In a game that looked and felt like January football, the Philadelphia Eagles leaned heavily on their defense to escape with a 13â12 win over the Bills at Highmark Stadium.
GAME RECAP:
Eagles (11-5, 6-3 Away) 13, Bills (11-5, 6-2 Home) 12
MVP: Jalen Carter: 1 sack, 1 TFL, Blocked XPAT
Betting Winners: Eagles +1.5, Under 39.5
Next Up: Eagles vs Commanders
When: Sunday January 4, 2026
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia built a 13â0 halftime lead, watched it erode late, and ultimately survived when Buffalo failed on a two-point conversion attempt with five seconds remaining. The win was the Eaglesâ third straight and kept them alive in the race for the NFCâs No. 2 seed.
For the Bills, the loss ended their hopes of a sixth straight AFC East title and ensured that any Super Bowl path will run through the road.
Defense Has Emerged as This Team’s Identity
If the Eagles reach the Super Bowl, it’s going to be on the back of their defense becuase let’s face it, their offensive performance today against a very mediocre defense, was nothing short of pathetic. Competent in the first half perhaps but an utter disater afer the break, outgained by the Bills 223-17 in yards. The Bills had the ball four times a slong as the Birds in the second half and it was that ineptitude by a Philly offense that regressed from the last three weeks that almost ruined a master piece of a defensive shutdown and ultimately the game.
Philadelphia’s defense played fast and furious from the opening series, repeatedly meeting Buffalo at the point of attack and controlling the line of scrimmage for most of the afternoon. The Eagles allowed 331 total yards, but 83 of those came on Buffaloâs frantic final drive, which included a 25-yard hook-and-lateral on fourth-and-10.
Before that desperation sequence, the Bills were largely bottled up most of the afternoon.
This performance fit a growing pattern. Outside of late-November games against Dallas and Chicago, the Eagles defense has been consistently strong since late October. In seven of their last nine games, they have allowed 331 yards or fewer, including five games holding opponents under 300.
The offense has questions. The defense has answers.
Second Half Offensive Stagnation Nearly Costs Philly
The Eagles had every opportunity to put this game away.
They entered halftime up 13â0 with the Bills struggling to generate anything consistently. One sustained touchdown drive in the second half would have shifted the game decisively.
It never came.
On five second-half possessions, the Eagles went three-and-out four times. On the remaining drive, they picked up one first down and 13 yards. That was it.
The lack of production came despite favorable game script and a defense giving them repeated chances to end it. Philadelphia finished the second half with 17 total yards, a startling number considering what was at stake.
Some of it was protection breaking down. Some of it was reduced run-game effectiveness. Despite facing the 24th ranked run defense in the league, the Birds could only manage 82 yards on the ground, with Saquon Barkley managing just 68 of them on 19 carries. It was just another example of an offense that could not execute when closing was required.
That burden ultimately lands on Kevin Patullo, who must find something reliable when the situation calls for ball control and composure rather than creativity. Today the Eagles offense had neither, just 3 for 13 on third down efficiency and had the ball almost 11 minutes less than the Bills did.
Hurts Manages But Offense Never Finishes
Jalen Hurts did not give the game away, but he also never delivered the drive that would have ended it. he was 13/27 for 110 yards, a touchdown pass to Dallas Goedert and no turnovers.
He dealt with consistent pressure behind an offensive line that struggled again. The Eagles were unable to settle into anything sustainable after halftime, forcing the defense back onto the field repeatedly.
Against elite playoff competition, that formula carries risk along with unsustainable results.
Eagles Hold Off Late Bills Rally
Buffalo finally broke through in the fourth quarter, capped by a one-yard touchdown run from Josh Allen with five seconds left.
The Bills, who has an extra point blocked by Jalen Carter on the previous possesion found themselves down a point and opted to go for two and the win. They failed.
Allen finished with 262 passing yards and two rushing touchdowns, but much of his production came late. For most of the game, Philadelphia kept him contained and disrupted Buffaloâs rhythm.
The Eagles also limited James Cook, holding the leagueâs top-ranked rusher to 74 yards. When Buffaloâs run game stalled, the burden shifted to Allen earlier than the Bills would have liked.
Playoff Implications Remain Active
The Eagles have already clinched the NFC East and will host at least one playoff game. The No. 2 seed remains in play with help, starting with a home matchup next week against the Washington Commanders, who enter at 4â12 and have dropped 10 of their last 11.
Buffalo, meanwhile, will play out the string at home against the New York Jets, but their postseason path is set to begin away from Orchard Park.
Sundayâs game showed exactly where Philadelphiaâs margin for error lives right now: a defense strong enough to protect a lead, and an offense that still struggles to finish when given the opportunity.
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