**But the two accounts are surely describing the same couple of events and they vary widely on the details.**
Maybe they compliment each other.
The priests used Judas' money (they weren't about to take it back) to by the parcel of land, as though that is what Judas would have or could have done. Thereby washing their hands of it and considering themselves as his puchasing agent, yet innocent of any wrongdoing.
Now, if you are munching on something, read the following when your stomach is settled:
Maybe Judas' body wasn't found right away.
When a body has a week in the sun to swell up, and rot; the head can separate from the weight of the body, which would pop like a pimple when dropped several feet onto a hard surface.
You wanted an explanation. I gave you one.
You still can't make it happen HEADFIRST.
And you can't explain why Acts forgot to mention that he was hanging for a week before describing his guts.
You really have to imagine some pretty bizarro events to make the two accounts non-contradictory. Can't fault you for trying, but it's more than a stretch.