In a hard-fought Sunday showdown, the Buffalo Bills edged the Cleveland Browns 23-20, with James Cook’s 117-yard, two-touchdown performance and Josh Allen’s resilience against a foot injury.
Cook’s 117 yards marked his ninth 100-yard rushing game this season, tying Thurman Thomas for second in franchise history. The four-year veteran also took over the NFL rushing lead with 1,532 yards, surpassing Jonathan Taylor’s 1,443.
Allen, the reigning NFL MVP, went 12 of 19 for 130 yards and added 17 rushing yards on seven carries. He played the second half despite a right-foot injury sustained in the second quarter after a 22-yard loss to a sack by Myles Garrett and Alex Wright.
The injury came when Garrett and Wright sacked Allen for a 22-yard loss to Buffalo’s 1-yard line with 60 seconds remaining in the first half. The half-sack gave Garrett 22 sacks on the season, one short of the single-season mark he needs to surpass Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt.
Buffalo capitalized on turnovers, converting both of Shedeur Sanders’ interceptions into points. Johnson’s 2-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter and a 41-yard field goal by Michael Badgley in the third quarter added to the Bills’ tally.
On the other side, the Browns relied on Shedeur Sanders, who completed 20 of 29 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown, and carried the ball for 49 yards on four carries. Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. scored both Browns’ touchdowns, including a 1-yard run in the third quarter that narrowed the gap to 23-17.
Raheim Sanders rushed for 42 yards on 11 carries, stepping in after Quinshon Judkins was carted off with a broken leg late in the second quarter. The injury ended Judkins’ season and left the Browns without a key back.
The game began with the Browns taking an early lead. Sanders rolled right and connected with Fannin for a 13-yard touchdown, a play that marked the first time in five starts that the Browns scored on their opening possession. The Bills, however, responded with a 44-yard run by Cook at the 7-minute mark of the first quarter, eluding tackles by Mohamoud Diabate and Adin Huntington.
Cook extended Buffalo’s advantage to 20-10 with a 3-yard carry late in the first half. Despite the injury, Allen continued to contribute, but the Browns fought back to close the gap, forcing the Bills to defend a lead that would ultimately hold.
Injuries also affected both teams. Bills linebacker Shaq Thompson suffered a neck injury in the first quarter and did not return. The Browns lost Quinshon Judkins to a broken leg, and the injury forced the team to rely on backup talent for the remainder of the game.
With the win, the Bills improved to a four-game winning streak and five of six overall. The victory keeps them within reach of a playoff berth and maintains momentum as they prepare to host Philadelphia next Sunday.
Cleveland will host Pittsburgh the following week, hoping to rebound from a 3-12 record. The Bills will look to continue their winning streak and keep their playoff hopes alive.
Key Takeaways
- James Cook rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns, securing a franchise-record ninth 100-yard game.
- Josh Allen played through a foot injury, completing 12 of 19 passes for 130 yards and rushing 17 yards on seven carries.
- The Bills’ 23-20 win keeps them in playoff contention and extends their winning streak to four games.
The Bills’ victory over the Browns was a testament to their offensive resilience and defensive opportunism, with Cook’s dominant run and Allen’s perseverance against injury playing pivotal roles in a closely contested game.
