The Philadelphia Eagles’ 13–12 win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 17 may go down as one of the most controversial games of the 2025 NFL season.

While the final score suggested a nail-biter decided in the final seconds, film review, expert breakdowns, and fan reaction have painted a very different picture. In a rain-soaked, low-scoring matchup at Highmark Stadium, the Eagles controlled large stretches of the game, only to see multiple questionable officiating decisions tilt momentum back toward Buffalo.

Even more striking, a legendary voice from Buffalo itself has now stepped forward.

Bills Hall of Famer Thurman Thomas did not sugarcoat what he saw.

According to Thomas, the scoreboard failed to reflect what actually happened on the field.

Thurman Thomas:
“I’m disappointed the Bills lost, but the truth is the Eagles controlled that game. If the officiating was fair, we’re not talking about a 13–12 finish. That score could’ve easily been 30–12.”

Thomas’ comments immediately caught fire among Eagles fans, who had already been furious over a series of missed calls that appeared to consistently work against Philadelphia.

Early in the game, with the Eagles leading 13–0 late in the first half, Jalen Hurts threw a pass into the end zone intended for A.J. Brown. Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White clearly grabbed Brown’s left arm throughout the route, forcing a one-handed attempt that fell incomplete. No defensive pass interference was called, wiping away what could have been a momentum-crushing touchdown.

Later, Hurts absorbed a late hit while running out of bounds. No roughing or unnecessary roughness was flagged, denying Philadelphia 15 free yards and allowing Buffalo to avoid another momentum swing.

Jalen Hurts also appeared to be shoved and held on a key third-down route near midfield, resulting in another no-call that forced the Eagles to punt in a crucial second-half possession.

Perhaps the most debated moment came in the third quarter, when Josh Allen was hit, lost the ball, and appeared to fumble under pressure. Officials ruled the play an incomplete pass, invoking a tuck-style interpretation that many analysts immediately questioned after replay showed Allen losing control before his arm came forward.

Thomas acknowledged those moments directly.

Thurman Thomas:
“There were several plays where the Bills clearly benefited. You can’t ignore that. Those are game-changing situations, and they all seemed to go one way.”

Despite those setbacks, the Eagles defense never broke. Philadelphia bottled up Buffalo for most of the afternoon, blocked an extra point, and delivered the defining moment by stopping the Bills’ two-point conversion attempt with five seconds remaining.

To Thomas, that final stand erased any doubt about which team truly earned the win.

Thurman Thomas:
“That stop at the end told you everything. When it mattered most, the Eagles made the play. That’s dominance, not luck.”

While some Bills supporters continue to focus on yardage totals and time of possession, even a Buffalo legend has now acknowledged what many Eagles fans already believed.

Philadelphia didn’t survive the Bills.

They outplayed them — even while fighting the officials.

What looked like a gritty, playoff-style win for the Philadelphia Eagles quickly turned into a war of words after the final whistle in Orchard Park.

Following Philadelphia’s 13–12 road victory over the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium, comments from Bills head coach Sean McDermott began circulating that immediately caught the attention of Eagles fans. While the Eagles leaned heavily on defense to survive late drama, McDermott made it clear he didn’t believe the result reflected which team truly played better football.

According to multiple reporters in Buffalo, McDermott suggested the outcome came down to circumstance rather than execution.

Sean McDermott:
“When games are decided by one play at the end like that, sometimes it’s not about who played better for 60 minutes. Sometimes it’s just how the ball bounces. That’s football.”

Those words did not sit well in Philadelphia.

From the opening series, the Eagles defense dictated the tone, repeatedly meeting Buffalo at the point of attack and controlling the line of scrimmage. Philadelphia built a 13–0 halftime lead, blocked an extra point, and forced Buffalo into desperation mode late in the fourth quarter.

Even after Josh Allen powered n a one-yard touchdown with five seconds remaining, the Bills’ decision to go for two was denied, sealing the Eagles’ third straight win and keeping them alive in the race for the NFC’s No. 2 seed.

Still, McDermott doubled down on the idea that the result didn’t reflect dominance.

Sean McDermott:
“We had chances all game. We outgained them, controlled time of possession, and put ourselves in position to win. That’s not luck — but the final result doesn’t always tell the whole story.”

The numbers may have favored Buffalo late, but the Eagles defense made the plays that mattered most. Jalen Carter recorded a sack, a tackle for loss, and blocked the extra point that ultimately changed the math in the final seconds.

As criticism and frustration grew louder from Buffalo, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni was asked directly about McDermott’s remarks — and he didn’t shy away from responding.

Sirianni chose his words carefully, but the message was unmistakable:

“You got to give yourself points when you win. When you win football games, there’s always things to clean up when you come out of a football game. But if you come out of a football game where you win on the road in a hostile environment, man, they got really good fans, against a really good football team that’s had the sustained success that we have,” Sirianni said.

“If you come out of this and you’re just thinking about all the negative things that happen, that makes for a miserable existence. We’ll get there. We’ll get to what we need to clean up. And you know, really good first half by the offense, not a great second half, and a lot of different reasons why. Winning is hard in this league, and I’m always gonna enjoy a win, and then I’m gonna be really hyper critical on myself first and foremost, and then, and then the rest of the guys after that, and the coaches. So, yeah, you feel great.”

The Eagles improved to 11–5 on the season, clinched the NFC East, and ensured at least one home playoff game. More importantly, they once again proved they can protect a lead when everything tightens late — something that travels in January.

Philadelphia will now return home to host the Washington Commanders, while Buffalo faces questions about missed opportunities and a postseason path that now likely runs through the road.

For Eagles fans, one thing is clear.

Call it luck if you want — the scoreboard still says Eagles 13, Bills 12.