Bills stumble, blown out at home by Eagles

The Buffalo Bills had a chance to make a statement at home today by beating the Philadelphia Eagles. Instead, they were dominated in all three phases of the game, losing in blowout fashion. The final score was 31-13.

The Eagles struck quickly in the second half, extending their 11-7 lead when rookie Miles Sanders broke free for his first career touchdown, a 65-yard romp that saw Micah Hyde out of position and both linebackers Matt Milano and Tremaine Edmunds unable to disengage from blockers. Kicker Josh Elliott missed his first kick of the season, so the score remained 17-7.

The Bills answered right back, marching 75 yards on ten plays, capping the drive with a screen pass to Devin Singletary that the rookie took 28 yards for a touchdown. Stephen Hauschka’s point-after attempt was blocked, so Buffalo trailed 17-13. Buffalo seemed to have momentum, but it was fleeting, as Carson Wentz hit Alshon Jeffery on a 38-yard pass on the first play of the next drive. The Eagles marched right down the field from there, and Boston Scott scored his first career rushing touchdown, a four-yard plunge. Elliott made the kick, and the Eagles led 24-13.

The game was essentially over from there. The Bills punted on their next drive, and they caught a break when Siran Neal forced Scott to fumble on the return. Julian Stanford recovered, but the Bills turned the ball over on downs when Allen’s fourth-down pass was just a tad behind John Brown. Ronald Darby broke up the pass. After trading three-and-outs, the Eagles launched a clock-killing drive, taking 14 plays and eight minutes of clock to move 78 yards. They punctuated the drive with a Jordan Howard touchdown plunge, moving the score to 31-13.

Allen managed to throw two touchdown passes on the day, but he completed less than 50% of his passes and took four sacks. He also fumbled three times, losing one. The teams each turned it over once, but Philadelphia converted theirs into eight points, while the Bills did nothing with theirs.

The Eagles ran for well over 200 yards on the day, and Carson Wentz was efficient in miserable weather. He was 17-of-24 for 172 yards and one touchdown on the afternoon. Jordan Howard finished with 96 yards on 23 carries for the Eagles.

The Bills fall to 5-2 on the year, and they have now lost their last 17 tries at winning their sixth game of a season before playing their 11th game. They host Washington next week. Philadelphia moves to 4-4 on the year, and they return home next week to host the Chicago Bears.