On Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys went into their Week 15 clash with the Buffalo Bills with a five-game winning streak and an assured place in the playoffs. Unfortunately, that run was harshly interrupted as Buffalo ruthlessly deployed their ground attack to secure a decisive 31-10 triumph.
Buffalo recorded a yardage advantage of 351 to 195, an edge of 156 yards primarily due to their impressive 266 yards running game. This makred the first instance under defensive coordinator Dan Quinn that the Cowboys defense has conceded over 250 yards via the ground. Surprisingly, Bills' QB Josh Allen was not the game's standout player. Despite throwing and running for a score, Allen was not the headline act.
The star of the match was Bills' second-year RB James Cook who registered a career-best 179 rushing yards on 25 carries, featuring a 24-yard touchdown. Cook's effort resulted in a fantastic average of 7.2 yards per carry. Additionally, Cook recorded 42 receiving yards on two receptions, one of which was an 18-yard touchdown in the second quarter. This display makes Cook the first Bill to register over 200 scrimmage yards (221) in a game along with at least one rushing and receiving touchdown each since legendary RB Thurman Thomas achieved this in the 1991 season.
Buffalo's impressive victory against the Cowboys witnessed Allen record scores through running and throwing, marking a notable NFL record as the first quarterback to do so in 10 different games in a single season, per ESPN. The Bills improved their standing to 8-6 following the victory, suggesting that they are an under-estimated threat if they make it into the postseason.