forced the Bills into a third-and-long. Once again, Allen would break the pocket and make opponents look foolish on his way to a 16-yard touchdown rush.
Philadelphia pulled the game back to three points after a 15-yard pass to wideout DeVonta Smith. Smith also had a big play earlier in the drive, as he scurried through the Bills zone for a 33-yard reception to bring the Eagles into Buffalo territory.
The Eagles defense picked up their pressure on Allen. Allen forced a pass into double coverage, which Eagles DB James Bradberry picked off.
Philadelphia responded in spectacular fashion.
The Bills defense was holding their own, but the Eagles would break them down. Hurts extended a play, rolling to his left, and then heaving a pass to the end zone. Olamide Zaccheaus outjumped Bills safety Micah Hyde, who failed to face the ball and scored in the back of the end zone. The Eagles would regain the lead for the first time since the first quarter, now up 28-24.
Buffalo took control of the fourth quarter with a 10-play drive spanning over five minutes. The Bills ran the ball effectively, putting them in position to retake the lead. Allen executed a perfect play-action pass to Gabriel Davis from seven yards out to give Buffalo the lead 31-28.
But it wasn’t enough.
Philadelphia drove into the Bills territory. Buffalo’s defense kept things from moving forward, as receiver AJ Epenesa disrupted a Hurts pass. Safety Jordan Poyer broke up a pass to force a long field goal. Eagles kicker Jake Elliott hammered a 59-yard field goal to tie the game.
Buffalo took possession of the ball first in overtime. Allen would once again extend plays and give receivers enough time to get open. Allen would also use his legs to run when necessary. On the final third down play, the Eagles brought full pressure. Allen’s pass to Davis would fall incomplete. Bass gave the Bills a lead with a 40-yard field goal.
The game fell onto the shoulders of the Bills defense. Hurts led the Eagles down the field on a methodical nine-play drive. Hurts rushed the shotgun snap up the middle for 12 yards, giving the Eagles the victory.