As exciting as the end of Philadelphia’s 13-12 victory in Buffalo was, and for all the great defence on show, both sides have issues to address regarding their offensive performance.
Scoreless after three quarters, Josh Allen dragged the Bills back into the game with his usual brilliance, but with the game on the line he missed the crucial throw in the dying seconds that would have sealed victory.
Allen also lost a fumble – which the Eagles scored their touchdown from – went on a crazy scramble that resulted in a 19-yard sack and was a hesitant runner on a failed fourth down attempt from three yards out.
The reigning MVP is an undoubted superstar, but Allen will need to make those big plays when it counts come play-off time – and Buffalo will now go on the road as a wildcard side.
Had Allen connected with that late pass, the big story would have been Jalen Hurts’ failure to complete a pass in the second half.
The Eagles are the first team since the 1987 Patriots to win two games in a season without completing a second-half pass, but despite their defence being up there with the best in the league, they need more from Hurts.
Head coach Nick Sirianni is a brash character and not afraid to win ugly. He certainly knows how to win, as only two coaches have more victories in their first five seasons in charge of a team than him.
It is a theme that Philadelphia are happy to sit on a lead and trust their defence – but gaining just 16 second-half yards, as they did in Buffalo, is not a recipe for success.
If the Eagles want to defend their Super Bowl crown, you would think at some point that Hurts, Saquon Barkley and company will need to step up.
