Philadelphia Eagles Show Once Again They're A True Team in 'Exhausting' Win vs. Buffalo Bills
PHILADELPHIA – Lucky again, or just good? The Philadelphia Eagles keep finding ways to win, so, really what difference does it make?
A win is a win is a win, and the Eagles now have 10 of them with only one loss after somehow, some way finding a way to defeat the playoff-desperate Buffalo Bills, 37-34 in overtime on a rain-soaked Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.
The Eagles had no business winning this game, just like Jake Elliott had no business drilling a 59-yard field goal into the wind and rain with 20 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 31-31 and send Philly into its second OT of the season. The Eagles won that one, too, 34-31 over the Washington Commanders on Oct. 1.
The Bills entered 6-5 and were desperate to keep their postseason hopes alive. Plus, the game came on a short week for Philly and was sandwiched between a Super Bowl rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs last week and an NFC Championship Game rematch next week against the San Francisco 49ers.
Just like last week in Kansas City, the Eagles fell behind 17-7 after a first half that was as equally wretched. Boos joined the rain falling from the sky as the Eagles went to the locker room.
If games were just two quarters, the Eagles would be in trouble, but they never quit, and their roster is just so talented. They are the very definition of a true team.
"There’s a lot of resolve with this team," said center Jason Kelce, who made his franchise-record 150th straight start. "There are a lot of experienced players who are confident in what they can do and get it done when it matters most."
It starts with quarterback Jalen Hurts.
He struggled again in the first half, but when it mattered most, he delivered. He accounted for five touchdowns, four coming in the second half. He threw for three scores – one each to A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Olamide Zaccheaus, and ran for two scores, including the game-winner a 12-yard scamper with 2:41 to play in the extra session and right after the Bills took a 34-31 lead on a field goal.
Kenny Gainwell celebrates a big gain during the Philadelphia Eagles' 37-34 overtime win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 12.
© Eric Hartline, USA TODAY
“They always talk about Tom Brady with the drives at the end,” said Brandon Graham, who set the franchise record by playing in his 189th career game and added a sack to make the milestone even more memorable.
“I’m hoping Jalen starts getting that name. I’m happy he went out there and finished the deal, and had a game-winning drive. …I had the confidence Jalen would at least put us in field goal range, but he went out and won the game. That’s big time.”
The Eagles are more than just Hurts, though the quarterback position is always a great start.
James Bradberry had an interception early in the fourth quarter that led to Hurts’ 29-yard touchdown to Zaccheaus with 11:07 to play in regulation giving the Eagles their first lead since 7-0 in the first quarter.
“They ran the play I was anticipating, and I just jumped it, just had to catch it,” said Bradberry, of his first pick of the season. “We converted it for a touchdown, so that was a big one.”
Jalen Carter continued to show why he should be the first Eagles player to win Defensive Rookie of the Year. He made a tackle for a four-yard loss late in the game where he went right around the blocker before the blocker could even get out of his stance.
The defensive tackle blocked a field goal, too, and ended with four tackles.
“I had the cast on (my hand), so it protected my hand,” said Carter. “I threw it up, and I felt the ball hit it, but it didn’t really hurt my hand.”
How about his old Georgia teammate, Jordan Davis, who had five tackles and showed great hustle in overtime tracking down Josh Allen to the sideline to hold the quarterback, who played like an MVP, to just three yards?
It was a huge play considering that the Bills didn’t get a first down after that and had to settle for a 40-yard field goal that temporarily gave the Bills the lead.
Kevin Byard had 13 tackles to lead the team in that category for a second straight week while Nick Morrow had 12, and Reed Blankenship and Zach Cunningham had 10 each.
Offensively, A.J. Brown was somewhat quiet with 37 yards on five catches, but DeVonta Smith went over 100 yards for just the second time this season and the first time since Week 2, with 106 yards on seven receptions.
“That win was exhausting, but it was worth it,” said Graham.
The Eagles needed a little something from everybody. Again.
“There’s a lot of resolve with this team,” said Kelce. “There’s a lot of experience and players who are confident what they can do and get it done when it matters most.”
