The Bills stepped up in the second half on Sunday against the Steelers, stopping them offensively and setting records in the run game as a visitor at Acrisure Stadium.
Here's what the experts had to say of Buffalo's performance on the road:
‘The Bills just found their CHAMPIONSHIP formula’ | Kay Adams, Up & Adams Show
Adams pointed out the key factors to the Bills' win on Sunday: the run game and being physical. She said Buffalo played bully football, dominating time of possession and imposing its will.
"They can win the Super Bowl like this … They have uncovered what they need to do and what they can do as a formula to make me think they can win a Super Bowl. They have me now, and has it been perfect? No; but if you play this old school, physical, smash mouth football, I'm in."
‘If Cook gets rolling, don’t count the Bills out of anything’ | Ralph Vacchiano, FOX Sports
Running back James Cook had a 141-yard performance on the ground on Sunday, logging his seventh 100-yard game of 2025. When Cook has a game with 100 or more rushing yards, the Bills are 6-1. That didn't go over Vacchiano's head when thinking about which player is driving Buffalo's offense.
"It's clear that Cook, their fifth-year running back, is the new MVP of the team. And he's good enough that he alone could still make the Bills a tough out in the playoffs … A running back like that could be huge in the postseason when the weather gets colder, the conditions harsher, and defenses become easier to tire out … if Cook gets rolling, don't count the Bills out of anything, even if they just sneak into the playoffs. They'll still need [quarterback Josh] Allen to turn it on, but Cook sure can buy them the necessary time."
'Josh Allen is the type of individual that can put the team on his back in any given moment' | Nate Burleson, CBS Sports
Buffalo had just three points in the first half despite dominating time of possession. Coming out in the second half, the Bills put up unanswered score after unanswered score, including a fourth-and-goal pump fake touchdown pass to wide receiver Keon Coleman from Allen.
"Allen is the type of individual that can put the team on his back in any given moment, and a broken play isn't truly broken because he can extend plays and he will end up breaking the back of the opposing defense. And he did that."
‘Buffalo made history’ | Bryan DeArdo, CBS Sports
The Bills set records within their team and at Pittsburgh as a visitor. Buffalo knocked down what's supposed to be the Steel Curtain defense.
"Buffalo made history in the second half. Allen scored his 76th career touchdown run, breaking Cam Newton's NFL record by a quarterback. The Bills -- despite missing several offensive starters that included two on the offensive line -- ran for 249 yards, the most yards ever allowed by a Steelers' defense at Acrisure Stadium … which opened in 2001."
‘Big time performance from the Bills’ defense’ | Benjamin Solak, ESPN
Buffalo held Pittsburgh scoreless in the second half and continued kicking quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his offense off the field one way or another. Cornerback Christian Benford had a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown, opening the second half, then followed it up on the Steelers' next drive with an interception.
"Big time performance from the Bills' defense today. Thought the Steelers were a tough pound-for-pound matchup for them, but the DL found penetration and pressure all day. Secondary continues to play sticky [and] disruptive downfield too."
‘Buffalo ran this play yesterday like they invented it.’ | Kevin Smith, Fans First Sports Network NFL
After the game, T.J. Watt commented on the Bills' run game and Pittsburgh's inability to stop it even though the defense knew exactly what was headed its way. Smith broke down as to why Buffalo didn't stray away from what was working.
"The problem is simple math. Five blockers vs four defenders to the unbalanced side, with a soft corner setting the edge. The Bills were content to wash everything down and let their backs bounce outside to go 1/1 with the corners. Even when the corners stepped up and tackled, it was a gain of seven or eight yards. Steelers stayed married to their scheme and refused to adjust until it was too late."
‘Cook hardly looked scared’ | Will Graves, AP
Buffalo played without its starting tackles, Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown, due to injuries sustained against the Texans in Week 12. Not only did the backups protect Allen, who wasn't sacked once on Sunday, but they also opened up the line for their running backs to sneak through.
"Playing without their starting offensive tackles and coming off a loss at Houston in which Allen was sacked eight times, Buffalo responded by opting to gash the Steelers. James Cook ran for 144 yards, Ray Davis added 62 and Allen chipped in 38 … Cook hardly looked scared while repeatedly running through holes opened up by backup tackles Alec Anderson and Ryan Van Demark."
‘They went to Pittsburgh. They ran the heck out of the ball’ | Jamie Erdahl, Good Morning Football
Erdahl gave her game ball to Cook on Monday's segment and defended his four-year extension he signed in August.
"My game ball goes to a player from Steelers-Bills, and it would be as if I have this game ball and I just hold it for the whole segment because that's what the Bills did. They went to Pittsburgh. They ran the heck out of the ball. In fact, 273 games Aaron Rodgers has started in his career, which includes the postseason, the Bills having the ball for 42 minutes is the most time they've ever had when one team has possessed against Aaron Rodgers. They kept it, they ran it; and the feet of the man right there in James Cook 144 yards rushing, 32 carries, which is a career high. And for all those who are losing their minds over the Bills paying him. You were wrong."
