The Buffalo Bills’ bid to extend their run atop the AFC East came to a frustrating end Sunday night with a 13-12 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at a rain-soaked Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo (11-5) labored offensively for most of the night against one of the league’s best defenses. Josh Allen faced constant pressure and the Bills struggled to sustain drives, finding little rhythm until the final minutes. Philadelphia (11-5) did just enough on offense and relied on its defense to protect a narrow lead.
The game ultimately swung on a single special teams miscue. After Allen scored on a 1-yard touchdown run earlier in the contest, Michael Badgley’s extra-point attempt was blocked by Jalen Carter. That missed point proved decisive as the game tightened late.
Buffalo mounted a dramatic final drive in the closing moments. A fourth-and-10 hook-and-lateral kept the Bills alive, and two plays later Brandin Cooks secured a juggling 36-yard reception to move the ball to the Eagles’ 10-yard line. With five seconds remaining, Allen powered in from a yard out to cut the deficit to one.
Rather than force overtime, the Bills went for the win. On the two-point conversion, Allen’s pass was just out of reach of an open Khalil Shakir in the end zone, ending the game.
After allowing 13 points and 174 total yards in the first half, the Buffalo defense locked in after halftime, shutting out Philadelphia and limiting the Eagles to just 16 yards over the final two quarters. The Bills finished with a 331-190 edge in total yardage, including a dominant 236-16 advantage in the second half.
GAME RECAP LINKS
- Bills 12 , Eagles 13 | Final Score, recap + highlights (BuffaloBills.com)
- 5 takeaways from the Bills’ 13-12 loss to the Eagles (BillsWire.com)
- 2 winners and 3 losers from Bills’ Week 17 loss that officially ended AFC East race (SI.com)
- Buffalo loses by going for win instead of OT. Bills vs. Eagles score, highlights, stats (D&C.com)
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Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].