Bills running attack finally finds its legs against Patriots

Updated Nov. 2, 2020 7:23 p.m. ET

Associated Press

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills were finally able to “ground” out a win this season.

With 25 mph winds swirling through an empty stadium and the New England Patriots the latest opponent intent on negating Buffalo’s once-potent Josh Allen-led passing attack, the Bills' running game found some much-needed traction.

Though the , wasn’t decided until backup defensive lineman Justin Zimmer forced Patriots quarterback Cam Newton’s fumble at the Bills 13 with 31 seconds remaining, Buffalo wouldn’t have been in a position to beat , if not for its ability to run the ball.

Devin Singletary led with 86 yards rushing and rookie Zack Moss added 81 and scored twice in becoming just the NFL’s third running back tandem to top 80 yards each in one game. And the AFC East-leading Bills (6-2) combined for a season-best 190 yards rushing in outpacing the passing attack (154 yards) for just the third time in Allen’s two-plus seasons.

“Enough was enough,” left tackle Dion Dawkins said, referring to fielding near weekly questions about the pedestrian state of the Bills' ground game. “We made a statement to run the ball today.”

The emphasis on running the ball was evident during a 10-play, 78-yard game-opening scoring drive, which Moss set up with a 21-yard run followed by an 8-yard touchdown scamper. Moss also capped a second-half-opening scoring drive with a 4-yard run in which he was initially stopped for no gain before getting a hefty push from behind by offensive linemen Brian Winters and Jon Feliciano.

The 190 yards rushing were the most since the Bills gained 224 in a 20-3 win over Denver on Nov. 24, and nearly double the 97 yards they averaged through their first seven games.

The boost in production came during a stretch in which opposing defenses have neutralized Buffalo’s passing attack by guarding against deep throws. After Allen combined for 1,326 yards passing and 12 touchdowns in his first four outings, he has just 846 yards passing and four touchdowns in his past four.

The weather, which traditionally turns nasty come November at home, played a role, too.

“You see what happens when we have good games like that on the ground, especially in a typical AFC weather game like this,” said Allen, who also scored on a 2-yard run. “We needed it, and our guys responded.”

A more balanced attack would also keeping opposing offenses off the field and benefit a

Buffalo has allowed 21 or more points six times already this season, after doing so just four times last year, and has particularly struggled in stopping the run after allowing 188 to the Patriots.

WHAT’S WORKING

Generating first downs. With 22 first downs against New England, Buffalo has had 20 or more in each of its first eight games. It ranks as the third-longest streak in team history. The Jim Kelly-led Bills had 20 or more first downs in their first 10 games in 1992. Buffalo had a nine-game streak in 1975, in which it topped 20 or more first downs in 13 of 14 outings.

WHAT NEEDS HELP

A run defense which has allowed 150 or more yards rushing three times already, after doing so just once last year.

STOCK UP

Feliciano showed how valuable he is to the offensive line. In making his season debut since having surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle in July, Feliciano started at left guard before taking over at center after Mitch Morse sustained a concussion on the third play from scrimmage.

STOCK DOWN

Rookie receiver Gabriel Davis had a pass float through his arms in the end zone on third-and-5 from New England’s 10 with the game tied at 21 and 4:16 remaining. The Bills settled for Tyler Bass hitting a 28-yard field goal.

INJURED

Morse's status is uncertain after he was placed in concussion protocol. It's the sixth-year player's fifth documented concussion and happened after he bumped helmets with Winters while run blocking. ... Linebacker Matt Milano was limited to 15 snaps while still being bothered by a partially torn pectoral muscle that forced him to miss two games.

KEY NUMBER

7 — The differential in first-downs rushing (14) versus passing (seven), which was the largest margin since Buffalo had 12 rushing first downs and three passing in a 23-3 loss to New England on Dec. 3, 2017.

NEXT STEPS

Russell Wilson and Seattle Seahawks hit town as the Bills enter a stretch of facing three NFC West opponents over their next four outings.

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