The Sports Xchange
Dec 27, 2015
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Running backs Mike Gillislee and Karlos Williams combined for 169 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns while leading the Buffalo Bills to a 16-6 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
Quarterback Tyrod Taylor also rushed for 67 yards for the Bills, who entered the game leading the NFL in rushing. Taylor now has 517 rushing yards on the season, a record for Bills quarterbacks.
Gillislee, who was signed off the Bills practice squad three weeks ago, established a career high with 93 yards on nine carries, and sealed the victory with a 50-yard touchdown run with 2:23 remaining.
Williams, Buffalo's fifth-round selection in this year's NFL Draft, rushed for 76 yards on 17 carries and had a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter that came after Gillislee's 15-yard catch-and-run.
Undrafted rookie linebacker A.J. Tarpley had an interception and a forced fumble for a Bills defense that held an opponent under 14 points for the first time this season.
Quarterback Kellen Moore could not spark the Cowboys, completing 13 of 31 passes for 186 yards and an interception. Running back Darren McFadden rushed for 99 yards, and wide receiver Brice Butler caught four passes for 74 yards, both career highs.
Taylor was 13 of 18 passing for 179 yards and an interception for the Bills. Wide receiver Sammy Watkins caught five passes for 84 yards.
Dan Carpenter's 32-yard field goal put Buffalo in front 9-6 midway through the third quarter. Carpenter missed an extra point in the first quarter.
Both teams turned the ball over in the opponent's territory over a 30-second span late in the third quarter. Tarpley foiled a Cowboys drive by intercepting Moore at the 17 and returning it past midfield. Two plays later, Cowboys safety Barry Church forced a Williams fumble that was recovered by linebacker Brandon Carr and brought out to the 39 following a personal foul penalty on Williams.
The Cowboys' Dan Bailey kicked a 46-yard field goal five minutes into the game and a 22-yarder that made it 6-6 five minutes before halftime. In between, Bailey missed a 50-yard attempt, just his second miss of the season.
Buffalo squandered a chance to take the lead just before halftime when Taylor was intercepted in the end zone by Cowboys cornerback Deji Olatoye after driving the Bills down to the 2-yard-line.
NOTES: Cowboys TE Jason Witten caught a pass in his 118th consecutive game, breaking Michael Irvin's franchise record. ... Bills DT Marcell Dareus (shoulder) and WR Marcus Easley (knee) left in the second quarter and did not return. ... The Cowboys lost WR Devin Street (concussion) in the second quarter. Street started in place of WR Dez Bryant (foot). Cornerback Morris Claiborne (hamstring) also missed the game. ... Cowboys DE Jeremy Mincey was inactive, despite not being listed on the injury report. ... Bills starters RB LeSean McCoy (knee), CB Ronald Darby (groin), LB Nigel Bradham (ankle), and TE Charles Clay (back) were inactive.