Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Bills desperately needed a win. They got it, and it came with a fairly stress-free performance.
The defense had a terrific day, while James Cook had a career-best performance. That helped the Bills snap a two-game skid, improve to 9-0 after the bye week under head coach Sean McDermott, and keep pace with the AFC East-leading New England Patriots, who trounced the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
On a day when the Bills scored 40 points, you might find it hard to believe results were mixed from the offense. Cook and the Bills' ground game were dominant, but once again, the passing attack just didn't look right.
Cook, who has taken his game to a higher level this season, was unstoppable. The offensive line opened up holes, the wide receivers and tight ends helped out with their blocking on toss plays, but it was Cook who was the difference maker.
He either exploded through the holes or used cutback moves to get to those openings. Other times, he used his speed to beat Carolina defenders to the edge.
Cook had a great game in just the first half, going for 153 yards on just 12 carries and a 64-yard touchdown run. The 153 yards were the most by a Bills running back in a half since a guy by the name of Thurman Thomas in 1992.
When all was said and done, Cook finished with a career-high 216 yards on 19 carries, which is an unbelievable 11.4 yards per-carry. He had seven runs of 10-plus yards on the day. The 216 yards are the most by a Bills back since O.J. Simpson in 1976.
Cook, along with many starters on offense, only played three quarters because the game had been decided.
It's a good thing Cook was running wild, because the passing game looked awful at times. Once again, their completions were limited to short throws, and then it was a matter of how many yards after the catch the Bills could produce.
In the first half, quarterback Josh Allen was just 6-of-13 for 66 yards.
As has been the case too many times this season, Allen would have to scramble around to extend plays in hopes his targets getting open. More often than not, they did not.
Allen had some bad moments as well. On one play, receiver Elijah Moore was wide open around the Carolina 45-yard line for a big gain and Allen missed him badly.
The Bills quarterback was 12-of-19 for 163 yards and a passing touchdown. It was a season-long 54-yard pass play to Khalil Shakir, but let the record show that 50 of those 54 yards came after the catch.
Buffalo has seemingly lost the ability to strike fear in its opponents through the air.
The defense had a field day against Panthers backup quarterback Andy Dalton, who got the start because third-year starter Bryce Young was injured. The defense recorded season-highs in takeaways with three and sacks with seven.
Seven different Bills had, at least, a half sack, including Michel Hoecht, who made his Bills debut and came up with 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble. Greg Rousseau had a key forced fumble that stopped a Panthers drive deep into Buffalo territory.
A.J. Epenesa had an important interception late in the first half that gave the Bills a drive start at the Carolina 1-yard line. An Allen touchdown run made it 19-3 at the half, and the game was pretty much over.
The Bills run defense, which has been a big problem this season, held Carolina to just 4.1 yards per-carry. Bills opponents had averaged 5.1 yards a carry over the first six games. Third down has also been a trouble spot, but the Panthers converted only 36% of the time (4-of-11).
This game also marked the debut of 2025 first-round pick Maxwell Hairston, who got a handful of series at CB2 in a rotation with Tre'Davious White.
Hairston's most notable play was a good 1-on-1 open field tackle on a lateral to Jimmy Horn that was part of a three-and-out in the second quarter.
The only bad news in the game, and it could be really bad news, was an injury to defensive tackle Ed Oliver. He suffered a biceps injury in the first half and was quickly ruled out for the rest of the game. The Bills are already thin at the tackle spots with DaQuan Jones and T.J. Sanders nursing injuries.
An extended absence for Oliver might force general manager Brandon Beane to look at the trade market by the Nov. 4 deadline.
Bills notes:
- Allen is now tied for the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in NFL history. He has 77 along with Cam Newton.
- Allen passed Newton for first all-time with his 46th game with a touchdown both passing and rushing.
- The 40 points scored is the second-most this season to the 41 in Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens.
- The 31-point margin of victory is the largest since Week 3 of last season when they beat the Jacksonville Jaguars by 37.
- The Bills are now 5-2, and remain a half game behind the New England Patriots. The Patriots will host the Atlanta Falcons next week, while the Bills will welcome the Kansas City Chiefs to Highmark Stadium.
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