By CHUCK POLLOCK, Wellsville Sun Senior Sports Columnist
Bills fans will wrestle with the question all week.
Why did Buffalo go for two points in the closing seconds of Sunday’s game against Philadelphia after rallying from a 13-0-point deficit for a chance to win the game.
Of course it shouldn’t have come to down to a two-point conversion attempt to keep this team alive in the AFC playoff chase.
But alas, Buffalo is down to its No. 3 place-kicker and all three have missed extra points. Michael Badgley, on this night, had his blocked point after cost them a chance to win a sixth AFC title.
Bills fans are whining why, with Buffalo trailing 13-12, coach Sean McDermott opted to try a two-point conversion presumably because Badgley had already had a conversion blocked following Buffalo’s first touchdown.
But the reality is NFL kickers make three-quarters of their attempts and there was a better chance a kick would have sent the game to overtime especially since the Bills had swiped the momentum in the fourth quarter
As it is, Chicago and San Francisco have positioned themselves — potentially 11-5 — and tussling for the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Meanwhile, Buffalo’s loss combined with New England’s win over the Jets, has claimed the AFC East but are the Pats are looking up at Seattle (13-3) and the Eagles and Bears both (11-5).
THE BILLS, 11-5, could have been part of that until they lost to Philadelphia on a cold, rainy afternoon at Orchard Park.
Trailing 13-0 in the fourth quarter, Buffalo scored but had missed the extra-point to keep it a one-touchdown game. The Bills then scored in the final minute but instead of kickiing the extra point to tie the game opted for a two-point conversion for the win.
Quarterback Josh Allen had a wide-open receiver — Khalil Skakir — but threw it wide to give the Eagles a victory.
AFTERWARD, coach Sean McDermott discussed the decision.
“We talked about that after this game and we’ve got to learn some things,” he said. We all want to win … we’ve a very competitive group and we want to win. You learn things from this game that we want to get shored up.”
When asked if the Bills had the mindset that because of the team’s success in second-half rallies, they’d complacently figure it out?
“That’s not our mindset,” McDermott said, “Our mindset is to play a 60-minute game or whatever it takes.
“We had a number of (unsuccessful) third downs and that’s not where you want to live. Some adjustments might have been helpful.”
When asked about the amount of punishment Allen has taken (50 sacks)” McDermott said, “I’m always concerned. And you’re going to see it again in the playoffs … good teams that are well-built up front.
“As you guys know, details matter … it’s no different in the playoffs, every last detail matters.”
As for the decision to go for two, McDermott, “We talked about it in the locker room. Josh is the best quarterback in the league and 1,000 times out of 1,000 times, if he’s called upon to make that throw, he’ll make it.”
NOTES from the Bills 13-12 loss to the Eagles, Sunday afternoon in the second-to-last game at Highmark Stadium:
— It wasn’t the best game for Josh Allen as a passer. He was 7-of-10 for 90 yards and was sacked four times. He also ran for two scores.
— James Cook the NFL leader in rushing yards had 39 yards on nine carries and fumbled once.
— Buffalo’s first turnover was a fumble by quarterback Josh Allen and the wet ball got away from him.
— The Eagles first sack of Allen was recorded by linebacker Jalyx Hunt giving him 5 1/2 on the season.
— On the next possession Allen fumbled when hit by linebacker Jaelan Phillips and the ball scooted back into Eagles territory where it was recovered by Jihaad Campbell.
— The Bills turned the play into a 7-play, 45-yard touchdown drive. The third sack of Allen was notched by defensive tackle Jalen Carter, his third.
— The fourth sack Allen endured was by defensive tackle Moro Ojomo, his team-leading sixth. Finally, when Allen dropped back so deep,he was corraled by linebacker Jalyx Hunt who got his second of the game pushing his total to 6 1/2 on the season.
— Bills kicker Michael Badgley had his first extra point blocked keeping the score Philadelphia 13 Bills 6.
Inactive for the Bills were defensive tackle DaQuan Jones (calf), defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (ankle), kicker Matt Prater (quad), safety Jordan Poyer (hamstring), wide receiver, Keon Coleman and offensive tackle Tylan Grable.
Middle linebacker Terrell Bernard missed part of the second half with a leg injury.
Among the Eagles inactives,were offensive tackle Lane Johnson (injury), cornrerback Michael Johnson (personal) and linebacker Nakobe Dean (injury).
