Charlotte, N.C. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Bills dominated the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, 40-9, to improve to 5-2 on the season and snap a two-game losing skid.
Here are my Arrows Up and Down from the contest, starting Up for the first time since Week 4:
ARROW UP:
RB - James Cook
Cook was not only dominant, but historic.
He ran for 216 yards, the sixth-most ever in one game in franchise history, and the most since O.J. Simpson did it in 1976! He did this on 19 carries, averaging 11.4 yards per-run, and added two touchdowns, including a run of 64 yards.
The defense
It was a total group effort and dominant performance by a much-maligned Bills defense, which held the Panthers to 244 total yards and just nine points.
Personnel adjustments by coaching staff
The Bills not only activated Maxwell Hairston earlier than most expected, they also played him early and often. Jordan Hancock was also inserted at safety on passing downs early in the game.
Michael Hoecht and Larry Ogunjobi got a lot of playing time in their first game back, and the defense played plenty of three-linebacker sets with Shaq Thompson, Dorian Williams, and Joe Andreessen with both Terrel Bernard and Matt Milano out.
The offensive line
Cook doesn't have the day he does without the offensive line doing a terrific job against one of the better defensive lines in the NFL, especially on the interior.
As a team, the Bills ran for 245 yards and four rushing touchdowns, and totaled 410 yards of offense.
They were bullies up front.
Run defense
The Panthers came into the contest with one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL, averaging over 140 yards per-game and 4.72 yards per-run. The Bills defense held them to just 114 yards and 4.1 yards per-carry.
They held Rico Dowdle, who came into the game with the third-most yards in the league, to just 54 yards.
Tackling
The Bills defense was so much better at tackling on Sunday than they have been this season, which was a huge reason for their defensive success.
Seven sacks!
The Bills defense sacked Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton seven times! Carolina lost a total of 45 yards on those sacks.
DE - Michael Hoecht
In his first game in a Bills uniform, Hoecht was every bit the versatile defender they signed him to be. He collected 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, was credited with a quarterback hurry, and three total tackles.
CB - Maxwell Hairston
Also playing his first game for the team that drafted him in the first round, Hairston looked confident and comfortable. He was in good position when he needed to be and even made a really physical tackle on the perimeter.
DE - A.J. Epenesa
Epenesa had one of the plays of the game when he jumped to bat a Dalton pass, but then corralled it and took it the other way for 24 yards to set the Bills offense up at the Panthers' 1-yard line.
Epenesa filled the stat sheet, as well, finishing with the pass breakup and interception, a sack, a quarterback hurry and three total tackles.
DE - Joey Bosa
Bosa was creating pressure all afternoon, and finished with a sack, two tackles, including one for a loss, and two quarterback hurries.
DE - Greg Rouuseau
Rousseau also had a big day on the stat sheet, collecting three tackles, including one for loss, a sack, a quarterback hurry, and a forced fumble.
WR - Khalil Shakir
Shakir caught six passes for 88 yards and a touchdown, which came on a terrific run after catch, when he broke tackles and took it 54 yards to the end zone.
P - Mitch Wishnowsky
Wishnowsky punted just three times, but placed two inside the Carolina 20-yard line, giving them tough starting field position.
Third down offense and defense
The Bills were very good on third down on both sides of the ball, converting 7-of-12 (58.3%) on offense and holding Carolina to just 4-of-11 (36.4%) on defense.
ARROW DOWN:
Lack of wide receiver separation and involvement
Once again, Bills receivers had a tough time getting open, which resulted in very few opportunities for Allen.
Outside of Shakir, who caught most of his passes on short routes and screens, wideouts were targeted eight times and had just four catches for 44 yards.
Josh Allen's first half
Through the first two quarters, Allen misfired on several passes, and completed just 6-of-13 throws (46.2%) for 66 yards. He also ran around and took a huge sack in the first quarter that resulted in a 16-yard loss instead of throwing the ball away.
Not scoring touchdowns on the first two drives
The Bills were set up beautifully on both of their first two offensive drives, but cashed in only field goals on each of them.
On the first drive, they had a 1st-and-10 at the Carolina 23-yard line, but then lost four yards before kicking. On the second, they had a 3rd-and-1 at the Panthers' 9-yard line and gained a first down, but were called for a penalty. Then another.
Eventually, they were faced with a 4th-and-25.
Penalties
Once again, the Bills were flagged for far too many penalties, totaling seven for 60 yards.
Running game outside of James Cook
While Cook ran for 216 yards on 19 carries, Ray Davis and Ty Johnson combined for just 22 yards on 13 carries. Allen had three runs for 7 yards and two touchdowns, giving the team 1.81 yards per-carry outside of Cook.
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