So there the Birds were Sunday, enjoying professional play from Sam Bradford, frustrating Bills’ quarterback Tyrod Taylor, being the more disciplined team and retaining their share of first place in their division.
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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. He insisted his speech had nothing to do with former Eagles running back LeSean McCoy, who was making his return to Lincoln Financial Field after being traded last March. The sports journalist and television host did not have a problem with McCoy hugging Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie before the game, but found McCoy’s decision to kiss the Eagles logo at midfield a bit odd since he plays for another franchise now. It was immediately afterward that McCoy threw his helmet upon entering the locker room. On the play, Robert Woods was streaking up the right sideline, but Taylor just overthrew the ball and it was easily intercepted by Eagles safety Ed Reynolds to end the game. Bradford threw for 247 yards, including a 53-yard TD to Nelson Agholor.
“I feel more comfortable, more confident in what we’re doing”, Bradford said. Chip Kelly has to open it up and Bradford has to beat Palmer in a shootout. He never approached Kelly after saying last week he didn’t want to shake his hand or talk to him. “I was laughing when I heard (Cox) being compared to (former Eagles Pro Bowler) Jerome Brown, ” Ryan said. With wins by the Jets, Chiefs and Steelers on Sunday, Buffalo is now two games back with three left.
Philadelphia came out strong in the third quarter, but the Bills defense managed to hold them to three.
If he’d expected more, if he’d expected better, if he’d expected to prove to the Eagles that they were wrong to trade him to Buffalo after he’d rushed for 6,792 yards in his first six National Football League seasons, that behavior was the only indication.
The first drive ended with the Bills punting from their own 16.
A promising first quarter start was squandered by the Eagles. Leodis McKelvin leaped and snatched the ball away from Brent Celek at the 5.
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But late in the fourth quarter, Sam Bradford connected with Zach Ertz for a 41-yard gain. “Sam played outstanding”, Kelly said. The Bills were without two defensive starters – CB Stephon Gilmore (shoulder) and LB Nigel Bradham (ankle). “Just tell me what the rules are and we’ll follow them”. “I thought we were the better team, but obviously we got beat”, Bills coach Rex Ryan said. “It was a disgrace that we had too many penalties. Maybe you were playing a team that has a lot of penalties going into the game, just statistically, when you look at it”. Jaylen Watkins distracted Bills return man Marcus Thigpen enough for Bryan Braman to recover the muff. A 24-yard burst midway through the second quarter gave him 59 yards on just nine carries, a robust average of 6.6 yards per pop. But it was tough sledding after that as he managed just 13 yards on his final 11 carries. Sturgis booted a 45-yarder to put them up 17-10. TE Charles Clay’s status is uncertain after he hurt his back against the Eagles. Defensive linemen Marcell Dareus, Jerry Hughes (twice) and Mario Williams were all cited for neutral zone infractions prior to the snap handing the Eagles five free yards each time.
