Bills down the Browns, 23-20

James Cook again reminded opposing defenses that stopping the Buffalo Bills requires more than containing Josh Allen.

With Allen limited by a foot injury suffered in the first half, Cook carried the offense Sunday, rushing for 117 yards and two touchdowns to lead Buffalo to a 23–20 victory over the Cleveland Browns. The win moved the Bills closer to securing a playoff berth and extended their late-season surge.

Buffalo improved to 11–4, winning its fourth straight game and fifth in its last six. With Houston defeating Las Vegas earlier in the day, the Bills can clinch a playoff spot for the seventh consecutive season with an Indianapolis loss or tie Monday night against San Francisco.

Allen, the reigning NFL MVP, played through the injury after being sacked late in the second quarter. He finished 12 of 19 passing for 130 yards and added 17 rushing yards on seven carries. It marked just the third game this season in which Allen did not account for a passing or rushing touchdown.

Cook’s performance marked his ninth 100-yard rushing game of the season, tying Thurman Thomas for the second-most in franchise history. O.J. Simpson holds the Bills’ single-season record with 11. Cook also moved into the NFL rushing lead with 1,532 yards.

His first touchdown came midway through the opening quarter on a 44-yard run up the middle, during which he broke multiple tackle attempts to tie the game at 7. Cook later gave Buffalo a 20–10 lead with a 3-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter.

Ty Johnson added a 2-yard rushing touchdown early in the second quarter, and Michael Badgley connected on a 41-yard field goal in the third quarter to push the Bills’ lead to 23–10.

Cleveland rallied behind rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who completed 20 of 29 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown while also leading the Browns in rushing with 49 yards on four carries. However, two interceptions proved costly, directly setting up 10 Buffalo points.

Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. accounted for both Browns touchdowns, catching a 13-yard score on the opening drive and adding a 1-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter to pull Cleveland within 23–17. The Browns closed to within a field goal late but failed to generate offense on their final two possessions.

Defensively, Buffalo was led by Greg Rousseau, who recorded a season-high 2½ sacks and nine pressures. On the other side, Myles Garrett added a half-sack to bring his season total to 22, leaving him one shy of the NFL single-season record heading into Cleveland’s final two games.

Injuries

Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins was carted off late in the second quarter with a dislocated right ankle and broken fibula, forcing Raheim Sanders into a larger role. For Buffalo, linebacker Shaq Thompson exited in the first quarter with a neck injury and did not return.

Up Next

Buffalo hosts the Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday.

Cleveland returns home to face the Pittsburgh Steelers.