The Eagles (9-1) and Bills (6-5) are set to meet on Sunday in an intriguing matchup that’ll see Buffalo try and get a win in Philadelphia for the first time since 1996.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott spent 12 years in the Eagles organization and grew up just 30 minutes from Lincoln Financial Field.
Sunday also marks the first meeting between quarterbacks Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts.
The quarterbacks were drafted two years apart as Allen was the seventh overall pick in the 2018 draft, and Hurts was drafted in the second round of the 2020 draft. Hurts and Allen rank No. 1 and 2 in rushing touchdowns since 2020.
Hurts has the most in the NFL over that span with 35, and Allen is next with 28.
Hurts became the first quarterback in NFL history to have consecutive seasons with at least ten rushing touchdowns (10 in 2021 and 13 in 2022), and he’s one rushing touchdown away from a third straight season. Hurts also has a .775 win percentage (31-9) since 2021, which is first amongst NFL QBs.
With preparation for the matchup underway, we’re looking at one thing to watch from each of the Eagles’ offensive position groups.
QB
The Bills are 28th in the NFL against the pass, and 27th in the league on third downs defensively.
Philadelphia leads the league in third-down conversion rate (48.2%) as well as fourth-down conversion rate (76.5%), the best for an Eagles team through ten games since 1994.
Buffalo will be without Matt Milano, Tre’Davious White and DaQuan Jones on defense, setting Jalen Hurts up for a big afternoon.
RB
The Buffalo run defense is allowing just 82.6 yards over the last five games, and they’ve been stout outside of a meltdown in the loss to New England.
D’Andre Swift is looking for a 100-yard game and we’ll be watching to see if he can find holes in the Bills defensive front.
WR
The Eagles will see a familiar face this week, and it could work towards an advantage in the passing game. A.J. Brown has 67 catches for 1,005 yards and six touchdowns, While DeVonta Smith has 42 catches for 533 yards and four scores.
Rasul Douglas was acquired by the Bills in a trade with the Packers, and he has been terrific in his first three games, while Christian Benford (Villanova) is back in his starting role on the other side, and safeties Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer are also healthy and playing well.
Dane Jackson and nickel corner Taron Johnson are both in the concussion protocol.
We’ll be watching to see if A.J. Brown gets back on track after one catch for 8 yards in Week 11.
TE
Dallas Goedert is one of the best tight ends in the NFL, and during his first game missed this season with a fractured forearm, Jack Stoll and Grant Calcaterra combined for one catch, that went three yards.
Can Eagles tight ends improve their production against the Bills.
OL
The Eagles’ offensive line returned to full strength as Cam Jurgens returned to action at right guard.
That unit also showed improvement as the game went on Monday night, allowing just five total pressures on 28 dropbacks against the Chiefs and ranked seventh in pass-blocking efficiency in Week 11.
We’ll be watching to see if they can maintain the momentum.
