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.
AWFUL MISSED CALL:#Eagles wide receiver AJ Brown had his arm held back and the refs did NOT throw a penalty flag on the Buffalo defender.
This would have been a touchdown & instead it was a 4-point swing.
Buffalo has gotten away with multiple penalties.pic.twitter.com/zpC6WAYweN
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) December 28, 2025
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.
THE REFS CONTINUE TO SCREW PHILLY:
A Buffalo #Bills defender crushed #Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts while he was stepping out of bounds.
A majority of quarterbacks in the #NFL would’ve had this penalty called.
Buffalo keeps getting away with penalties.pic.twitter.com/2yVkipgK0g
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) December 28, 2025
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.
Hurts thrown to the ground well after ball has been thrown.
Nothing.#Eagles pic.twitter.com/HAV2o0hsoS
— Thomas R. Petersen (@thomasrp93) December 28, 2025
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.
Allen loses the ball and the @Eagles recover!
PHIvsBUF on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/8kdQyGl54t
— NFL (@NFL) December 28, 2025
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.
