“If you go back and watch that play, [Moore], he was coming from the other side, making a really key block, allowing [Shakir] to spring free and that’s the effort. It’s not going to get talked about in the box score, but … Moore, makes that play there,” Allen said on Sunday. “I’ve got to be better for [Moore]. I missed him on a deep out earlier in the game, but for him to not care about that, to put his head down, go make an extra block for a guy, speaks a lot about the character that he has.”
On Cook’s first rushing touchdown of the game, Hawes was on the field taking on his extra lineman role. Cutting across before the snap, the tight end held off one of the Carolina defenders and gave Cook more room to move up the middle. The space he had to work with and took advantage of after getting the handoff set him up for the 64-yard score.
“I want to thank my O-line,” Cook said after the game. “Without them, I couldn’t run. Just thank them guys for always having my back and [opening] up lanes for the run.”
At the end of first quarter, Hawes put up another block that allowed Cook to breakthrough for extra yardage. Though this carry didn’t end in a touchdown, the running back picked up 24 yards that put Buffalo’s offense near midfield. The drive carried over into the beginning of the second quarter and ultimately ended in a field goal attempt.