Motivated Bills run all over Cowboys
“Aging” and “unathletic.” Come again?
Those two words raised eyebrows externally and internally. Yes, the Buffalo Bills’ offensive linemen heard how former general manager Bill Polian described them to The News.
It was odd analysis. For one, the starters’ average age is 26.4 years old. Two, they pull regularly. Three? The Bills also happen to rush for 154.6 yards per game — No. 1 in the NFL.
Polian might wish to serve as a consultant for the Bills, but he sounded out of touch here. And on Sunday, the Bills wanted to prove it.
In Sunday’s 16-6 win, the line gashed the Dallas Cowboys for 236 yards rushing with two touchdowns on 40 attempts.
Center Eric Wood read the article online and texted a link to guard Richie Incognito — who said, heck yes, it was motivation.
A lot has gone wrong for the 2015 Buffalo Bills.
Offensive line play — often anemic in 2014 — should be low on the off-season priority list.
Sunday was proof of that.
Pro Bowler LeSean McCoy (knee) was sidelined, but it didn’t matter. The right side of the line was missing and, again, it didn’t matter.
Mid-season acquisition Mike Gillislee, who was abandoned by Miami and Arizona, ran for 93 yards. Fifth-rounder Karlos Williams added 76. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor had 67.
So the Bills rushed for 200-plus yards in back-to-back games for the first time since 1995. And on the season, Buffalo has rushed for 2,319 yards, the eighth-most in team history and most since 1992. Not bad for a team that’s featured the likes of Cookie Gilchrist, O.J. Simpson and Thurman Thomas.
A mobile quarterback with a passing game dependent on the deep ball lends itself to pressure. And Polian can always simply point to his bust in Canton. But the Bills have been at their ground-and-pound best when running 30-40 times a game.
Sunday’s results suggest the former team architect is dead wrong.
“I don’t see it. I don’t agree with it,” Wood said.
Simply look at all of the moving parts.
Veteran Kraig Urbik stepped in for injured rookie John Miller. Jordan Mills started at right tackle. And even with McCoy out, the Bills ran at will.
The rookie Williams set a mashing, physical tone. On his 26-yard run, Miller and Mills opened up a huge lane.
Gillislee is more of a slasher. On this back’s clinching 50-yard touchdown to the right side, Incognito — who has been pulling all season — pulled right to pick off linebacker Rolando McClain.
Mills blocked down, receiver Chris Hogan wiped out cornerback Brandon Carr and Gillislee’s wheels did the rest to seal the victory.
This story was originally published December 27, 2015 at 8:26 PM with the headline "Motivated Bills run all over Cowboys."