Second-guess the last play all you want. Things didn’t go how anyone in Western New York drew it up. For much of the afternoon, it felt like the Buffalo Bills’ offense had no business playing for a win
late in the fourth quarter against a Philadelphia Eagles defense that came in prepared to shut them down. But Bills Mafia has been down this road with their favorite football team.
It’s been a difficult season to enjoy in Bills Country, where despite a lot of wins and some surprisingly flashy stats, well… the team just doesn’t look like it has the right stuff to go all the way. Yet here they were, one play away from taking down the defending Super Bowl Champions just two games before the postseason.
The decision to go for two? It was the right choice. It was in that moment that Josh Allen was finally in the zone, playing his best football of the day. Kicking for a tie to force overtime first of all guarantees nothing (even if the defense had completely shut down Philly’s offense in the second half), and Allen was likely on borrowed snaps given his injury status.
One hundred times out of 100, a team with Josh Allen at quarterback is going to put the ball in his hands to go for the win. Offensive coordinator Joe Brady even had a good two-point play at the goal line drawn up. Even wide receiver Khalil Shakir found separation and opportunity. Allen just missed the throw, and badly.
In reality, it’s probably best the Bills lost in Week 17. They no longer have the AFC East to play for. That’s going back to Foxborough, MA and the New England Patriots. With it comes a first-place schedule in 2026.
As for Buffalo, they have quite a few things to work through in the coming days. Regardless of what happens in Week 18, the Bills will enter the postseason a playoff-tested seven seed that no one wants to face. What stood out about this loss to the Eagles? Let’s get to it below…
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