There wasn’t much on the line for the two teams at Ralph Wilson Stadium Sunday afternoon.
Both the Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills were left playing for nothing but pride, with playoff aspirations already eliminated.
It wasn’t pretty, but the Bills (7-8) outlasted the Cowboys (4-11), 16-6 in a low scoring affair on a rainy day in Orchard Park, NY.
Mike Gillislee (9 carries, 93 yards), Karlos Williams (17 for 76) and quarterback Tyrod Taylor (14 for 67) combined for 236 yards rushing to lead the Buffalo charge.
Buffalo was missing their Pro Bowl running back LeSean McCoy due to a knee-injury, but still rushed for over 230 yards on the ground for the third time this season.
“I think [the running game] is absolutely terrific,” Bills coach Rex Ryan said after the win. “And the guys, like I say, you got a Pro Bowl running back out. Yet these two young men stepped in and did a tremendous job for us and I think our offensive line sometimes doesn’t get the credit they deserve…The guys stepped in and did a great job. We lost [Charles] Clay, so we lose one of the better blocking tight ends in the league and yet we still find a way to get it done. That’s a real credit to our players and to our coaches as well.”
As the stats show, the running backs weren’t the only ones to have success on the ground.
With a six-yard run in the 2nd quarter, Taylor became the Bills all-time leading rusher for a quarterback during a season, passing Doug Flutie’s mark of 476 yards set in 1999. Taylor, who sits at 517 rushing yards with one game left in the season, also went 13 of 18 (72.2%) for 179 yards in another efficient day under center.
He didn’t turn the ball over a single time.
“That’s what separates him from a lot of guys,” Ryan added about his quarterback. “I mean his ability to run. It’s so hard to defend from a defensive stand point and when you got a guy that has that kind of options, I mean they got some really good pass rushers there, but it’s just his escape ability in one of the tops in the league.”
Receiver Sammy Watkins added five receptions for 84 yards to round out the day for the Buffalo offense.
“I think now more leaders are speaking up and calling people out; that’s what we need,” Watkins said after the game. “Even if I get called out, I’m fine with that. We’ve got to become our team, not the coaches, not everybody else, not the outside world. We’ve got to control what we can control and I think it’s getting there. That’s why everybody’s having fun, it’s the time of the year to build off that and come together.”
Dallas got the scoring started off of their opening possession, driving 52 yards on 11 plays which was capped off by a 46-yard Dan Bailey field goal to give the Cowboys a 3-0 lead.
Buffalo’s offense sputtered out of the gate, but took their second possession of the day for a five play, 60-yard scoring drive that was finished with a one-yard Karlos Williams plunge to put Buffalo ahead 6-3.
Dan Carpenter missed yet another PAT, which kept it a field goal game heading into the second quarter.
Dallas struck first in the second frame, converting another Bailey field goal attempt, this time from 22-yards out to knot the game at six.
The two sides went scoreless the rest of the half, heading into the tunnel remaining tied up at six.
After trading possession to open the third quarter, Buffalo went on a 10-play, 56 yard drive that ended in a 32-yard Dan Carpenter field goal.
It put Buffalo up 9-6 and they would never trail again.
After exchanging turnovers at the end of the third, the two teams remained scoreless until Gillislee broke free down the sideline for a 50-yard score to put Buffalo ahead for good 16-6.
“[Gillislee's] a very talented guy,” said Bills guard Richie Incognito. “I think you kind of see him coming into his own, being a professional, and doing the little stuff to earn playing time and when you get the playing time you go out there and make plays and that’s how you make a name for yourself in this league.”
On the ensuing kickoff, Lucky Whitehead fumbled away the ball, giving it right back to Buffalo.
After picking up a first down, the Bills were able to run the clock out and collect the victory.
“[I] always had this confidence, it was the matter of opportunity and the Bills gave me a hell of an opportunity,” Gillislee said. “I am taking advantage of it.”
“Oh yeah, we’ve been able to move the ball all year,” Karlos Williams said. “I believe we have the best rushing attack in the NFL. We’ve had multiple running backs be able to lead the way. Today Mike [Gillislee] led the way. Running the ball inside, outside, being able to pound the ball down the field. Mike getting outside and getting away like he did, that’s something special. You have different backs that can do it. But like I said [earlier to reporters], the real credit goes to the guys up front. The backs change, but those guys, they stay consistent. They move, they grind it out and we’re happy to be able to come out with a win.”
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