Instant analysis, game recap of Bills’ overtime loss vs. Eagles
The Buffalo Bills lost in overtime to the Philadelphia Eagles 37-34. The loss keeps the Bills outside of the playoff picture.
Buffalo blew a 10-point halftime lead in the losing effort.
The Bills and Eagles started slowly, with each team trading three-and-outs to open the game. Slowly, though, the offenses would start to find their footing.
Philadelphia would answer first. Jalen Hurst finished a ten-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. Leonard Floyd deflected a Hurts pass. Terrel Bernard came away with the interception, and the Bills were back in business.
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.
Buffalo’s offense drove deep into Eagles territory. The offense was 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 Tyler 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 offense would move the ball well once again on their opening drive in the second half. However, Tyler Bass would miss wide right, giving the Eagles a bit of life.
Philadelphia took the ball and ran with it, literally. D’Andre Swift rattled off his longest run 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 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 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 AJ Epenesa disrupted a Hurts pass. 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.
Keys to the game
Josh Allen did practically everything he could to will this team to a victory. He combined for 420 total yards, and he had a hand in all four of the Bills touchdowns.
The Bills offense found a level of life, totaling 505 total yards.
Buffalo’s defense held strong for about two-and-a-half quarters. The front four did a great job at keeping Hurts in the pocket. Hurts was forced to throw several passes away, and he largely struggled to find receivers. However, this changed as the game continued.
The Eagles started to run the ball out wide. They stretched the Bills defense and utilized more play-action options, which put the Buffalo defense under pressure.
Buffalo’s defense gave up 24 points in the second half. The Bills forced an Eagles three-and-out on the first possession of the second half. After that point, the Eagles scored four touchdowns and the regulation field goal.
As Buffalo’s front four struggled to contain Hurts, the Bills secondary had trouble tracking the talented Eagles receivers. The quintessential play of the evening was when Hurts scrambled and found Zaccheaus in the end zone over Hyde and Poyer.
Tyler Bass’s two missed field goals were problematic. While one was blocked, the second miss was wide right.
Meanwhile, Jake Elliott made a 59-yard field goal to send the game into overtime.
Buffalo could not prevent the Eagles from scoring on the final two Philadelphia drives. Each time, the Bills were up by a field goal. Both times, the Eagles moved through the Buffalo defense fairly easily.
McDermott’s choice to use timeouts at the end of the fourth quarter and take the team into overtime will be questioned. Buffalo did not even attempt to move the ball with 20 seconds remaining at the end of regulation.
Quick hits
Allen had his best rushing day of the season, running nine times for 81 yards and two touchdowns.
The Bills had 11 penalties for 80 lost yards.
This was Allen’s eighth consecutive game with an interception.
Hurts three of his three touchdown passes over a four-attempt period.
Buffalo had over 40 minutes of possession, while the Eagles had just under 27 minutes.
Gabe Davis led Bills receivers with six catches and 105 yards.
Greg Rousseau had three tackles for loss.
Linval Joseph and Tim Settle recorded sacks on the evening.
What's next?
Buffalo gets a well-deserved week off for their bye week. The Bills are currently seventh in the AFC playoff race. They will take on the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on December 10.
