BUFFALO QUARTERBACK JOSH Allen made NFL history to ignite the Bills’ 31-10 rout of Dallas on Sunday to snap a five-game win streak even as the Cowboys clinched a playoff berth.
James Cook ran 25 times for 179 yards and a touchdown and Bills defenders dominated the Cowboys in improving Buffalo to 8-6, still out of a playoff spot with three games remaining, while Dallas slid to 10-4.
“That James Cook. What a game from him,” Allen said. “He ran the ball so hard. Our offensive line gave him holes to run through. Our guys on the perimeter blocked their tails off… and our defense came out and played so well.”
Despite wind and heavy rain, Cook was the first Bill with a rushing and reception touchdown and more than 200 total yards in a game since Thurman Thomas in 1991.
“Every opportunity that came my way, just had to make it count,” Cook said. “Once you get the ball, you can’t hesitate. You have to go.”
After marching 75 yards on their first drive to grab the lead on Latavius Murray’s 2-yard touchdown run, the Bills got an 18-yard Allen touchdown pass to Cook and a 1-yard Allen touchdown run to seize a 21-3 lead, the largest Dallas halftime deficit in three years.
That gave Allen an NFL-record 10th game this season with touchdowns rushing and passing.
“It wasn’t a pretty passing game,” Allen said. “We had the rain and wind and when in doubt, give it to our running backs to grind out some yards. We were smart with the ball.”
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The Cowboys, who haven’t won the NFL crown since the 1995 season, secured a third consecutive playoff appearance before the start thanks to losses by Atlanta and Green Bay, but lost ground in their quest to overtake San Francisco for the NFC top seed and first-round playoff bye.
Playoff-bound San Francisco, powered by Brock Purdy’s four touchdown passes, captured the NFC West division crown and improved to 11-3 by beating host Arizona 45-29.
- Ravens reach playoffs -
The 49ers stretched their win streak to six games and that combined with Atlanta and Green Bay losses secured a playoff berth for the Philadelphia Eagles (10-3), who visit Seattle on Monday.
The Baltimore Ravens became the fourth team to qualify for the playoffs with a 23-7 victory at Jacksonville and stayed atop the AFC at 11-3.
The Los Angeles Rams kept Detroit from sealing a playoff spot by defeating Washington 28-20.
Two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Patrick Mahomes threw for 305 yards and two touchdowns in defending champion Kansas City’s 27-17 victory at New England.
“There’s some stuff we’ve got to clean up, like all season long, but we’re going to try and get better and keep it rolling,” Mahomes said. “When we’re executing well, we’re hard to beat.”
The Miami Dolphins, without top NFL receiver Tyreek Hill due to an ankle injury, blanked the New York Jets 30-0 with Raheem Mostert rushing for two touchdowns and Tua Tagovailoa throwing for 224 yards and a touchdown.
“It’s tough not having one of your star guys out there,” Tagovailoa said. “We have a lot of other guys we believe in and that’s what happened out there — it’s just the trust we have in each other.”
The Dolphins reached 10-4 for the first time in 23 years but remain a game behind Baltimore for the AFC top seed with Kansas City next at 9-5.
Baker Mayfield completed 22-of-28 passes for 381 yards and four touchdowns to lead Tampa Bay’s 34-20 victory at Green Bay.
New Orleans stayed level with Tampa Bay atop the NFC South by beating the New York Giants 24-6 as Derek Carr threw for 218 yards and three touchdowns.
Carolina’s Eddy Pineiro kicked his third field goal, a 23-yarder on the last play, to lift the host Panthers over Atlanta 9-7.
Dustin Hopkins kicked a 34-yard field goal with 32 seconds to play to give Cleveland a 20-17 home win over Chicago.
Houston’s Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked his fourth field goal, a 54-yarder on the final play, to give the Texans a 19-16 overtime triumph at Tennessee.
- First published Sunday night, updated Monday morning with later games.
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Bills end Dallas win streak but Cowboys reach NFL playoffs, Ravens advance
LAST UPDATE | 18 Dec 2023
BUFFALO QUARTERBACK JOSH Allen made NFL history to ignite the Bills’ 31-10 rout of Dallas on Sunday to snap a five-game win streak even as the Cowboys clinched a playoff berth.
James Cook ran 25 times for 179 yards and a touchdown and Bills defenders dominated the Cowboys in improving Buffalo to 8-6, still out of a playoff spot with three games remaining, while Dallas slid to 10-4.
“That James Cook. What a game from him,” Allen said. “He ran the ball so hard. Our offensive line gave him holes to run through. Our guys on the perimeter blocked their tails off… and our defense came out and played so well.”
Despite wind and heavy rain, Cook was the first Bill with a rushing and reception touchdown and more than 200 total yards in a game since Thurman Thomas in 1991.
“Every opportunity that came my way, just had to make it count,” Cook said. “Once you get the ball, you can’t hesitate. You have to go.”
After marching 75 yards on their first drive to grab the lead on Latavius Murray’s 2-yard touchdown run, the Bills got an 18-yard Allen touchdown pass to Cook and a 1-yard Allen touchdown run to seize a 21-3 lead, the largest Dallas halftime deficit in three years.
That gave Allen an NFL-record 10th game this season with touchdowns rushing and passing.
“It wasn’t a pretty passing game,” Allen said. “We had the rain and wind and when in doubt, give it to our running backs to grind out some yards. We were smart with the ball.”
The Cowboys, who haven’t won the NFL crown since the 1995 season, secured a third consecutive playoff appearance before the start thanks to losses by Atlanta and Green Bay, but lost ground in their quest to overtake San Francisco for the NFC top seed and first-round playoff bye.
Playoff-bound San Francisco, powered by Brock Purdy’s four touchdown passes, captured the NFC West division crown and improved to 11-3 by beating host Arizona 45-29.
- Ravens reach playoffs -
The 49ers stretched their win streak to six games and that combined with Atlanta and Green Bay losses secured a playoff berth for the Philadelphia Eagles (10-3), who visit Seattle on Monday.
The Baltimore Ravens became the fourth team to qualify for the playoffs with a 23-7 victory at Jacksonville and stayed atop the AFC at 11-3.
The Los Angeles Rams kept Detroit from sealing a playoff spot by defeating Washington 28-20.
Two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Patrick Mahomes threw for 305 yards and two touchdowns in defending champion Kansas City’s 27-17 victory at New England.
“There’s some stuff we’ve got to clean up, like all season long, but we’re going to try and get better and keep it rolling,” Mahomes said. “When we’re executing well, we’re hard to beat.”
The Miami Dolphins, without top NFL receiver Tyreek Hill due to an ankle injury, blanked the New York Jets 30-0 with Raheem Mostert rushing for two touchdowns and Tua Tagovailoa throwing for 224 yards and a touchdown.
“It’s tough not having one of your star guys out there,” Tagovailoa said. “We have a lot of other guys we believe in and that’s what happened out there — it’s just the trust we have in each other.”
The Dolphins reached 10-4 for the first time in 23 years but remain a game behind Baltimore for the AFC top seed with Kansas City next at 9-5.
Baker Mayfield completed 22-of-28 passes for 381 yards and four touchdowns to lead Tampa Bay’s 34-20 victory at Green Bay.
New Orleans stayed level with Tampa Bay atop the NFC South by beating the New York Giants 24-6 as Derek Carr threw for 218 yards and three touchdowns.
Carolina’s Eddy Pineiro kicked his third field goal, a 23-yarder on the last play, to lift the host Panthers over Atlanta 9-7.
Dustin Hopkins kicked a 34-yard field goal with 32 seconds to play to give Cleveland a 20-17 home win over Chicago.
Houston’s Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked his fourth field goal, a 54-yarder on the final play, to give the Texans a 19-16 overtime triumph at Tennessee.
- First published Sunday night, updated Monday morning with later games.
– © AFP 2023
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