Philadelphia Pa. (WGR 550) - In a wet and soggy affair at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, the Buffalo Bills ended up facing another overtime against the reigning NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles. However, after only managing a field goal on the opening drive of the extra frame, the Bills could not stop the Eagles from responding with a game-winning touchdown in a 37-34 loss.
Both teams exchanged three-and-outs to open the game after the Eagles had won the opening coin toss and elected to defer to the second half.
After another stalled drive for the Bills following multiple penalties putting Buffalo out of field goal range, the Eagles put a successful drive together to score the first points of the game.
With their drive being aided by some penalties called on the Buffalo defense, the Eagles turned to their famous "Brotherly Shove" play to punch the ball into the end zone, as Jalen Hurts' one-yard touchdown run gave Philadelphia a 7-0 lead.
The Bills came out looking for an offensive response, which they got with an 11-play, 45-yard drive that ended with a 48-yard field goal kick from Tyler Bass.
Buffalo was able to capitalize moments later on an Eagles turnover early in the second quarter. Bills pass rusher Leonard Floyd was able to get a hand on a Hurts pass that saw the ball deflect in the air and fall in the hands of linebacker Terrel Bernard.
Working with a short field, the Bills were able to punch the ball into the end zone for the first time with the help of quarterback Josh Allen, who escaped the pocket and gave his team the lead from nine yards out.
With less than two minutes remaining in the first half, the Bills had a chance to extend their lead by three after a solid nine-play drive got the ball all the way up to the Eagles 16-yard line. However, a 34-yard field goal attempt from Bass ended up being blocked by rookie defensive tackle Jalen Carter.
The good news for Buffalo is the Eagles coughed up the ball again moments later to give the Bills new life. Hurts was unable to come up with a clean exchange on a handoff and fumbled, allowing defensive end Greg Rousseau to recover the loose change at the Eagles' 36-yard line.
Five plays and 36 yards later, the Bills were able to extend their lead to 17-7 just before halftime, thanks to a dart from Allen to wide receiver Stefon Diggs from 13 yards out.
After forcing another three-and-out of the Eagles to start the second half, the Bills had a chance to extend its lead with another field goal from Bass. However, he pushed a 48-yard field goal attempt wide-right, giving the Eagles the ball back at their own 38-yard line.
The Eagles were able to quickly drive the ball 62 yards in six plays, resulting in Hurts finding wide receiver A.J. Brown wide-open in the end zone for a three-yard score.
Despite the Eagles cutting into the Buffalo lead, Allen and the offense took the field and ended up tallying another seven points on the board with a nine-play, 70-yard touchdown drive. This time, Allen capped it off himself with a 16-yard run for his second score of the game on the ground.
However, Philadelphia responded once again with Hurts connecting with DeVonta Smith for a 15-yard touchdown in the early stages of the fourth quarter.
Just two plays into Buffalo's next drive, Allen fired a pass intended for Diggs that was picked off by James Bradberry. That was able to give the Eagles a short field to work with, and a chance to re-take the lead.
It did not take long for the Eagles to capitalize on their opportunity. In only three plays, Hurts found wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus deep in the end zone to give the Eagles a 28-24 lead with 11 minutes left in regulation.
After an exchange of punts, the Bills were given another chance to re-take the lead with just over seven minutes to go. Buffalo was able to chew more than five minutes off the game clock before Allen threw his second touchdown pass of the game, this time connecting with wide receiver Gabe Davis from seven yards out and with 1:52 to go.
With just enough time to get into scoring position, the Eagles needed the leg of kicker Jake Elliott to tie the game from 59 yards out, in the rain and wet conditions. The kick ended up fluttering through the uprights to tie the game at 31-31 with 20 second left in regulation.
Despite having a timeout to work with, the Bills ended up taking a knee to kill the remaining time on the clock and force overtime.
After winning the coin toss for overtime, the Bills were able to get back into scoring position with a chance to end the game on the opening drive. However, a third down pass intended for Davis from the Eagles' 22-yard line fell incomplete, and Bass was called in to kick a go-ahead 40-yard field goal with 5:52 remaining in overtime.
It only took the Eagles nine plays to drive 75 yards down the field one more time with a chance to win the game, and it was Hurts ending the game with another rushing touchdown, this time from 12 yards out.
----------
GAME RECAP
First Quarter:
- 7-0 PHILADELPHIA: Eagles touchdown (1:06) - Jalen Hurts rushes up the middle for a one-yard touchdown run. (Jake Elliott's extra point is attempt is good)
Drive Info: 10 plays, 73 yards, 5:31
Second Quarter:
- 7-3 PHILADELPHIA: Bills field goal (11:23) - Tyler Bass' 48-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive Info: 11 plays, 45 yards, 4:43
- 10-7 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (8:34) - Josh Allen rushes up the middle for a nine-yard touchdown run. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive Info: 4 plays, 29 yards, 2:36
- 17-7 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (0:12) - Josh Allen fires a 13-yard strike to Stefon Diggs for a touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive Info: 5 plays, 36 yards, 0:52
Third Quarter:
- 17-14 BUFFALO: Eagles touchdown (7:13) - Jalen Hurts tosses a three-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Brown. (Jake Elliott's extra point attempt is good)
Drive Info: 6 plays, 62 yards, 3:19
- 24-14 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (1:40) - Josh Allen breaks loose and rushes 16 yards for a touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive Info: 9 plays, 70 yards, 5:33
Fourth Quarter:
- 24-21 BUFFALO: Eagles touchdown (13:37) - Jalen Hurts fires a 15-yard touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith. (Jake Elliott's extra point attempt is good)
Drive Info: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:03
- 28-24 PHILADELPHIA: Eagles touchdown (11:07) - Jalen Hurts lobs a 29-yard touchdown pass to Olamide Zaccheaus. (Jake Elliott's extra point attempt is good)
Drive Info: 3 plays, 24 yards, 1:39
- 31-28 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (1:52) - Josh Allen connects with Gabe Davis for a seven-yard touchdown pass. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive Info: 10 plays, 74 yards, 5:14
- 31-31 TIE: Eagles field goal (0:20) - Jake Elliott's 59-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive Info: 9 plays, 34 yards, 1:32
Overtime:
- 34-31 BUFFALO: Bills field goal (5:52) - Tyler Bass' 40-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive Info: 12 plays, 53 yards, 4:08
- 37-34 PHILADELPHIA: Eagles touchdown (2:37) - Jalen Hurts breaks free and rushes 12 yards for a touchdown. (END OF GAME)
Drive Summary: 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:15
----------
SKYWORKS EQUIPMENT RENTAL STATS OF THE GAME:
----------
What's next:
The Bills are off next week on their bye, but will look to re-group before taking on the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Dec. 10 at Arrowhead Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 4:25 p.m. EST on the official voice of the Bills - WGR Sports Radio 550.