Bills vs. Cowboys score: Key findings James Cook’s career day is followed by Buffalo bullying Dallas on the ground.

In Week 15, the Dallas Cowboys took on the Buffalo Bills with a five-game winning run and a secured postseason spot. That stretch, though, came to an end as Buffalo’s running game repeatedly punished Dallas, winning 31–10 in the process.

The Bills gained 351 yards versus Dallas’ 195, a 156-yard advantage primarily attributed to their 266 yards gained on the ground. For the first time since 2021, the Cowboys defense gave up more than 250 rushing yards on Sunday under defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. Josh Allen, the quarterback, did not shine this week in Orchard Park; he only completed 7 of his 15 throws for 94 yards and a touchdown in addition to running for 24 yards and a score.

No, James Cook, the running back, was the Bills’ highlight on Sunday. On 25 carries, the second-year, second-round pick amassed a career-high 179 running yards and scored a 24-yard touchdown. This equals an average of 7.2 yards per carry. Along with his two receptions for 42 yards, Cook also scored an 18-yard receiving touchdown in the second quarter. With that accomplishment, Cook became the only Bills player since Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas did so in the 1991 season to have 200+ scrimmage yards (221), one or more rushing touchdowns, and one or more receiving touchdowns in a game.

The Cowboys’ crucial personal foul penalties preceded the Bills’ first two touchdowns. Two plays later, after Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence committed a roughing the passer penalty, the Bills capitalized on a second chance when Latavius Murray scored a 2-yard touchdown run to end their opening drive.

Dallas gave the Bills another extra chance two drives later. On fourth-and-8, Cowboys defensive tackle Sam Williams and Bills punter Sam Martin collided in midair, resulting in a roughing the kicker penalty that prolonged the Buffalo drive.

That’s two uncalled roughness penalties committed by the Cowboys that prolonged drives, and two touchdowns scored by the Bills afterward. After six plays, Cook was wide open in the end zone’s right corner when Allen found him for an eighteen-yard score. With 12:52 left in the half, that made the score 14-0 for the Bills.

Dallas’ only points of the half came from a 32-yard field goal by rookie kicker Brandon Aubrey of the Cowboys, following a failed third drive. At the start of his career, Aubrey improved to an NFL record of 31 for 31 on field goals.

Allen responded immediately with an 11-play touchdown drive on behalf of the Bills. Allen finished the drive with a quarterback sneak score of one yard on the ground. With 1:36 remaining in the half, Buffalo led 21-3 after that. Three of the Bills’ first four drives resulted in touchdowns. Buffalo started the fourth quarter with its backups.

Dak Prescott, the quarterback for the Cowboys, who came into Sunday in the conversation for NFL MVP, completed 21 of 34 passes for 134 yards and one interception. Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy started his players late, but CeeDee Lamb’s three-yard rushing touchdown on a wide receiver reversal helped them eventually score.

Dallas’ season-low of 10 points scored in their first-ever away loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 5 is matched by their current output. The Cowboys lost the battle along the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball mostly due to key injuries up front to defensive lineman Jonathan Hankins, who was ruled out before the game with knee and ankle problems, and right guard Zack Martin, who had a thigh injury.

Why the Bills prevailed
Dallas was outplayed by Buffalo in both possessional and line of scrimmage situations. The Bills outplayed Dallas in first downs (28 to 14) and held the ball for more than ten minutes (35:05 to 24:55).

James Cook also gave his best impression of Thurman Thomas. Josh Allen has only seven completions, so the Bills’ run game and defense performed admirably to lead them to such a resounding victory on Sunday.

The reasons behind the Cowboys’ defeat
For the first time since former Rams running back Todd Gurley in Week 4 of the 2017 season, Dallas gave up more than 250 yards rushing under defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. James Cook also became the first player to amass more than 200 scrimmage yards against Dallas.

They had a terrible problem moving the ball offensively without six-time. Right guard Zack Martin, a member of the First Team All-Pro, left the game in the first half due to a thigh injury. When the Cowboys take an early lead, Micah Parsons and his defense can set the tone for how they want to pressure the opposition quarterback. That’s when they perform at their best.

They never learned to play from behind, and they gave up a touchdown on the first drive against the Bills. A portion of that can be attributed to playing defensive backs in linebacker positions due to injuries. It’s also just a defensive approach they don’t like to play. Quinn and the defensive staff will need to reflect deeply and give themselves a lot of thought after this defeat.

pivotal moment
Sam Williams of the Cowboys defensive line received a roughing the punter penalty. Late in the first quarter, Buffalo had a 7-0 lead. The Dallas defense had only forced a punt when Allen was pressured by Williams, which resulted in an incomplete pass. But in an attempt to block the kick, he sprang and struck Bills punter Sam Martin in midair.

The Bills led 14-0 six plays following the penalty when Allen found Cook for an 18-yard touchdown throw. From that moment on, the Cowboys’ chances of winning the game kept getting worse.

The game being played
Cook’s scoring run of 24 yards. This was by far his best play to yet, and he was the best player on the field. After Allen gave him the shotgun handoff, he quickly threaded through the first wave of Dallas defenders, made just one cut to evade a last diving defender, and flipped into the end zone. This piece captured both the positive things that happened to Buffalo and the negative things that happened to Dallas.