Bills make dubious history in OT loss to Eagles

Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen embraces Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Bills make dubious history in frustrating OT loss to Eagles

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 11/26/23

The Buffalo Bills let one slip away from them in Week 12, blowing a 10-point second-half lead in a 37-34 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Not only was the Bills' loss heartbreaking, it was historic.

Buffalo became the first team since the NFL/AFL merger in 1970 to lose a game after recording 500 total yards and 10 or more third-down conversions while winning the turnover battle, per Ed Werder of ESPN. Before the Bills lost to the Eagles, teams boasting those stats were 39-0.

Quarterback Josh Allen and the Bills offense left the field with the lead in overtime, but QB Jalen Hurts led the Eagles to a dramatic come-from-behind win, sealing the game with a 12-yard rushing score.

THE EAGLES WIN A THRILLER IN OT! #BUFvsPHI pic.twitter.com/sZpCdrwc7d
— NFL (@NFL) November 27, 2023

Things started well enough for the Bills, who built a 17-7 halftime lead. Following two punts to open the game, Buffalo's offense scored on three of its final five possessions of the half. Meanwhile, the Bills' defense silenced Hurts and the Eagles, turning two takeaways into 14 points.

Then, in the second half, despite blowing a 24-14 lead, Allen gave the Bills a 31-28 advantage, connecting on a seven-yard touchdown strike to wideout Gabe Davis with 1:52 remaining on the fourth-quarter clock.

Allen responded even after the Eagles ultimately tied the game on the ensuing possession with a 59-yard field goal by kicker Jake Elliott to force overtime. Upon winning the coin toss at the start of OT, the Bills had to settle for a 40-yard Tyler Bass field goal after a 12-play, 53-yard drive, but it was one of several times Allen put his team in position to win.

While one might be able to chalk up Sunday's unfortunate end to bad luck, coming up in the clutch has been an issue for the Bills. This was the third time this season that Allen led the Bills to a go-ahead score with under two minutes left. All have resulted in losses for Buffalo.

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