“It don’t matter,” Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham stated after the Buffalo Bills won the overtime coin toss.
Apparently, it did matter, because the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Buffalo Bills 37-34 in overtime to increase their record to 10-1. And, as of the conclusion of this insane game, the Eagles maintain the best record in the NFL after their nail-biting victory.
In the first quarter, Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell set up the brotherly shove with a 23-yard run to strike first in the game, putting the Eagles up 7-0 early.
In the second quarter, Eagles safety Kevin Byard had a big stop on 3rd and 10, forcing the Bills to settle for a field goal to cut the lead to 4. Eagles star quarterback Jalen Hurts threw an interception into the hands of Bills Linebacker Terrell Bernard after it was tipped by the Bills’ defensive line. Josh Allen had a 9-yard rushing touchdown to give them a three-point lead 7-10. After a fumble recovery by the Bills, Allen connected with his wide receiver Stefon Diggs with another touchdown before the half to make the score 7-17 heading into halftime.
In the third quarter, Jalen Hurts threw a touchdown to wide receiver A.J. Brown to decrease the deficit to just 3 at 14-17. The Bills responded with another Allen rushing touchdown to give the Bills a 14-24 lead heading into the final quarter of action.
In the fourth quarter, Hurts and Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith started off with a 15-yard touchdown to once again lessen the deficit to only three. Eagles cornerback James Bradberry had an amazing interception, which gave the Eagles great field position at the Bills’ own 24-yard line. Hurts then threw a pass to wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, who made an outstanding catch to give the Eagles their first lead since early in the first quarter. However, the Eagles lead did not last long, as Allen found Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis for a 7-yard touchdown to put the Bills back up 28-31 with 1:52 left in the game. With twenty seconds remaining in the game, Eagles kicker Jake Elliot scored a 59-yard field goal to tie the game up at 31. The Bills wisely took a knee to send the game into overtime.
In overtime, the Bills received the ball, but the Eagles’ defense forced them to settle for a 40-yard field goal to make the score 31-34, giving the Eagles a chance to win the game. From twelve yards out, Jalen Hurts splits through the defense for the game-winning rushing touchdown.
“This was a morale-boosting win for the team and the city of Philadelphia” stated sophomore Michael Connell.
This game marked the second consecutive week that the Eagles have successfully comeback from a first helf deficit to win the game.
Jalen Hurts had a good game, passing for two-hundred yards and three touchdowns with one interception. Also, Hurts’s running game was outstanding, racking up sixty-five rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
“Jalen played great on Sunday,” said Connell. “He needs consistency because he has been underperforming in the first half in these big games.”
A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith both had good games against the Bills. Smith had seven receptions with 107 yards receiving and one touchdown. Brown on the other hand had five receptions with only 37 yards receiving, along with one touchdown.
“A.J Brown didn’t have the best of games and I think that’s because they put their best Corners on him to leave DeVonta open, as we saw on Sunday,” claimed sophomore Cavan Buker.
The Eagles’ defense was not perfect, though they stepped up to the plate when it mattered most. In overtime, the defense held the Bills to only a field goal to give the Eagles a chance to win the game.
“The defense won the Eagles the game,” Cavan said, “ they stopped the Bills when they needed it the most and the offense capitalized on it.”
Next week, the Eagles play the 9-3 San Francisco 49ers. The Eagles need to step up their first-half play in order to have a chance against the 49ers. However, I have faith that the Eagles understand they need to put the pedal to the medal in the first half and are gonna blow away the 49ers.
“This is a game that the Eagles win from the beginning,” Cavan said, “ because they understand that if they go down before half, the 49ers will take advantage of it.”
