The 11-4 Bills are back home for the remainder of the 2025 regular season with their first game slated for Sunday, Dec. 28 at 4:25 p.m. ET against the 10-5 Eagles. This is the 16th time Buffalo and Philadelphia meet with the Eagles leading the all-time series 9-6.
A win on Sunday marks the Bills' first win against them since Oct. 9, 2011. Their last matchup was in 2023 at Philadelphia; Buffalo lost a thrilling matchup in overtime 37-34. Quarterback Josh Allen threw for 339 yards and two touchdowns on 29 completions in that game with wide receiver Gabe Davis leading the receiving crew with 105 yards and a score on six catches.
Both teams are coming off Week 16 wins and clinched playoff berths. The Bills beat the Browns 23-20, and the Eagles beat the Commanders 29-18.
"They've got a good team … give them their props. We respect their team and how they've won," head coach Sean McDermott said. "Defending Super Bowl champs. We go to work."
Injury updates from first practice of Week 17
McDermott gave an injury report on Tuesday, Dec. 23. The team held a walk-through in the afternoon.
Allen (right foot), tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee), kicker Matt Prater (right quad), safety Jordan Poyer (hamstring), defensive tackle DaQuan Jones (calf), defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (right ankle), and defensive back Cam Lewis (hamstring) did not practice.
Allen sustained an injury just before halftime against the Browns, but played the rest of the game nonetheless. He said he still feels sore, but all in all is ready to go.
"Feeing good," Allen said on Tuesday. "I'll be planning on playing."
Maneuvering around Philadelphia's defense
The Eagles' defense is top 10 in pass yards allowed per game (seventh with 192.3) and yards allowed per attempt (third with 6.3). Cornerback Quinyon Mitchell is tied first in the league with 17 passes defensed.
"They've got a lot of studs on that side. Their front. They get after the quarterback," Allen said. "They've got two of the best linebackers in the game. A corner that's a shutdown corner. They rotate well. Got a safety from Wyoming (Marcus Epps) that's a stud."
As Buffalo's pass game, which is currently fourth in average yards per pass (8.0), continues improving as the season goes on, offensive coordinator Joe Brady emphasizes two things: doing whatever it takes to win the game and sparking the run game early.
Philadelphia is 21st in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game (123.5) and yards allowed per rush (4.4). The Bills' run game is powered by running back James Cook III. He ranks first in the league in rushing yards (1,532), second in carries (287) and average yards per rush (5.3) and fourth in rushing touchdowns (12).
"There's really nothing you can do once [Cook] skirts past you a few yards because, you know, I'm not catching him. And typically, the defenses aren't either," Allen said. "So, it's fun to kind of hand it off, turn around, put my hands up in the air and just kind of watch him go to work. He's having a fantastic year for us. And super glad he's on our team."
Up against an under-the-radar 2025 Eagles run game
In 2025, the Eagles are 15th in average rush yards per game (121.7) and 22nd in average yards per rush (4.2). Philadelphia was second in the NFL in 2024 in average rush yards per game (179.3). Despite falling in rankings across the league from 2024 to 2025, McDermott isn't underestimating what Philadelphia's offense does on the ground.
"Very talented roster. They've done a great job building it, in particular the key positions," McDermott said. "And numbers are numbers. Numbers can indicate certain things, but they can also not always tell the full story."
Running back Saquon Barkley is ninth in the NFL in rushing yards with 1,072 over 261 carries. McDermott gave Barkley his flowers, but also noted the impressive offensive line that help make that run possible.
Even with a seemingly regressed rushing offense from Philadelphia, the Bills still have a challenge lying ahead. Buffalo's defense is 30th and 31st, respectively, in average yards allowed per game on the ground and average yards allowed per rush.
"It's a tough unit to stop and the run game, in particular, is real. I know what the numbers say," McDermott said. "I'm not buying the numbers."
Bills clinch playoff berth after Week 16 slate, still reaching for AFC East
With a win against Cleveland and Indianapolis losing to the 49ers on Monday, Buffalo clinched a playoff berth for the seventh consecutive season. The Bills secured their spot alongside the Broncos, Patriots, Jaguars and Chargers. They currently sit at the sixth seed in the AFC playoff picture.
"Obviously to accomplish everyone's main goal, got to make the playoffs and giving yourself a chance to win the lottery," Allen said before facing the Browns. "That's your ticket right there is getting into the playoffs."
Even though New England beat Baltimore in Week 16, Buffalo is still in the AFC East race. The Patriots end their season facing the Jets and Dolphins. They need to lose to at least one of those teams, finishing either 13-4 or 12-5.
If New England drops one of those games, the Bills must win out – beating the Eagles and Jets. With two Patriots losses, Buffalo only needs to win one against its remaining two opponents.
"Knowing how to win, I would say, is important overall," McDermott said. "Different ways to win, knowing how to win, being in close games. That's the NFL as it is anyway, as a league as a whole."
The AFC seeding isn't set, meaning it's still a possibility for the Bills to play a playoff game at Highmark Stadium. However, knowing Weeks 17 and 18 of the regular season might be the final two times they take the field in the historic stadium, they're prepared to take it all in with all of Bills Mafia.
"I'm going to enjoy these last two here and know that it's a pretty fun time for our fans and ourselves to be in the stadium," Allen said.
