Bills Ground Out 16-6 Win Over Cowboys
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ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills didn't need LeSean McCoy to run over the Dallas Cowboys. Rookies Mike Gillislee and Karlos Williams were more than enough on Sunday.
Gillislee had 93 yards rushing, and sealed Buffalo's 16-6 win by weaving his way up the right sideline to score on a 50-yard touchdown run with 2:25 remaining. Karlos Williams also scored on a 1-yard run as the Bills overcame an injury-depleted offense that was playing without McCoy, who was sidelined with an injured right knee.
Rookie linebacker A.J. Tarpley then sealed the victory by forcing Lucky Whitehead to fumble on the kickoff return that followed Gillislee's touchdown. Tarpley also had an interception.
Buffalo (7-8) snapped a two-game skid and won for just the second time in six games in a matchup between two teams that were already been eliminated from playoff contention.
The Cowboys (4-11) lost in Kellen Moore's first career start. Moore went 13 of 31 for 186 yards with an interception in becoming the third backup to play in place of injured starter Tony Romo for Dallas this season.
The Cowboys, who were also playing without starting receiver Dez Bryant (right foot), managed 307 yards offense. Kicker Dan Bailey hit two of three field-goal attempts. He was good from 46 and 22 yards, but was short from 50.
Darren McFadden had 99 yards rushing for Dallas.
The Cowboys have now dropped to 1-10 in games Romo doesn't start.
The Bills had eaten up more than 4 minutes of the clock when Gillislee scored. Facing second-and-5 at midfield, Gillislee took a handoff to the right and got key blocks from guard Richie Incognito and receiver Chris Hogan.
Gillislee has scored three times in four games — including a 60-yarder in a 35-25 loss at Washington last weekend — since being promoted off of Buffalo's practice squad.
Bills starter Tyrod Taylor went 13 of 18 for 179 yards and an interception, and also added 67 yards rushing.
The Bills went ahead for good on Dan Carpenter's 32-yards field goal with 6:17 left in the third quarter.
With the game tied at 6, Taylor blew a chance to put Buffalo ahead before halftime. Facing third-and-1 at the Cowboys 4 with 8 seconds left, Taylor underthrew a pass intended for Chris Hogan at the right sideline of the end zone, and was easily intercepted by Deji Olatoye.
It was only Taylor's sixth interception of the season.
The Bills also squandered a point when Dan Carpenter missed his fifth point-after attempt of the season and fourth in seven games. He hit the left upright after Williams' scored.
Moore earned the start after taking over for Matt Cassel in the second quarter of a 19-16 loss to the New York Jets last weekend. An undrafted free agent out of Boise State, he spent his first three seasons as a backup in Detroit before being signed by Dallas to its practice squad this year.
The Bills were minus both starting cornerbacks, Stephon Gilmore (shoulder) and rookie Ronald Darby (groin). And their offense was minus several playmakers
Starting defensive tackle Marcell Dareus did not return after hurting his shoulder in the second quarter.
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