At a Glance
- Bills lose 13-12 to Eagles after missed 2-point conversion
- Josh Allen misses pass by a foot with 5 seconds left
- Playoff seed drops to No. 7, giving New England AFC East crown
- Why it matters: The loss reshapes the AFC standings and leaves Allen feeling he let down teammates.
After a hard-fought Sunday at Highmark Stadium, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen sat at the post-game lectern looking more subdued than the win-or-lose mood of the crowd. He reflected on a play that decided a 13-12 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles and a missed 2-point conversion that could have turned the game around.
A Missed Opportunity
Allen was sacked five times and felt the toll, but he focused on the final play that would have secured the win. With only 5 seconds left, he launched a pass just outside the reach of open receiver Khalil Shakir in the back of the end zone.
Josh Allen stated:
> “Yeah, I just missed. Rolling left, I’ve got to get him a better ball,”
He added that execution mattered and admitted he didn’t make the play, saying the loss hurt him because he feels responsible for the team.
- Five sacks
- 23 of 35 pass attempts for 262 yards
- 5-second 2-point conversion attempt
Playoff Implications
The loss only mattered for seeding. Buffalo, already a playoff spot, fell to the No. 7 seed and ceded the AFC East title to New England, ending the Bills’ five-year streak of division championships.
| Season | Record | Seed |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 11-5 | 7 |
| 2022 | 12-4 | 5 |
Coaching Support
Coach Sean McDermott praised Allen as the league’s best quarterback and expressed willingness to pull him if needed, but noted the difficulty of doing so. He said, “He’s the best quarterback in the league and I’d take him 1,000 out of 1,000 times to make that throw, and he’ll make it,” adding that the injury risk is real but he trusts Allen.
Sean McDermott said:
> “I’d be lying if I didn’t say I had my eyes on Josh. Just because of how important he is to us.”
- Allen finished 23 of 35 for 262 yards
- He visited the X-ray room but tests were negative
- McDermott remains ready to pull him if necessary
Key Takeaways
- The Bills lost 13-12 after Allen’s missed 2-point conversion.
- The loss dropped Buffalo to the No. 7 seed, handing New England the AFC East title.
- Allen’s confidence remains strong despite the setback.
The game’s outcome reshapes the AFC landscape, and Allen’s resolve will be tested as the Bills head into the playoffs.
