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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Glenn Erby

Key takeaways from the first half as Bills hold a 17-7 lead over Eagles

The Eagles enter the second half trailing 17-7 for the second week in a row after two Jalen Hurts turnovers resulted in touchdowns for the Bills offense.

The Buffalo defense held the Philadelphia defense to 99 total yards in the first half, with Brian Johnson’s offense going 9-4 on third downs.

The Bills offense was 6-12 on third downs and accumulated 276 yards in the first half during a cold, wet, rainy late afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field.

With the second half set to start, here are the takeaways and observations from the ugly first half.

Bills go 3 and out on first drive

Nov 26, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) carries the ball past Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox (91) on a 9-yard touchdown run during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Buffalo’s first drive was 3 plays, and 8 yards before being forced to punt.

Eagles go 3 and out on first drive

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 26: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on during the first quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Lincoln Financial Field on November 26, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Looking to copy the Bills, Philadelphia matched the Bills inept play on their first drive, calling three pass plays with Lane Johnson out of the lineup, and not gaining a single yard before punting.

Jack Driscoll

Nov 26, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) eludes Buffalo Bills defensive end Leonard Floyd (56) during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Leonard Floyd isn’t all an All-Pro, but he’s a skilled pass rusher and he’s going to give Jack Driscoll hell all afternoon.

Floyd got a pressure on Jalen Hurts, on the game’s first play.

Darius Slay is traveling

(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Diggs has 5 catches for 60 yards and a touchdown, but was silent early on with Slay traveling.

Brandon Graham breaks a record

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 26: Brandon Graham #55 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on prior to a game against the Buffalo Bills at Lincoln Financial Field on November 26, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Graham’s 189th game in an Eagles uniform broke David Akers franchise record.

Eagles 2nd drive

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 26: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs the ball during the first quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Lincoln Financial Field on November 26, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

James Bradberry

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 26: Sydney Brown #21 of the Philadelphia Eagles and James Bradberry #24 of the Philadelphia Eagles take the field prior to a game against the Buffalo Bills at Lincoln Financial Field on November 26, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Bradberry finished the first half with two tackles and three passes defended.

Jalen Hurts career high

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 26: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs the ball during the first quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Lincoln Financial Field on November 26, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Hurts made history with 10+ rushing touchdowns in three straight seasons, but he also threw his career high 10th interception of the season.

Philadelphia now has 15 turnovers through 11 games played, after having 19 total all of last season.

Josh Allen

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 26: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills runs past Jalen Carter #98 of the Philadelphia Eagles while scoring a touchdown during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on November 26, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Allen is 19 of 32 passing, for 209 yards and 1 passing touchdown. Allen also has 4 carries for 40 yards and 1 rushing touchdown.

Jalen Hurts ugly first half

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 26: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts after scoring a rushing touchdown during the first quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Lincoln Financial Field on November 26, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

With 6:00 minutes left in the first half, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was 2 of 9 passing for 19 yards, and 1 INT, with a passer rating of 0.0.

Hurts finished the first half 4-11 passing, for 33 yards and the one interception. Hurts also had 7 carries for 22 yards and 1 rushing touchdown, along with the two turnovers.

D'Andre Swift

Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

If Brian Johnson saw an advantage in the passing game, he was clearly mistaken in the first half, as D’Andre Swift had just three touches for 7 total yards on the Eagles’ first four drives.

Buffalo has two cornerbacks in the concussion protocol, but they have pass rushers Leonard Floyd and Von Miller, along with the benefit of a cold, and rainy afternoon in Philadelphia.

A.J. Brown

Nov 26, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) during warmups against the Buffalo Bills at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

With Rasul Douglas as the Bills best cornerback on the field, A.J. Brown was held without a target midway through the first half.

With one half completed, Brown has two catches for 14 yards, while DeVonta Smith has two for 19 yards.

Bills dominating time of possession

Nov 26, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) eludes Buffalo Bills defensive end Leonard Floyd (56) during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Midway through the second quarter, the Eagles had four total offensive possessions, and 8 total minutes of offense.

The Bills ran 46 plays in the first half and had the football for 19+ minutes, compared to Philadelphia’s 26 plays and 10:50 of possession.

Buffalo dominated the time of possesion in the first half, and the Eagles have to start sustaining drives.

Jalen Carter

Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Carter had two tackles in the first half, and this blocked field goal attempt that stopped a Bills scoring drive.

Hurts-Gainwell Miscommunication

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 26: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs the ball during the first quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Lincoln Financial Field on November 26, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Hurts has 10 interceptions and 14 total turnovers after being charged with this fumble.

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