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Bills vs. Eagles: The good and bad from Week 17 

Daniel Adams
Bills_Eagles_WK17_Dec.28

Timothy T Ludwig, Getty Images

The Buffalo Bills lost to the Philadelphia Eagles at home in Week 17 in what was a close game that came down to the final whistle, 13-12. 

The Bills were slow out of the gate, falling behind 13-0 at half. While the defense pitched a shutout in the second half, Buffalo’s offense failed to score until the fourth quarter. 

With the loss, Buffalo no longer has control of the AFC East. The Patriots have claimed the division after the Bills won it in five consecutive seasons (2020-2024). Still, the Bills have already clinched the playoffs.

The good  

Second-half defense  

The Bills shut out the Eagles offense in the second half, keeping the game as close as possible until the unfortunate ending in the fourth. Buffalo allowed 18 total yards of offense from Philadelphia and zero passing yards in the second half of the game. Jalen Hurts was 0-7 passing in the second half, as the Bills defense did everything they could to force punts and get the ball back for the offense.  

Buffalo’s tackling in the second half was excellent, making great adjustments at halftime to hold the Eagles offense and Saquon Barkley to just 18 yards rushing. While the defense did all they could to turn a shutout into a close game, the offense could not finish the job at the end, losing a heart-wrenching game at home.  

Fourth quarter effort  

The Bills offense woke up a little too late in the fourth quarter, scoring two touchdowns but ultimately missing on the final two-point attempt. Buffalo did not score until the final six minutes of the game, failing to convert earlier in the red zone. Buffalo’s resilience to keep fighting in the fourth quarter kept the Bills alive until the end.  

Brandin Cooks  

The Bills offense was led by Brandin Cooks, who had a great day for Buffalo. Cooks finished the game with four receptions for 101 receiving yards, his longest catch of the game being a 50-yard bomb from Allen. The veteran Cooks signed with the Bills over a month ago now after being released from the New Orleans Saints. On Sunday, he produced how general manager Brandon Beane had imagined when he signed him.

Cooks only had one reception on five targets through his first four games with the Bills, and then he had six targets against the Eagles. Cooks was a deep threat target for Allen all game, including one 50-yard reception and a 36-yard reception late in the fourth to set the Bills up in the red zone. Buffalo will look to implement Cooks more into the offense as he is a reliable and needed target for Josh Allen.  

Matt Milano  

Matt Milano led the Bills in tackling on Sunday against the Eagles, finishing with seven total tackles. Milano was a key part of Buffalo’s defense and limiting both Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley. Milano finished the game with four solo tackles, a half sack, a tackle for loss, and a hit on the quarterback. Milano was disruptive to the Eagles offense, filling gaps and forcing pressure onto Hurts.  

The bad  

Three scoreless quarters 

The Bills offense struggled in the first three quarters of the game. Buffalo was shutout in the first half of the game, the first home game the Bills have gone scoreless in the first half since a win over the Giants in 2023. The biggest issue for Buffalo was their stagnant start out the gate, being held scoreless in the first three quarters, only the third time in the Josh Allen era that the Bills have been shut out in the first half.  

Buffalo’s offense was lackluster at times and with opportunities to kick field goals earlier in the game, they chose to stay aggressive. Late in the third, the Bills went for it on fourth-and-goal from the three-yard line, opting for an Allen sneak which was short of the goal line, turning the ball over on downs with no points. In a game that was ultimately decided by a two-point attempt, passing up on the field goal seemed to be a costly one for Buffalo.  

Offensive line  

The Bills offensive line struggled immensely against the Eagles defensive line. The Eagles sacked Allen five times and had seven tackles for loss and six quarterback hits. One sack early in the fourth quarter on Allen pushed Buffalo out of field goal range, costing them another opportunity for points.  

On the ground, the Bills struggled to move the ball like they normally do, as the tough interior of the Eagles d-line held Jame Cook to just 3.7 yards per carry. He finished with 74 yards on 20 carries.  

Joe Brady  

Joe Brady’s offensive scheme was no match for the Eagles and Vic Vangio’s defense. Brady’s offensive gameplan was flat and too simple against a hard-hitting, intelligent Eagles defense. The offense was out of sync, as Brady tried to exploit his go-to screen passes and underneath stuff, but that did not prevail. The offense had success when Allen had the ball in his hands, and was letting it fly to Cooks and Tyrell Shavers vertically downfield. Brady needs to be a more versatile play caller, especially come playoff time, as the defensive opponents get even better.  

Two-point attempt  

The Bills scraped their way back into having a chance at winning this game, opting to go for two as they were down one with five seconds left. Buffalo decided to pass the ball. Allen motioned Reggie Gilliam from the left side of the line to the right. Allen looks from his right to his left going through his progression as he eventually is under pressure and fires a pass that is just out of reach for Khalil Shakir. The Bills lost by one on the failed two-point attempt.  

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