Undisciplined Bills can kiss playoff chances goodbye after 23-20 loss to Eagles

Different season, same result.

The Bills came into Philadelphia with playoff aspirations but after 60 minutes of undisciplined football, it looks like another playoff-less year in Buffalo after the Eagle’s 23-20 win.

Buffalo, once again, lost a crucial football game to a less talented team late in the season, becoming their own worst enemy in the process.

“I thought we were the better team, but obviously we got beat,” Bills coach Rex Ryan said. “We have ourselves to blame.”

With Pittsburgh, Kansas City and the New York Jets all getting victories, the loss virtually eliminates Buffalo from the postseason. They would need to win out and get major help over the last three weeks of the season in order to have a chance.

It was a mistake filled afternoon, one that saw the Bills penalized 15 times for 101 yards.

Running back LeSean McCoy, returning to Philadelphia for the first time since being traded in the offseason, finished the day with 109 yards from scrimmage, extending his streak of 100+ yards from scrimmage to seven games.

It was a tale of two halves for McCoy though.

He finished the first half with 79 yards scrimmage but was only able to add 30 yards down the stretch, including a fourth quarter that saw the back rush four times for six yards.

“I’ve got nothing to say, excuse me” a frustrated McCoy told the assembled media members before heading out of the locker room.

Even after all the mistakes, the Bills still had one last shot with the football with under two minutes left to play.

The drive, and season, ended with Tyrod Taylor throwing an interception.

The Eagles used an up-tempo, no huddle attack to march down the field on their first possession; capping off a nine-play, 61-yard drive with a one-yard Darren Sproles score.

The Bills answered with a quick score of their own, off of a 47-yard reception from Sammy Watkins on their very next possession.

The two sides played about ten minutes of scoreless football before Sam Bradford delivered a 53-yard strike to Nelson Agholor to put the Eagles back up 14-7.

Later in the second quarter, Dan Carpenter converted from 38 yards out to make it 14-10.

Just before the half, Caleb Sturgis hit from 45 yards out make it 17-10 Philadelphia.

Sturgis converted another field goal to open the second half, this time from 41 yards to push the Eagles’ lead to 10.

Buffalo would again match it, getting another Carpenter field goal from 40 yards out to make it 20-13.

Just before the end of the third, Mike Gillislee scored his first career touchdown for Buffalo, knotting the game at 20.

With 3:30 left in the game, Sturgis put the Eagles up for good, converting from 30 yards out.

Ed Reynolds sealed it, picking off Taylor with 1:04 to end the game and the Bills’ playoff chances.