PHILADELPHIA — Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen handed Sean McDermott’s defense two leads late against the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles. And they squandered them both.
Defensive blunders late in games have become the identity of McDermott’s defense this season. Buffalo’s offense put up over 500 yards of total offense and scored 34 points on the Eagles — the most by any team this season against Philadelphia (10-1). Still, they lost 37-34 in overtime.
The loss comes after a historic performance from Allen, and begs a lot of questions of McDermott, especially on some of his decisions late in the game.
According to ESPN Stats & Info, the Bills are the 40th team since the NFL merger in 1970 to have 500 yards, 10 third-down conversions, and a positive turnover margin in a game. The Bills are the first team to ever accomplish that feat in a game and lose.
Penalties were mind-boggling at times — both for the fact they were called and for the amount on the Bills. Buffalo was flagged 11 times in the game and the Eagles were flagged just four times. Still, the Bills had chances to win with their backs against the wall in a crowded AFC playoff picture.
McDermott said he looks at himself first after the team loses a game. He has the right idea. Some of his late-game decisions were questionable, to say the least.
McDermott was asked if he thought about going for it on 4th and 6 in overtime instead of kicking the field goal.
“Yeah, there was (some consideration),” he said. “If we had gotten to fourth and 2, fourth and 3 possibly. We talked about that – going for the win for sure.”
The Bills defense struggled to stop Hurts in the second half. The Eagles scored three touchdowns and a game-tying field goal on four of their final five drives in regulation. Buffalo’s offense was driving in overtime and had the ball at Philadelphia’s 22. The Bills had converted a 3rd and 9 on a throw from Allen to Gabe Davis and another 3rd and 9 on an Allen run on…
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