The Philadelphia Eagles escaped Buffalo with a 13-12 victory thanks to a nail-biting two-point conversion stop by the defense with five seconds left in the game as the offense completely disappeared in the second half at Highmark Stadium Sunday night.
The defense miraculously held on for the win for Philadelphia as the Eagles offense mustered just 16 yards in the second half, making it extremely challenging for the defense who held Josh Allen and the league’s leading rusher James Cook in check for the majority of the game.
The Eagles closed out the game similar to how they started. Struggling to move the football, on their first two drives with a game-opening three-and out and then a five-play drive that resulted in a punt.
Josh Allen and the Bills looked poised to strike first when the quarterback connected on a 50-yard strike to Brandin Cooks to get down to the Eagles’ 30-yard line. However, on the ensuing play, Allen tried to extend it, rolling out to his right, but being pursued by Jaelan Phillips. Allen went to tuck the football, but with the rainy and slick conditions, Phillips was able to punch it out, bouncing it nearly 30 yards backwards which resulted in a footrace that was ultimately won by Jihaad Campbell.
Jalen Hurts and the offense capitalized and orchestrated a strong looking drive, capped off by Dallas Goedert’s franchise record setting touchdown on a play action pass for his 11th touchdown of the season to put a bow on a seven-play, 45-yard scoring drive to make it 7-0 with 35 seconds left in the first quarter.
Philadelphia’s defense continued to hold the Bills in check, forcing another punt despite Buffalo reaching the Eagles’ 44-yard line.
Hurts and company delivered another scoring drive thanks to a pair of impressive plays by Hurts extending the drive on a strong throw in a tight window to DeVonta Smith on a third and four after he missed Smith on a previous throw that would have been an easy first down conversion.
Later in the drive on 3rd and 10, Hurts kept the drive alive, eluding pressure and delivering an impressive throw to A.J. Brown towards the sideline to move the sticks.
Philadelphia would ultimately settle for a 47-yard field goal from Jake Elliott to take a 10-0 lead with 5:03 left in the first half. The Eagles added another Elliott field goal, a 28-yarder, near the end of the second quarter to take a 13-0 lead into halftime.
In the second half, the rain intensified which slowed down both offenses, especially the Eagles. Hurts attempted just six passes in the final two quarters. The Eagles’ defense continued to swarm and make it tough for Allen and the Bills to move the ball with ease forcing two punts on Buffalo’s first two possessions in the second half.
On the third Bills’ drive of the third quarter, Buffalo was aided by a pass interference on Quinyon Mitchell and a 32-yard catch by Tyrell Shavers to put the Eagles’ defense against their own end zone for the first time in the game. However, Vic Fangio’s group rose to the challenge and stopped Allen on the one-yad line on a fourth down scramble to keep it a 13-0 lead.
The offense continued to sputter for the Eagles with back-to-back three-and-outs amassing just six yards after the defensive stop.
Buffalo would eventually find the endzone with its best drive late in the fourth quarter, marching 54-yards on 11 plays ending with an Allen two-yard rushing touchdown. Jalen Carter blocked the extra point to make it a 13-6 game with 5:11 left in regulation.
The Eagles followed with an abysmal three and out, the fourth straight for Philadelphia to provide a window for Buffalo.
Allen and the Bills capitalized. The Bills tied the game on a 13- play, 83- yard drive ending with Allen’s second touchdown of the game. Buffalo went for the two point conversion, but the Eagles defense held strong to hold on to the improbable win.
Brown finished the game with give catches for 58 yards. He also recorded his sixth, 1,000-yard season and fourth with the Eagles. He is the only player to have 5,000 receiving yards within a four-year stretch in franchise history.
Goedert surpassed Pete Retzlaff (10) for most receiving touchdowns by a tight end in franchise history with his 11th touchdown reception of the season in the first quarter. Goedert continues to add to his career-high in that category after combining for eight over the previous three seasons.
Philadelphia now has a chance to play for the number two seed if the Chicago Bears lose to the San Francisco 49ers Sunday night. If the Bears win, the Eagles are locked in as the number three seed and more than likely will play their backups in the regular season finale against Washington next Sunday.
