One among Eagles’ most unforgettable video games ever was adopted by franchise’s most epic collapse

PHILADELPHIA — It was the best recreation of the Eagles’ 2023 season and considered one of their greatest wins ever. It was additionally the final nice second for the Eagles throughout a season greatest identified for the seven inexplicable video games that adopted.

It continues to be fondly remembered by Nick Sirianni as a result of the Eagles coach had by no means skilled something fairly prefer it.

“Yeah, walk-off touchdown,” Sirianni stated Friday when requested for his reminiscence of the Eagles’ final assembly with the Buffalo Bills two seasons in the past. “First time I had ever been a part of a game where you win on the very last play in the NFL.”

He had the identical form of reply the next day.

“Shoot, that was awesome,” Sirianni stated. “I mean, I got to feel like what Bryce Harper feels like when he gets a walk-off homerun, or Mike Trout was in the stands yesterday, what he gets to feel. That was really, really cool, really, really special. A memory that I feel like will be with me for a very long time to be able to celebrate with our guys off of a walk-off.”

Most video games aren’t price trying again at, however that late November afternoon matchup with the Bills is. The Eagles and Bills are set to play once more Sunday afternoon in Orchard Park, N.Y. with playoff seeding on the road, however it will likely be virtually inconceivable for them to duplicate the wildly entertaining recreation the groups performed in 2023.

Let’s begin close to the top with the Bills lining up for a 40-yard discipline objective with 5:56 left in extra time. Undaunted by the scenario, Brandon Graham was doing what Brandon Graham likes to do — talking trash.

“We’re about to win this …,” Graham instructed Bills gamers as they lined up for his or her extra time discipline objective by Tyler Bass. “You must not know Jalen Hurts like I know Jalen …”

Graham needed to pause for a second to hurry the kick, however he wasted no time finishing his thought after the kick went by way of to provide Buffalo a 37-34 lead.

“You must not know Jalen Hurts like I know him,” Graham instructed the Bills gamers as they left the sphere. “Ha, ha, ha.”

The discuss continued on his personal sideline.

“They don’t know Jalen Hurts like we know Jalen Hurts,” Graham instructed whoever was inside earshot. “They don’t know him.”

Sure sufficient, Hurts orchestrated a nine-play, 75-yard drive that ended with him working 12 yards into the top zone for the game-tying rating.

“I just know what Jalen can do,” Graham stated Friday when requested about his clairvoyant act.

Hurts’ game-winning landing was his fifth of the day. He ran for 2 scores and 65 yards and in addition handed for 3 scores and 200 yards to out duel Josh Allen on a day when the Bills’ celebrity quarterback accounted for 4 touchdowns (two dashing and two passing) whereas additionally placing up 420 yards of offense.

That the Eagles even obtained to the primary extra time was the preliminary miracle. Buffalo led by 10 factors at halftime and by 10 factors after three quarters. They scored with 1:52 in regulation to take a three-point lead and the Eagles’ drive that ensued was not notably spectacular.

After attending to the Buffalo 34, Jason Kelce was flagged twice for false-start penalties, forcing Jake Elliott to strive a 59-yard discipline objective for the tie. The kick had simply sufficient distance and went simply inside the proper upright to pressure the extra time.

“Nobody I’d rather have in the NFL more than Jake Elliott,” Sirianni stated that day. “Shoot, to me he’s the best kicker in the NFL. He’s so clutch.”

Those phrases are fascinating proper now as a result of Elliott is in a little bit of a droop because the 10-5 Eagles get set to play the 11-4 Bills. Kicking circumstances are anticipated to be tough with rain and powerful winds within the Sunday night forecast for Orchard Park, N.Y.

Sirianni and the Eagles have maintained confidence in Elliott as he makes an attempt to come back out of a droop much like the one he was in a 12 months in the past late within the season earlier than a formidable postseason run.

How the remainder of this season performs out for Elliott and the Eagles stays to be seen. It can’t get any worse than it did for the 2023 Eagles after that miraculous win in opposition to the Bills.

They have been 10-1 at that time and Hurts was the betting favourite to win the MVP award after ending second to Patrick Mahomes the 12 months earlier than. Sirianni praised the protection for maintaining the sport shut in opposition to the Bills and he talked glowingly in regards to the calming affect of offensive coordinator Brian Johnson.

Two weeks later, defensive coordinator Sean Desai was stripped of his play-calling duties after the Eagles surrendered 75 factors in consecutive lopsided losses to San Francisco and Dallas. Johnson didn’t survive both after the Eagles misplaced six of their last seven video games and made a first-round playoff exit.

Sirianni, nevertheless, did hold his job and he has credited that epic collapse as being a worthwhile studying expertise that helped result in the Eagles’ Super Bowl title final season.