Bottled Up Buffalo

The Philadelphia Eagles visited the land of the ice and snow Sunday, outlasting a feisty Buffalo Bills team in the waning moments, 13-12.

While an Eagles offense that’d shown signs of life the previous two games was largely stuck in neutral for much of the afternoon, it was the defense that delivered an inspired performance, fueling the Eagles to their 11th win of the season.

GETTY IMAGES: Eagles DT Jalen Carter had a sack in his return from injury.

The Bills, helmed by reigning MVP quarterback Josh Allen, didn’t go quietly. Allen orchestrated a late touchdown drive that covered 83 yards on 13 plays — among them a big-play hook-and-ladder on a fourth-and-10 –capped by his one-yard touchdown plunge. But Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter blocked the previous point after attempt from kicker Michael Badgely and the Bills opted to end the game in regulation on a two-point play. Drifting in the pocket, Allen tossed a pass in the right corner of the end zone in the direction of an open Khalil Shakir, but the pass didn’t have enough on it and fell short, securing the narrow Eagles win.

Quarterback Jalen Hurts completed 13 of 27 pass attempts for 110 yards and a touchdown. Running back Saquon Barkley produced 68 yards on 19 carries, while wide receiver A.J. Brown reeled in 5-of-7 pass attempts for 68 yards.

Marcus Epps led all Eagles with nine combined tackles, while Jalyx Hunt (2), Jaelan Phillips (1), Jalen Carter (1) and Moro Ojomo (1) all got to Allen. Rookie linebacker Jihaad Campbell scooped up an Allen first-quarter fumble, setting up the first scoring drive.

Inactive for the Eagles were OLB Josh Uche, QB Sam Howell (3rd QB), LB Nakobe Dean, RB A.J. Dillon, CB Michael Carter II and RT Lane Johnson. Shortly before the inactive list was released, the Eagles indicated that Carter (not injury related – personal) would not be in uniform. As such, rookie CB Mac McWilliams was active for the first time since Oct. 26.

Elevated from the practice squad for the second consecutive week was rookie DB Brandon Johnson, who has one regular season elevation remaining. Johnson, a cornerback by trade, repped at safety for his five defensive snaps, a position in which he’s been cross-trained in practice throughout the season. The Oregon product provided secondary depth and contributed on special teams.

Let’s get to the observations.

*The less-than-ideal weather conditions suggested the Eagles would implement a run-heavy approach to start, but instead the team opened with three consecutive throws and were then forced to punt. On the ensuing drive, Barkley carried on the first three plays.

*Some big-time throws in this one from Hurts, who stood and rifled strikes in the face of pressure and was willing to fit the ball into tight windows. His short to intermediate throws were delivered with touch and accuracy and was decisive. But what really stood out to me was Hurts’ ability to calmly navigate pressure while keeping his eyes downfield. There were several dimes thrown throughout the first half. The second half, however, was a stark contrast. Hurts, who was 0-for-7 in his second quarter pass attempts, was unable to build on his first-half success and the play-calling from Nick Sirianni and Kevin Patullo lacked punch, urgency and diversity once the lead was established. The second half offensive sticking points placed considerable pressure on Vic Fangio’s group to stave off a late Allen surge, though they prevailed.

The offense, in the second-half, controlled the ball for just 8:45 and punted on five consecutive drives.

*The Bills are well-equipped at tackle with Spencer Brown and Dion Dawkins, but the Eagles were able to generate consistent pressure off the edge early in this one. Hunt, who has come on of late, picked up his 5.5th — and later a team-leading 6.5 — sack of the season and Phillips notched his second since joining the team, on a play that would ultimately lead to points. Phillips dropped Allen for a six-yard loss, dislodging the ball in the process.  Campbell, starting in place of an injured Dean, pounced on the loose ball at the Bills’ 45. Hurts completed 5 of 5 pass attempts for 41 yards and a touchdown on the drive.

As a collective, the trenches outclassed a stout Buffalo offensive line, including Carter and Ojomo, who knifed through for sacks. For Ojomo, who dropped Allen in the third quarter, his takedown gave him a team-leading six on the season until Hunt got to Allen in the fourth quarter.

*In their first true challenge since being gouged on the ground by the Chicago Bears a month ago, the Eagles bottled up the Bills’ dynamic rushing headed by the league’s leading rusher, James Cook. The Eagles were explosive off the snap and attacked the line of scrimmage with controlled violence, impeding Cook’s ability to generate any momentum. For perspective, Cook entered the game averaging 102 rushing yards per game and 5.3 yards per carry. The Eagles held him to 74 yards and a 3.7 average. They rallied to the football as a group and the energy was apparent.

Conversely, the Eagles didn’t have as much success on the ground as expected, especially against a leaky run defense. Credit also has to go to the Bills for hanging tough, holding Barkley to an average of 3.6 yards per carry.

*Tough opening defensive series for Epps, who has settled things down at the position in the light of the absence of injured rookie Drew Mukuba. Epps surrendered a completion to TE Dawson Knox on an over route and was called for a holding penalty on a 3rd-and-4 play that negated a Zack Baun sack. Was curious to see if a team would test the Eagles’ secondary and the Bills did — early, anyway — highlighted by a 50-yard strike to WR Brandin Cooks.

On Epps: Upon first watch, I thought the veteran safety played really well, diagnosing plays and throttling downhill. He’s heady player, secure tackler and assignment sound, all qualities that have endeared him to Fangio.

*Dallas Goedert‘s first quarter touchdown reception was his 11th of season, surpassing Pete Retzlaff for the most touchdowns in team history by a tight end. Retzlaff, in 1965, produced 10. Goedert also established a new career-high in receptions (60). In other milestone news,Brown eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving barrier for the fourth consecutive season.

*Hyperbole, perhaps, but pound-for-pound, is there a better tackler in the league than Cooper DeJean? Whether it’s a wide receiver, tight end or running back, the six-foot, 198-pound DeJean is a dependable open-field tackler, consistently wrapping up or driving through his target. Perhaps the best example was his fundamentally sound, textbook takedown of Knox, limiting him to just a two-yard pickup. Such a tough, smart, instinctive defender who keeps getting better.

*On the heels of a week he’d presumably like to forget, Jake Elliott bounced back in a big way, drilling kicks of 47 and 28 yards, respectively. Elliott, who has experienced adversity at various points in his career, responded the way the Eagles have known him to, coming through when his team needs him most, as evidenced by his first-half 47-yard connection in the driving rain. It’s one game, sure, but the successful outing could act as a confidence-booster heading into the postseason.

*I’ve gone on record saying I felt P Braden Mann deserved a Pro Bowl berth, and Sunday’s game in Buffalo supported my sentiment. In the driving rain, Mann averaged 55.4 yards on seven punts, landing two — nearly three — punts inside the 20. He impressively boomed a long of 65 in this one and drilled a 50-yarder backed up in the end zone when he could only take one step. Numbers aside, Mann has been consistent this season in the field position battle and getting the Eagles out of a jam.

*The Eagles were tagged for just three penalties (36 yards). They controlled the ball for 24:45 and converted 3 of 13 third-down attempts.

— Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com