The Buffalo Bills (11-5) fell to the Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) in spectacular fashion during NFL Week 17 action in a 13-12 final.
Buffalo was shut out in the first half for the first time in two years. The Eagles entered halftime on the back of a Dallas Goedert touchdown reception and two Jake Elliott field goals.
Buffalo’s offense was AWOL until the fourth quarter, when the team came to life and scored two touchdowns on Josh Allen tush-push touchdowns.
However, Buffalo’s comeback attempt fell short, as Allen missed Khalil Shakir in the back of the end zone for a game-winning two-point conversion.
Instead, the Bills lost in their penultimate game at Highmark Stadium.
Here is Bills Wire’s analysis of the Bills’ loss to the Eagles:
What went right?
For the first three quarters, not a heck of a lot. Buffalo’s offense struggled to make any progress in the first three quarters, punting six times and turning the ball over twice.
Buffalo’s defense stepped it up in the second half, allowing only 17 yards in the second half. They kept a talented Philadelphia offense off the board after halftime.
Brandin Cooks had a breakout game for the Bills. He made two spectacular contested-catch plays throughout the game. Cooks caught four passes for 101 yards.
Tyrell Shavers added a stellar reception, bringing down a 50-50 ball within the five-yard line.
Buffalo battled back with a stellar fourth quarter. The offense found life, moving effectively and efficiently during the final quarter. It was an impressive comeback in a game that looked like the Eagles would run away with early.
What went wrong?
Where do we start?
Buffalo’s first three quarters were horrendous for its offense. The Bills punted six times. Josh Allen had a horrendous fumble in the first quarter. Allen tried to invoke the Tuck Rule, but it was not to be. Allen was officially sacked for a six-yard loss, followed by a 27-yard fumble. Allen also took a mind-numbing 18-yard sack, trying to play Superman, taking the Bills out of the chance for a field goal attempt.
Philadelphia’s front four put a great deal of pressure on Allen. They recorded five sacks in the game. The pressure definitely had an impact on Allen and his decision-making during the game.
It’s a cliche, but the Bills left a lot of points on the board. Buffalo was stopped on fourth down inside the Eagles one-yard line. In addition, Mike Badgley had a PAT blocked after the first Bills touchdown, which affected Buffalo’s playcalling late in the game.
Goedert’s touchdown reception was far too easy for the Eagles, as he slipped into open space for the short touchdown reception. Buffalo’s defense failed to account for him on the route, a play that gave Philadelphia its initial lead in the game.
What’s the bottom line?
It was a disappointing performance for Buffalo’s offensive unit. For most of the game, Joe Brady had no answers for the aggressive Eagles defense. It was too little, too late, as Buffalo’s offense found its footing way too late to get ahead.
The loss solidifies Buffalo’s spot as a Wild Card participant in this year’s playoffs. Buffalo cannot claim their sixth consecutive AFC crown.
The worry is that the Bills offense has been exposed. A compromised Josh Allen, who was playing through an apparent lower-body injury, cannot play Superman. This is a massive concern for Buffalo as they move into the postseason.
If Buffalo is going to make a deep postseason run, they will need better decision-making from Buffalo’s best players. If they do not finish drives when they are deep in opponents’ territory, then they are destined for an early exit in the playoffs.
The silver lining: the Bills defense battled and kept the Eagles from creating an insurmountable gap. Buffalo allowed only 17 yards in the second half. It was an impressive second-half performance in a game that could have gotten out of hand very quickly.
What’s next?
Buffalo closes their regular season slate with the final home game at the current Highmark Stadium against the New York Jets. The Bills defeated the Jets 30-10 in Week 2 of this season. Buffalo will battle for a better Wild Card position, while the Jets will look to see where they will end up in this year’s draft order.
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: Analysis: What went right, what went wrong in the Bills’ loss to Eagles
Reporting by Justin DiLoro, Bills Wire / Bills Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
