An interception in the end zone on the final play of the game costs Buffalo a win.
Buffalo Bills Insider Chris Brown provides the details. Here is his report:
PHILADELPHIA, PA. — Preseason records: Buffalo (0-2), Philadelphia (1-1)
In a nutshell:
The Bills trailed the entire game until Greg Mabin ripped a pass away from Eagles receiver David Watford and returned it to the nine-yard line with five minutes left. One play later Buffalo had the lead as T.J. Yates found Brandon Reilly in the back right corner of the end zone for the Bills only touchdown of the game.
But Mabin committed a pass interference call on the ensuing Eagles possession in the end zone gave Philadelphia the win as Byron Marshall scored from a yard out with three minutes left to lift the Eagles to a 20-16 win.
Two early turnovers by the Bills looked like it could put them behind early, but the defense held the Eagles to just four yards after an interception set them up at the Buffalo nine-yard line and they were forced to take a field goal. On Tyrod Taylor’s second interception, the Eagles again had great field position, but again had to settle for a field goal that Caleb Sturgis missed wide left.
Philadelphia’s biggest lead of the game was 10 points after a Corey Clement six-yard run in the second quarter, but the Bills chipped away at it bridging field goal drives between the second and third quarters to make it a four-point game before Reilly’s go-ahead touchdown.
But the Eagles scored last to get the victory. Philadelphia’s defense thwarted Buffalo’s last ditch effort to regain the lead as T.J. Yates pass intended for Reilly was picked off by Mitchell White in the end zone as time expired.
How it went down:
-The Eagles put points on the board first after a Mychal Kendricks interception off a tipped Tyrod Taylor pass set up the Philadelphia offense with a first-and-goal situation at the Bills nine-yard line. Buffalo’s defense held the Eagles to just four yards on three plays forcing them to settle for a 24-yard Caleb Sturgis field goal (3-0) less than three minutes into the game.
-Buffalo tied the score with 11:37 left in the first half when Stephen Hauschka connected on a 42-yard field goal attempt to finish off a 10-play 41-yard drive (3-3).
-On the ensuing possession the Eagles went back in front with a 48-yard field goal from Sturgis (6-3) with just under eight minutes remaining in the half. The key play on the 45-yard drive was Corey Clement’s 24-yard run.
-The Bills defense had another red zone stop, but a special teams penalty on the Eagles’ field goal attempt led to an automatic first down for Philadelphia. Two plays later Corey Clement carried it in from six yards out for the game’s first touchdown for a 10-point lead (13-3) with under a minute remaining in the second quarter.
-Nate Peterman led a two minute drill at the end of the half. His 22-yard pass to Zay Jones along the sideline set up first and goal at the eight-yard line with just 13 second in the half. He had Jones on a fade in the back right corner of the end zone, but Jones second foot touched the sideline and they had to settled for a 26-yard field goal as the half expired (13-6).
-An interception by E.J. Gaines near midfield gave the offense a healthy drive start that they converted into three points as Hauschka hit his third field goal attempt of the game from 30 yards out to cut the Eagles lead to four (13-9) midway through the third quarter.
–A Greg Mabin interception return to the Eagles’ nine-yard line led to Buffalo’s first lead of the game with five minutes left as T.J. Yates found Brandon Reilly in the back of the end zone for a touchdown (13-9).
-Unfortunately a Mabin pass interference call in the end zone on the Eagles’ next possession gave Philadelphia a first-and-goal on the one-yard line. Byron Marshall scored for a yard out and Philadelphia led 20-16 with three minutes left.
Subplots:
-Buffalo’s defense was stout early holding the Eagles to just three points off two early turnovers that gave the Philadelphia offense the ball deep in Bills territory. They also held the starting Philadelphia offense without a third-down conversion.
-Shareece Wright started at right cornerback, but Kevon Seymour also rotated in before the starting unit exited the game.
-Starting right guard John Miller and starting right tackle Jordan Mills were also rotated out in between series in favor of Vladimir Ducasse and Dion Dawkins.
-Anquan Boldin, Andre Holmes and Zay Jones appeared most often with the starting offense at receiver.
-Zay Jones made his first receptions as a pro hauling in three receptions for 42 yards.
-E.J. Gaines had an interception on a deep post in his first game as a Bill. Fellow CB Greg Mabin also had a late interception to set up the game-winning drive by the offense with five and a half minutes left in the game.
-Rod Streater left the game in the fourth quarter with a foot injury. He was carted off and did not return.
-S Trae Elston suffered a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter and didn’t return.
-Nick O’Leary had a good connection with Nate Peterman pulling in three catches for 50 yards.
-Penalties were again an issue in the game as the team committed nine in the first half alone for 66 yards. It wasn’t just special teams as there were penalties on offense and defense as well. The team finished with 15 penalties in the game for 131 yards.
-Not dressing for the game were Cordy Glenn (foot), Jeremy Butler (concussion), Jordan Matthews (sternum) and Bacarri Rambo (hamstring).
Up next: The Bills travel to Baltimore to take on the Ravens on Sat. Aug. 26th for a 7 pm kickoff.