Tag: bills cowboys

Bills’ Josh Allen post-Cowboys: ‘Didn’t do anything in class project and got an A’

Solid comparison (but we’ll take it):

On Sunday night in Orchard Park, Bills QB Josh Allen set an NFL record with his 10th game with a passing and rushing TD this season en route to a 31-10 Buffalo win over the Dallas Cowboys.

But it was Bills running back James Cook who would ultimately account for 221 total yards from scrimmage of Buffalo’s 266 total yards of offense.

“I felt like the kid that didn’t do anything in the class project and got an A,” Allen said to the press after the game.

The QB went for 94 yards and a touchdown on only seven completed passes on fifteen attempts, with 24 yards and another score on the ground. Ty Johnson contributed 54 yards and Latavius Murray a touchdown as well.

“I wouldn’t say that was our game plan going into it,” he continued. “We trusted the five guys up front. I thought our tight ends blocked really well, too. So six, seven guys up front. The backs made us right. I think we had 270 yards rushing, something like that. It’s unbelievable.”

What’s more, it featured two significant improvements from recent years in that it didn’t rely too heavily on Allen to do everything, and it featured an established run game as part of the Bills’ offense.

“We’re getting better as the season goes on,” Allen added. “I think that’s kind of what we’re built for, games like this. Finding ways. Our defense went out there against a fantastic offense and did their thing. It was a complete team win today.”

“You need to be able to play that way down the stretch because of weather or they’re taking away your fastball,” McDermott said “I just believe in that. Just philosophically, holistically, you’ve got to show that you can do that: Be a two-dimensional offense or, in this case, a one-dimensional offense via the run. It just helps the whole football team. It keeps their explosive offense on the sideline. And it’s just a mindset, too.”

The Bills helped their cause in pursuit of a playoff berth, keeping their hopes alive with three games left ahead of them in the regular season.

“We’ve just got to keep finding ways to win,” Allen pointed out. “Some days it’s going to be like that. Some days it’s going to be the opposite. We’re going to have to throw the ball. So we understand that. We know that. But at the end of the day, especially in the spot that we’re at right now, just win.”

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Bills’ James Cook on career day vs. Cowboys: ‘I just let it rip’

#Bills’ James Cook on career day vs. #Cowboys: ‘I just let it rip’

Bills RB James Cook had a career day in Buffalo’s 31-10 win against the Cowboys.

His 221 all-purpose offensive yards were more than Dallas’s offense put up all game.

Suffice it to say his confidence isn’t lacking when the ball is handed to him.

“I mean it’s been there, you know? I just let it rip when I get my opportunity,” Cook said to the media.

Buffalo’s RB1 beat the Cowboys’ third-ranked defense early and often, averaging 7.2 yards per carry on Sunday while adding two catches for 42 yards and a touchdown, and a 24-yard touchdown run.

“They’re a great defense, so once you get the ball, you can’t hesitate,” he added. “You just got to go.”

Cook’s 221 yards from scrimmage were the third most by any NFL player in a game this season, and he’s the first Bills player with 200+ scrimmage yards, one or more rushing touchdowns, and one or more receiving touchdowns in a contest since Hall of Fame Bills running back Thurman Thomas (1991).

“He’s a dog, man,” DE Greg Rousseau said. “I played against Cook when I was like 10 years old. We’re both from Florida. So, he’s like a legend down there and he’s doing his thing up here. Real proud of him. He’s a younger guy, but you wouldn’t even know it by the way he plays. So he’s a baller. He’s certified.”

With Sunday’s win Cook now has three 100-yard games this season, including five straight contests with at least 100 yards from scrimmage.

“Get James touches, right?” head coach Sean McDermott said. “Touches matter to a running back (so) they can get into a lather and get going and get into a rhythm — and same for an offensive line. James’s development No. 1, credit him, No. 2, (running backs coach Kelly) Skipper and then the running backs that are in the room around James, also, on a daily basis have helped with his development, his maturation cause there’s highs and lows.”

Bills offensive lineman Dion Dawkins even promoted Cook to a new nickname during his postgame comments.

“Things have changed… Cook becomes Chef.”

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Cowboys’ Micah Parsons: ‘Matt Milano is a top-three linebacker in the NFL’

Micah Parsons even raves about Matt Milano:

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons is very, very good.

Since joining the league in 2021, he has continued to rack up sacks, fumbles, and awards.

And the 2021 Defensive Rookie Of The Year on his podcast The Edge with Micah Parsons recently spoke about an All-Pro linebacker on the Buffalo Bills.

Milano started the 2023 NFL season phenomenally for the Bills, and has received plaudits from everyone, including writers, teammates, and even opposing offensive coordinators. Unfortunately, Milano’s season was cut short due to a leg injury, and the Buffalo defense has severely underperformed during his absence.

And Parsons notices it, too.

“Obviously, you see the difference with Matt Milano. Matt Milano is, you know, a top three linebacker in the league, and I don’t care what no one says,” Parsons said on his podcast.

Parsons went on to highlight how he believes that Milano hasn’t received the appropriate praise. You can watch the full clip below:

Will the Bills All-Pro linebacker be back in time to face Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys in December? Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott provided a brief update on Matt’s presence around Orchard Park recently but there is still no timetable for his return.

But first, the Bills (5-3) will look to toppled the Cincinnati Bengals (3-4) without the reliable defender.

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How Dak Prescott’s massive new contract impacts the Bills & Josh Allen

Looking at Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott extension and Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen.

As is usually the case, one of the NFL’s biggest headlines this offseason surrounded the Dallas Cowboys. Would they franchise tag quarterback Dak Prescott again or could a long-awaited extension finally happen?

The latter took place on Monday.

According to Cowboys Wire, Dallas and Prescott agreed to a massive new contract worth up to $160 million over four years.

In terms of the Buffalo Bills, on the surface, Prescott’s deal means little. But below it? It means a whole lot.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen is entering the final year of his rookie contract on the heels of an unprecedented breakout season in 2020.

Because of last year, the Buffalo QB and the Cowboys’ signal caller have something in common. Most would agree that they both belong in the same realm of discussion in terms of elite quarterbacks in the NFL.

Therefore, with Allen being on the brink of a contract extension of his own, it’s important to note the details of Prescott’s extension. It could be an example of how much the Bills might have to shell out to Allen.

Of Prescott’s $160M, he will get $126M fully guaranteed, a NFL record for guaranteed value. In terms of average annual value, Prescott clocks in at $40M per year. Only Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes has a higher figure ($45M).

Another non-financial number to consider: Age. Currently 27, Prescott has a few years on the current 24-year-old Allen. That and two NFL seasons worth of experience.

Over their first three seasons, here’s how Prescott and Allen’s number stack up, side-by-side:

  • Prescott: 66.1 completion % | 10,876 passing yards | 67 pass TDs | 25 INTs
  • Allen: 61.8 completion % | 9,707 passing yards | 67 pass TDs | 31 INTs

And of course, none of the numbers listed include Allen’s rushing totals. In two less seasons, Allen (1,562) has ran for more yards than Prescott (1,314).

While we can continue to breakdown projections heading forward and in the past between Allen and Prescott, it’s already pretty simple to see. Prescott’s deal shows it might be a good idea for the Bills to lockup Allen to a contract extension as soon as possible. Allen will command something around that same area, perhaps even more if he doubles down on his improvement in 2021 like many in Bills Mafia hope he does.

Not the mention the other factors that might come into play.

What if Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield signs an extension within the ballpark of Prescott? Allen’s price tag will then certainly go up even further since he has had the better career-to-date than Mayfield.

Then there’s Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson as well. He also could reset the market. Allen, Mayfield, and Jackson are all entering the final years on their rookie deals.

Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane will certainly be taking all of this into consideration.

A few weeks back, Beane said Allen’s contract extension might have to wait until later this offseason. Beane specifically said after free agency this month and April’s draft.

Fair… but Beane and the Bills might not want to push it any further down the road than that, even if the team picks up the fifth-year option on Allen’s rookie contract. As the Cowboys proved, putting things off with your franchise QB might only increase the financial implications.

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How Dak Prescott’s massive new contract impacts the Bills & Josh Allen

Looking at Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott extension and Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen.

As is usually the case, one of the NFL’s biggest headlines this offseason surrounded the Dallas Cowboys. Would they franchise tag quarterback Dak Prescott again or could a long-awaited extension finally happen?

The latter took place on Monday.

According to Cowboys Wire, Dallas and Prescott agreed to a massive new contract worth up to $160 million over four years.

In terms of the Buffalo Bills, on the surface, Prescott’s deal means little. But below it? It means a whole lot.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen is entering the final year of his rookie contract on the heels of an unprecedented breakout season in 2020.

Because of last year, the Buffalo QB and the Cowboys’ signal caller have something in common. Most would agree that they both belong in the same realm of discussion in terms of elite quarterbacks in the NFL.

Therefore, with Allen being on the brink of a contract extension of his own, it’s important to note the details of Prescott’s extension. It could be an example of how much the Bills might have to shell out to Allen.

Of Prescott’s $160M, he will get $126M fully guaranteed, a NFL record for guaranteed value. In terms of average annual value, Prescott clocks in at $40M per year. Only Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes has a higher figure ($45M).

Another non-financial number to consider: Age. Currently 27, Prescott has a few years on the current 24-year-old Allen. That and two NFL seasons worth of experience.

Over their first three seasons, here’s how Prescott and Allen’s number stack up, side-by-side:

  • Prescott: 66.1 completion % | 10,876 passing yards | 67 pass TDs | 25 INTs
  • Allen: 61.8 completion % | 9,707 passing yards | 67 pass TDs | 31 INTs

And of course, none of the numbers listed include Allen’s rushing totals. In two less seasons, Allen (1,562) has ran for more yards than Prescott (1,314).

While we can continue to breakdown projections heading forward and in the past between Allen and Prescott, it’s already pretty simple to see. Prescott’s deal shows it might be a good idea for the Bills to lockup Allen to a contract extension as soon as possible. Allen will command something around that same area, perhaps even more if he doubles down on his improvement in 2021 like many in Bills Mafia hope he does.

Not the mention the other factors that might come into play.

What if Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield signs an extension within the ballpark of Prescott? Allen’s price tag will then certainly go up even further since he has had the better career-to-date than Mayfield.

Then there’s Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson as well. He also could reset the market. Allen, Mayfield, and Jackson are all entering the final years on their rookie deals.

Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane will certainly be taking all of this into consideration.

A few weeks back, Beane said Allen’s contract extension might have to wait until later this offseason. Beane specifically said after free agency this month and April’s draft.

Fair… but Beane and the Bills might not want to push it any further down the road than that, even if the team picks up the fifth-year option on Allen’s rookie contract. As the Cowboys proved, putting things off with your franchise QB might only increase the financial implications.

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Even in packed house, Cole Beasley still prefers Bills over Cowboys

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley still happy he left the Dallas Cowboys.

Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley went the way of Terrell Owens last season. The former member of American’s team in the Cowboys made his way to North America’s team in Buffalo via free agency.

Beasley previously called it a pretty easy decision to sign with the Bills. He cited wanting a new team that’s going to give him more opportunities than Dallas would give him. But wait… let’s flash forward a year.

The Bills traded for wide receiver Stefon Diggs this offseason. If he’s at the top of the depth chart, that slides Beasley down, right? Does he now regret his decision to join the Bills?

Maybe there’s a point about the depth chart to be made, but there’s no weight in the latter. Beasley is still happy he left the Cowboys for the Bills last offseason, giving plenty of reason why.

“No because we throw it a lot more here than we did in Dallas at that time. We had DeMarco Murray and Zeke and we were really feeding those guys as well, so there was way, way, less opportunity there. And then in that offense, I was kind of just limited to just third downs, so that just made it even tougher because then everybody just knew where it was going on third down. So this [Bills] offense is just way different,” Beasley said.

And that’s not the only justification Beasley made. Maybe he’s not with the world-wide known Cowboys anymore, he’s with the Bills. Beasley is 31 this season and knows he won’t play forever. He wants to win the big one, and Beasley said a move like Diggs is a step in the right direction toward finding a Super Bowl appearance with the Bills.

Admittedly, Beasley said that thought process might not have been the one he previously had in Dallas. Numbers meant something to him then. Whether it was Sean McDermott’s “process” or something else we don’t know, but Beasley explained things have just changed for him now and he’s coveting team above all else in Buffalo.

“I don’t know, I can’t really say like… It just seems like it was one day. I woke up and I was like ‘I don’t care what anybody else outside of here thinks anymore.’ Too many people get caught up on that now a days,” Beasley said. “I just made up in my mind that nobody matters except my teammates, my family, and that’s it.”

But hey, it might not even matter how Beasley feels, anyway. Buffalo offensive coordinator Brian Daboll discussed Beasley, specifically, last week and it sounds like the Bills’ slot expert is still very much in the plans.

“I’ve always had a lot of confidence in Cole,” Daboll said. “If (opponents) play heavy guys outside, then that usually opens up stuff inside. If they play heavy inside, that usually opens up stuff outside.

“I feel very confident in Cole with what he can do. But there’s a lot of guys on our team right now that are working to establish a role. No question I feel confident in Cole and the things that he can do inside.”

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By The Numbers: Stats to know from Bills win over Cowboys

Six important stats to know from the Bills’ Week 13 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

Well, well, well…

Don’t look now, but all of the sudden, the Buffalo Bills are national darlings.

It seemed like just yesterday, the upstart Bills were content to fly under the radar, picking up victories against what some in the media might call cupcake opponents. Buffalo entered its Thanksgiving Day game at Dallas as an overlooked 8-3 team which was presumably en route to a crash-landing back to earth at the hands of the Cowboys.

Except, by now, you know that didn’t happen. Instead, the Bills thumped the Cowboys 26-15, and had their Week 15 match up at Pittsburgh flexed to prime time.

Not a bad way to spend a holiday weekend.

Here’s a look at a few key figures that helped propel Buffalo to its ninth win of the season in Week 13:

79.1 percent

Bills quarterback Josh Allen turned in a gem in his first outing as Buffalo’s quarterback in front of a nationwide audience.

Allen threw for 231 yards and a touchdown on 19-of-24 passing for a career-high 79.1 percent completion rate. He ran for 43 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, putting his full game on display for the world to see.

Not only was Allen efficient, he played an extremely clean game. Allen, and the Buffalo offense, didn’t turn the ball over; he converted a fumbled snap into a first down run on a fourth in the second quarter.

110

As good as Allen was, Thursday’s victory could easily go down as The Cole Beasley Revenge Game.

In his return to Dallas, playing against his former team for the first time, the wideout hauled in six receptions for a season-high 110 yards and a touchdown. It marked the second consecutive game in which Beasley caught at least six passes and a touchdown. He had six receptions for 76 yards and a score in the Week 12 win over Denver.

Beasley has 55 receptions for 635 yards and five touchdowns on the season, and is on track to catch 73 balls for 846 yards and seven touchdowns; the yards and touchdowns would be career highs for eighth-year veteran out of SMU.

28

John Brown became the first Bills receiver in franchise history to throw a touchdown pass, when his 28-yard pass on a trick play in the second quarter found a wide-open Devin Singletary for a go-ahead score.

Brown is the first non-quarterback to throw a touchdown for Buffalo since Fred Jackson threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Lee Evans in a Week 10 loss to Tennessee in 2009.

Brown finished with four receptions for a season-low 26 yards, but his play as a passer is what he will be remembered for in the victory over the Cowboys.

Two

Rookie defensive lineman Ed Oliver recorded his first multi-sack game of his career, bringing down Dak Prescott twice in Thursday’s win. It also marked Oliver’s third straight game with a sack, after recording just one through Buffalo’s first nine games.

After struggling to see the field midway though the season, Oliver is surging down the stretch. He’s notched 28 tackles, four tackles for loss, seven quarterback hits and a forced fumble through 12 career games.

12

Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliot to 71 yards on just 12 carries, which tied his fewest carries this season with a Week 5 loss to Green Bay. Elliott did have a season-high seven receptions for 66 yards in the loss.

+6.5

The Bills welcome in the AFC’s top-seeded Ravens to New Era Field in Week 14, a game in which Buffalo opened as 6.5-point underdog.
Baltimore (10-2) is 6-51 against the spread, but 4-1 in its last five. Buffalo (9-3) is 8-3-1 against the number, but 4-0-1 in its last five.

The over/ under is set for 43.5 The over is 3-2 in Baltimore’s last five games, while the over is 1-4 in Buffalo’s previous five.

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Bills snap counts: Depth chart breakdown vs. Cowboys

The Bills took to the national stage on Thanksgiving and beat the Dallas Cowboys 26-15.

The Bills took to the national stage on Thanksgiving and beat the Dallas Cowboys 26-15. A win that was so impressive, the Bills’ Week 15 game was flexed into Sunday Night Football.

Get ready for the nation’s eyes again.

But before that, here’s a full depth chart breakdown via snap counts for the Bills against the Cowboys in Week 13:

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Robert Foster. (AP Photo/John Munson)

Offense

Notes:

  • At RT, rookie Cody Ford played every single snap with the offensive line for the second-straight week and only second time in his career.
  • Rookie RB Devin Singletary played in 78 percent of snaps to Frank Gore’s 22 percent.
  • Heavy 11 personnel continued for the Bills, but Isaiah McKenzie’s snap counts took a hit. After playing in 77 and 74 percent of offensive snaps the past two weeks, respectively, McKenzie played in only 45 percent vs. the Cowboys. Robert Foster played in 42 percent, a season-high.
  • Rookie TE Dawson Knox tied his career-high snap percent at 78. He set that same mark last week.
  • TE Tyler Kroft played in only 18 percent of snaps vs. the Cowboys. For games he played in, that was a season-low.
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Reaction: What national media said about Bills’ Thanksgiving win

What national media outlets said about the Buffalo Bills’ win over the Dallas Cowboys.

The Bills topped the Dallas Cowboys, 26-15. It wasn’t Sunday at 1 p.m.

It was a convincing win on a national stage on Thanksgiving.

The Bills left some good impressions following that one.

Here’s what some national media analysts said on social media about the Bills’ win over the Cowboys:

Albert Breer, The MMQB

Jeff Darlington, ESPN

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports

Bleacher Report

Jordan Schultz, ESPN

Kyle Brandt, GMFB

Stephen A. Smith, ESPN

Pardon My Take, Barstool Sports

Chris Mortensen, Field Yates, ESPN

Bucky Brooks, NFL.com

Skip Bayless, Fox Sports

Pro Football Focus

Ian Rapoport, NFL Network

Dan Katz. Barstool Sports

Barstool Sports

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WATCH: Tre’Davious White eats Josh Allen’s turkey leg

Tre’Davious White, Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills win and a turkey leg.

After the Bills’ topped the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving, your winning quarterback earn an award. Speaking to CBS broadcaster Tracy Wolfson, Josh Allen was given a turkey leg after the win.

According to the broadcast, Allen said as a kid, he dreamt of eating a turkey leg after winning. CBS did just that for Allen and let him chow down on camera.

While Allen was doing so, Tre’Davious White was hungry, too. The defender came up from behind Allen and took a big bite of his turkey.

Sharing is caring?

Here’s White’s bite via The Bills Wire’s Bradley Gelber:

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