Buffalo came out of the bye week ready to work and ready to win. On Sunday afternoon, the Bills did just that in their 40-9 win against Carolina.
Running back James Cook III had a career-high game, logging his first 200-plus rushing yard game of his career and setting several personal and NFL records while doing so. Wide receiver Khalil Shakir and quarterback Josh Allen also recorded three touchdowns combined. The 40-point afternoon wasn't just a three-man effort, though.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore and tight end Jackson Hawes set up big blocks during the game that opened space for the three scorers to succeed. On Khalil's 54-yard score, linebacker Christian Rozeboom charged towards Shakir in hopes of shoving the wide receiver out of bounds. Moore, however, interfered and got in between Rozeboom and Shakir. He shoved the Carolina defender before he had a chance to touch Shakir, allowing the Bills to score on the opening drive of the second half.
"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.
"Cook, another big day. Doesn't happen without wide receivers, tight ends blocking down the field," head coach Sean McDermott said. "Want to make sure I mention that and praise that part of our effort."
In the midst of sacks and takeaways on defense, players stepped up in other ways too.
Linebacker and captain Terrel Bernard was dressed for Sunday's game, but stayed on the sidelines. McDermott said after the game that it was a precautionary, medical reason to not play him, but have him ready in case Buffalo needed a guy. Linebackers Shaq Thompson and Dorian Williams took Bernard's place instead.
Thompson initiated the second quarter interception defensive end A.J. Epenesa came up with. The linebacker read quarterback Andy Dalton's call and signaled his defense to shift and run right after the snap. This pre-snap effort led to Epenesa deflecting Dalton's pass and returning the ball to the one-yard-line.
Rookie cornerback Maxwell Hairston made his NFL debut on Sunday after being monitored in practice all week by the coaching staff.
"Just wanting to be patient, and it's hard when you want him out there. But we owe that to the person, to the player, and I thought he came in today and did some good things."
In the second quarter while the Bills were still only up by nine points, wide receiver Jimmy Horn caught the ball and took it along the left sideline where Hairston was waiting to bring him down. After a short gain of just two yards, Hairston lowered his shoulder and delivered a massive blow to take down Horn. The rookie finished off the play, wrapping his arms around the wide receiver's legs and swinging him onto the ground.
"The process and the preparation piece had to be where it needed to be. And players did a phenomenal job. As I said, the coaches, the leadership group, phenomenal job getting out in front of our team and leading," McDermott said. "… Different attitude, different energy, finishing plays. Really was more how in terms of how we do things … good team effort."
