In a game that was marked with high emotion with the return of Eagles all-time rusher LeSean McCoy, the Eagles pulled away with a slim 23-20 victory over the Buffalo Bills as they vie for a late playoff push.
Facing off against one of the emerging dual-threat quarterbacks in the NFL, the Eagles got early pressure on the Bills’ Tyrod Taylor, including an early sack by Fletcher Cox.
While the Eagles’ defense got off to a hot start, the offense also got going early. Despite a 45-yard Sam Bradford pass to Riley Cooper being overturned, the Eagles moved the ball impressively through the air and on the ground. All three of the Eagles’ running backs made key plays during the drive, which was capped with a one-yard touchdown run by running back Darren Sproles.
It did not take long for the Bills to get themselves into the game as Taylor hit the ever-so-dangerous Sammy Watkins for a 47-yard touchdown strike to tie the game up at a touchdown a piece.
The Eagles offense could not quite replicate the success of the first drive during the next few drives as the Buffalo offense forced three straight punts from the Eagles. However, the third consisted of a muffed punt that gave the Eagles the ball back in great field position. Bradford and the Eagles took advantage with a 53-yard touchdown pass to rookie receiver Nelson Agholor.
Bradford finished the first half 16/22 for 139 yards and a touchdown.
The first half also was successful for the returning McCoy who ran for 63 yards and received for another 16 in the opening two quarters.
The second half started as a back-and-forth battle with no points until Buffalo running back Mike Gillislee rushed for an 18-yard touchdown late in the third quarter.
Things seemed to headed in Buffalo’s favor when a Bradford pass to tight-end Brent Celek was stripped in the process by Leodis McKelvin, giving the ball back to the Bills.
The Eagles defense was able to keep Taylor and the Bills offense from adding to the score, and a late Caleb Sturgis field-goal gave the Eagles the lead.
The Bills had a chance in the end after Bradford took a critical sack to give the ball back to Buffalo with solid position. However, a deep pass from Taylor landed in the hands of Eagles’ safety Ed Reynolds to seal the deal for the Birds.
Next Sunday night, the Eagles will host the red-hot Arizona Cardinals in their quest to win out the rest of the season and head into the playoffs.
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