In a close battle on Sunday, the Buffalo Bills edged the Cleveland Browns 23-20, with James Cook rushing for 117 yards and two touchdowns while quarterback Josh Allen played through a foot injury.
Key Performance Highlights
- James Cook rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns.
- Josh Allen was 12 of 19 for 130 yards and rushed 17 yards on seven carries.
- Ty Johnson added a rushing touchdown on 11 carries for 4 yards.
- Shedeur Sanders completed 20 of 29 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown, and was the Browns’ leading rusher with 49 yards on four carries.
- Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. scored both Browns’ touchdowns, including a 1-yard run in the third quarter.
- Raheim Sanders rushed for 42 yards on 11 carries.
- The Bills converted both of 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.
Injury Updates
- Josh Allen played the second half after injuring his right foot during the second quarter; he had been sacked by Myles Garrett and Alex Wright for a 22-yard loss to Buffalo’s 1-yard line with 60 seconds remaining in the first half.
- Bills linebacker Shaq Thompson (neck) was injured in the first quarter and did not return.
- Quinshon Judkins was carted off with a potentially season-ending leg injury; NFL Network reported a broken leg.
Game Summary
- The Bills won 23-20, extending their streak of victories to four straight and five of six overall.
- Cleveland opened the scoring with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Sanders to Fannin, the first time in five starts that the Browns scored on the opening possession.
- Cook tied his 100-yard rushing game record at 7 midway through the first quarter on a 44-yard run up the middle, and later extended the lead to 20-10 with a 3-yard carry.
- The Bills’ defense forced two interceptions, which accounted for 10 of Buffalo’s points.
Key Takeaways
- James Cook’s 117-yard performance marks his ninth 100-yard rushing game this season, tying him with Thurman Thomas for second in franchise history.
- Josh Allen’s foot injury did not prevent him from contributing 130 passing yards and 17 rushing yards.
- The Bills are moving closer to a playoff berth after the 23-20 win over the Browns.
With the victory, the Bills head into their next game against Philadelphia, while the Browns prepare to host Pittsburgh next Sunday.
