National Football League
Buffalo 31, Dallas 10
When: 4:25 PM ET, Sunday, December 17, 2023
Where: Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
Temperature: 48°
Head Official: Craig Wrolstad
Attendance: 70933

James Cook rushed for a career-high 179 yards and totaled two touchdowns to propel the Buffalo Bills to a 31-10 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in Orchard Park, N.Y.

Cook reeled in an 18-yard touchdown pass from Josh Allen early in the second quarter and rushed for a 24-yard score early in the fourth. The second-year running back also set career-high totals in carries (25) and scrimmage yards (221).

Allen, who threw for just 94 yards, passed for a touchdown and rushed for another for an NFL-record 10th game in a single season. He bullied his way in from 1 yard out with 1:36 left in the second quarter to set the record he previously shared with Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (2020).

The Bills (8-6) posted their second straight win by limiting the Cowboys' top-ranked scoring offense to just 195 total yards and 14 first downs.

Dallas' Dak Prescott threw for just 134 yards and an interception and CeeDee Lamb rushed for a 3-yard touchdown.

The Cowboys (10-4) clinched a postseason berth for the third straight season prior to the game. They punched their ticket after the Atlanta Falcons dropped a 9-7 decision to the Carolina Panthers and the Green Bay Packers fell 34-20 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier Sunday.

In addition to the lopsided result, Dallas also lost All-Pro right guard Zack Martin to a left quadriceps injury late in the first quarter. He was injured on a hit by Greg Rousseau and was ruled out for the contest after halftime.

Penalties proved costly for Dallas. The Cowboys committed a personal foul on each of Buffalo's three touchdown drives in the first half.

DeMarcus Lawrence's roughing the passer penalty on third-and-4 extended the Bills' opening drive. Latavius Murray capped it off by pushing his way into the end zone from 2 yards out to open the scoring.

Sam Williams' roughing the kicker penalty on a punt extended another drive for Buffalo, which capped it off with Cook's touchdown reception.

Rookie Brandon Aubrey drilled a 32-yard field goal to put the Cowboys on the board midway through the second quarter. Jayron Kearse's unnecessary roughness penalty then gave Buffalo a first down on a drive that Allen polished off with his legs.

Buffalo's Tyler Bass made a 23-yard field goal with 2:36 remaining in the third quarter to cap a 15-play, 65-yard drive.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
Rushing
Dallas   Buffalo
Tony Pollard Player James Cook
11 Attempts 25
52 Yards 179
4.7 Avg Yards 7.2
0 Touchdowns 1
11 Long 24
Receiving
Dallas   Buffalo
CeeDee Lamb Player Stefon Diggs
7 Receptions 4
53 Yards 48
7.6 Avg Yards 12.0
0 Touchdowns 0
16 Long 18
Team Stats Summary
 
  Yards Scoring Defense
Team Tot Rus Pas TD FG INT Sck FF
Dallas 195 89 106 1 1 0 1.0 1
Buffalo 351 266 85 4 1 1 3.0 0
Upcoming Games
  • Buffalo will play their next game on the road against L.A. Chargers. The Bills have a W/L % of .375 after a win and .833 after a loss.
  • Dallas will play their next game on the road against Miami. The Cowboys have a W/L % of .636 after a win and 1.000 after a loss.