I was hoping for a relatively stress free Bills game. A three game win streak had moved the Bills to 10-4. They were a road 10.5 point favorite against a Cleveland Browns team that was 3-11 and starting a rookie quarterback behind a depleted offensive line. Easy right? Silly me. What was I thinking?

The Bills offense was great for most of the first half but then went into a deep freeze. The defense was its usual roller coaster ride but came through late in the game as the Bills hung on for the critical victory.

It looked like the Bills would easily get to a ninth game this season scoring 30 or more points. Josh Allen and company scored a touchdown on each of their first three possessions. That was due in large part to running back James Cook who is putting together one of the best seasons by a back in Bills history. Cook recorded 100 yards rushing on nine carries through those three drives. He had a pair of touchdowns, the first coming on an amazing 44 yard scamper where he made multiple cuts.  The Bills had 21 snaps on offense and totaled 209 yards and 12 first downs and scored 20 points.

On the next six Bills possessions the offense managed three points. There were 25 plays and those produced a grand total of just 41 yards and three first downs. There were three punts and a pair of turnovers on downs. The passing game did next to nothing. Allen didn’t even reach the 100 yard mark until late in the third quarter. Cook, who had those nine carries for 100 yards over the first three drives, had only seven rushes for 17 yards the rest of the game.

This game did not help Allen’s chances to repeat as NFL MVP. He ended the day with 130 passing yards, his second lowest total of the season (123 at Pittsburgh). His 12 completions tied a season low. Allen had only 147 total yards and no touchdowns.

I’d say the wide receiver group was underwhelming but sadly they performed as advertised. Khalil Skair led them with four catches for 34 yards. The other four wideouts who dressed(Tyrell Shavers, Brandin Cooks, Josh Palmer and Mecole Hardman Jr.) COMBINED for two catches and 23 yards. Keon Coleman and Gabe Davis were healthy scratches.

Thank goodness for the running game. While Allen attempted just 19 passes, the Bills ran 29 times for 164 yards, a healthy average of 5.7 yards a carry, and all three of their touchdowns came on the ground.

As for the Bills defense. They did get Christian Benford and Terrel Bernard back but the game did not start the game well. The Browns, behind rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, went 69 yards in eight plays for an opening drive touchdown.

It was a day of mixed results for the defense which was really bad on third down and not great when it came to stopping the run. But when push came to shove they made the plays needed to help the Bills secure a fourth straight victory.

In the second quarter, Cleveland had a first and goal at the Bills four yard line but three different Bills came up with big plays. On first down Jordan Poyer stopped a run for no gain. On second down a Tre White hit on tight end Harold Fannin prevented him from reeling in a ball he juggled. A third down sack by Greg Rousseau, who had a huge day, forced the Browns to settle for a field goal.

With the Bills clinging to a 23-20 lead, the defense came through on the Browns last two possessions. On the first, a Rousseau sack created a turnover on downs. The Bills got the ball at the Browns 30 yard line but on fourth down, Dawson Knox dropped what would have been a game sealing TD.

The Browns got the ball back but a combined sack from Poyer and Rousseau and then a Rousseau pressure that caused intentional grounding killed the Browns hopes. Those last two drives covered eight plays and produced -2 yards. The defense also came up with a pair of interceptions thanks to Sanders passes that were tipped at the line of scrimmage.

Bills notes:
* The Bills have won at least 11 games for the sixth straight season.
* The Bills are now 5-3 on the road(wins in last 3 over Pittsburgh, New England, Cleveland).
* The Bills are 5-2 in one score games. Their last three wins have come by 5,4, and 3 points respectively.
* The 23 points scored is their lowest total in a victory this season
* James Cook has 1,532 yards rushing and leads the NFL for the time being. He is 89 yards ahead of the Colts Jonathan Taylor. The Colts play on Monday night.
* Cook’s total is the most yards for a Bills running back since 1975 (OJ Simpson).
* Cook leads the league with 12 games of 100+ yards from scrimmage
* Cook also leads the league with nine games of at least 100 yards rushing
* The Bills are now 26-4 in December/January regular season games since 2020.