Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - A failed two-point conversion attempt late in the fourth quarter ended up being the difference for the Buffalo Bills, as their hopes of a sixth-straight AFC East title went up in smoke on Sunday in a 13-12 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at Highmark Stadium.
The Eagles received the opening kickoff and got things underway. Things were off to an interesting start as the Eagles were hit with an illegal formation penalty on the kickoff. The Bills defense set the tone early, forcing a three-and-out.
Philadelphia attempted all passing plays in the bad conditions. The Bills offense had other plans. Josh Allen and James Cook were both involved, paper cutting the Eagles defense and moving their way down the field. It came to a close sooner than Buffalo would have hoped as Allen was sacked on third down forcing a punt.
After another punt forced by the Buffalo defense, Allen laid the cards on the table. He launched a 51-yard pass to Bradin Cooks, getting them int Eagles territory. It was all erased as Allen fumbled and gifted Philadelphia field position on the Bills 45-yard line.
The Eagles capitalized on the fumble as Jalen Hurts found A.J. Brown deep to set the up in the red zone. Saquon Barkley got them right to the goal line on a couple of runs and Hurts found tight end Dallas Goedert for a 1-yard touchdown to take the lead.
It was a back and forth affair from there with the Bills offense struggling to score. The Eagles were able to tack on a field goal from Jake Elliot. Extending their lead by three and the score was 10-0.
It was another punt from the Bills, unable to get anything going offensively. The Eagles were driving as the second quarter was coming to a close but the Bills defense was able to make a stand and force a field goal attempt from Elliot from 28-yards out. He successfully kicked it and sent the ball back to the Bills only for them to kneel and head into the locker room for halftime.
The second half start was more of the same. Allen and the Bills went three-and-out, the Eagles also were forced to punt. This would be the entire story of the third quarter. Allen would get the Bills close but on a fourth down rush attempt by himself, he'd come up a half yard short of the goal line.
The Bills needed a change in the fourth quarter, still very much in the game.
That change would not come until there was just over five minutes left in the contest. The run game took over with Cook and Ty Johnson taking over, setting up Allen to get pushed in from behind for a 1-yard touchdown.
It was the Bills' fourth quarter as Philadelphia was held to nearly nothing in the last 15 minutes. Allen was moving the offense down the field and was able to hit Cooks once again on a deep pass to set themselves up in the red zone.
Allen rushed for a touchdown once again on a tush push. This score set up a one point deficit. The Bills elected to go for two and attempt to with the game. Ultimately they fell short as Allen missed Shakir in the back of the end zone.
The Bills attempted the onside kick but could not recover which ended the contest and their chances at winning the AFC East.
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SCORING RECAP
First Quarter:
- 7-0 PHILADELPHIA: Eagles Touchdown (0:38) - Jalen Hurts passes short to Dallas Goedert for a 1-yard touchdown. (Jake Elliott's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 7 plays, 45 yards, 4:25
Second Quarter:
- 10-0 PHILADELPHIA: Eagles Field Goal (5:07) - Jake Elliott's 47-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 13 plays, 48 yards, 5:50
- 13-0 PHILADELPHIA: Eagles Field Goal (0:08) - Jake Elliott's 28-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 10 plays, 61 yards, 2:41
Third Quarter:
- No scoring plays
Fourth Quarter:
- 13-6 PHILADELPHIA: Bills Touchdown (5:11) - Josh Allen rushes for a 2-yard touchdown run. (Michael Badgely's extra point attempt is blocked)
Drive info: 11 plays, 54 yards, 5:51
- 13-12 PHILADELPHIA: Bills Touchdown (0:08) - Josh Allen rushes for a 1-yard touchdown run. (Buffalo's two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful)
Drive info: 13 plays, 83 yards, 3:16
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Skyworks Equipment Rental Stats of the Game:
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What's next:
The Bills will close out the regular season portion of their schedule with a home matchup against the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. Kickoff is slated for 4:25 p.m., where you can catch all the play-by-play by action on the official voice of the Bills - WGR Sports Radio 550.