PHILADELPHIA -- The subplots moved to center stage -- until the game actually started.

For all the talk about running backs LeSean McCoy and DeMarco Murray, they had little impact on the Philadelphia Eagles' game against the Buffalo Bills Sunday.

Quarterback play and defense were the difference as the Eagles beat the Bills, 23-20 to stay alive in the NFC East race.

The Eagles weren’t able to torment Tyrod Taylor as much as they did Tom Brady last week, but they kept the Bills quarterback in check.

Meanwhile, Sam Bradford continued to do just enough to win a game. Bradford’s 53-yard touchdown pass to rookie Nelson Agholor gave the Eagles the lead in the second quarter. They never relinquished it.

It wasn’t pretty. Buffalo tied the game at 20, but neither team was able to seize momentum. The Eagles defense was particularly impressive in this sequence, as the teams exchanged punts and wrangled for field position. The Bills were not able to get out of their own end, and the Eagles were finally able to get the game-winning field goal.

The big play on the drive was Bradford’s 41-yard pass to tight end Zach Ertz. Ertz broke a couple of tackles and thundered down to the Buffalo 18-yard line.

What it means: The Eagles’ victory allowed them to keep pace with Washington, which also won Sunday. Both teams are 6-7. They meet in two weeks at Lincoln Financial Field.

What were they thinking? When Chip Kelly called the Bills and negotiated the McCoy trade in 30 minutes, he couldn’t have known how much trouble it would cause him for months and months. Watching McCoy and the Eagles’ new backs on the same field, it’s hard to believes Kelly now thinks the trade was a good idea.

One reason to get excited: Bradford continues to make strides. He may not be exactly the franchise quarterback Kelly hoped to acquire in trade, but Bradford has been better of late.

Last week, Bradford threw for only 120 yards in an upset victory over New England. But he made important throws, including a first down pass to Riley Cooper when the Eagles were trying to run the clock in the fourth quarter.

Against the Bills, Bradford was sharp. He hit rookie wide receiver Nelson Agholor for a 53-yard touchdown pass down the middle of the field. When the Eagles got the ball with 1:28 left in the first half, Bradford completed five of six passes to move the team within field goal range.

When Bradford did throw an interception, it was hard to blame him. Bradford’s pass to Brent Celek would have given the Eagles a first down at the Buffalo 5-yard line. The ball was ripped from Celek’s grasp by Bills cornerback Leodis McKelvin.

One reason to panic: Amid the euphoria around the Eagles’ 25-28 upset of the Patriots last week, there was a concern that the team wouldn’t be able to sustain the intensity level required to beat the Pats. Kelly, owner Jeff Lurie and Bradford all spoke to the team in efforts to fire the players up. It worked, but can the Eagles repeat that three more times?

It’s not as if they played as poorly as they did in previous losses to Detroit and Tampa Bay, but the Eagles did not play with the same fire they had at New England. Playing at home, with former teammate McCoy wearing a target on his back, the Eagles should have been at peak performance for this one. They weren’t.

Fantasy watch: If you’ve given up on figuring out the Eagles’ running backs, you’re better off. This week, Ryan Mathews got the start. He had 11 carries for 37 yards. Murray, whose role was downsized last week, had nine carries for 30 yards. Darren Sproles had a touchdown, but otherwise, the Eagles’ backs delivered very little bang for the buck.

Ouch: Rookie cornerback Eric Rowe, who has played well since replacing injured Nolan Carroll, limped off with a knee injury in the fourth quarter. The Eagles had good depth in the secondary, but it is getting tested now.

What’s next: The Eagles face their last non-division opponent of the season next Sunday. The NFC West-leading Arizona Cardinals come to the Linc. Not only are the Cardinals 11-2, but they will be coming off extra rest after playing Thursday night. If the Eagles can win that game, they will go into their final two games against Washington and the Giants on a roll.