The Buffalo Bills rushing for 249 yards Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers is no accident. Not in the minds of the Bills players. Buffalo had the right game plan and kept going back to the well, running the same play and concept over and over that made T.J. Watt as exasperated as he’s ever been. After their 26-7 win at Acrisure Stadium, Bills players had no problem admitting their intent against Pittsburgh’s defense.

After rushing 32 times for 144 yards, RB James Cook III told reporters the Bills’ exact approach.

“Coming into the game, we leaning on them,” Cook said via beat writer Matt Parrino. “They’re one of the worst tackling corner (groups) in the NFL. Just try to get the ball on the edge. We did a pretty good job today.”

Bills had specific plan on how to attack Steelers’ run D. James Cook said it was to test the CBs.

“Coming into the game, we leaning on them. They’re one of the worst tackling corner (groups) in the NFL. Just try to get the ball on the edge. We did a pretty good job today.” pic.twitter.com/YSeL4xJdvG

— Matt Parrino (@MattParrino) December 1, 2025

Cook repeatedly bounced runs to the outside, specifically to the right, and tested CB Joey Porter Jr. That proved true from his first run of the game, beating an over-pursuing and bad-eyes Porter to the sideline for 18 yards.

Porter made a handful of tackles on the edges, though often just barely and on plays that still became positive yardage for a Buffalo running game that could do no wrong. Interior or exterior, defensive line, linebacker, or cornerback, the Bills won the day.

Per our weekly charting, Darius Slay had the most missed tackles of any Steelers corner with eight. He was inactive for today’s game. Brandin Echols had six with James Pierre and Joey Porter Jr. each having five. Per Pro Football Reference/Stathead, Slay and Pierre ranked in the top 20 of the 194 qualified defensive backs in missed tackle rate. Echols ranked 36th with Porter 46th.

Post-game, Watt and other Steelers’ said they attempted every scheme and adjustment possible to slow Buffalo down. They had no luck.

“They were very effective,” Watt told reporters via the team’s YouTube channel. “We tried many different things and weren’t successful.”

Cook’s 32 carries are the second-most by any back against Mike Tomlin and the most of any runner in a non-overtime contest. Backup Ray Davis had just as much success while Josh Allen got help from his offensive line to plow over goal line for the team’s only rushing touchdown of the day.

Repeatedly successful on the ground, The Bills finished the game with 74 plays and nearly 42 minutes time of possession. Of Pittsburgh’s five second-half drives, only one lasted longer than 90 seconds. The exception, a 10-play possession that ended in a turnover on downs.

“It’s not a tough run concept,” Watt said. “It’s just something that we need to stop.”

The Steelers will again be tested by a Baltimore Ravens offense next Sunday that’s run all over Pittsburgh the last two meetings. Baltimore is smarting after a Thanksgiving upset but with extra time to prepare and rest, the Steelers’ corners and rest of the defense must be up to the task. Or else the Ravens will enter the home stretch in clear control of the division with Pittsburgh’s odds of a Wild Card spot virtually zero.