At Thanksgiving Day’s halftime, the Buffalo Bills hold a 13-7 lead over the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys opened up an early lead, but Buffalo’s splash plays on offense and defense helped the team take the lead heading into the locker room.
Dallas opened the game with a strong statement, a nine play, 75-yard drive that Jason Witten finished with a goal-line touchdown. The Bills, dealing with poor field position on their first few drives, weren’t able to earn any points in the first quarter.
The Bills answered in the second quarter, when Josh Allen found Cole Beasley running into space against zone coverage. Beasley caught the ball and scampered into the end zone to equalize the game at seven.
Both defenses have dialed up a slew of pressure calls in this game, but the Bills already brought one home. An overload blitz led by Matt Milano led to Dak Prescott throwing the ball directly into Star Lotulelei’s hands. The big man landed the interception, but Buffalo couldn’t capitalize and Stephen Hauschka missed his 50-yard field-goal attempt.
Dallas came into their next drive hoping to set things right, but Buffalo was one step ahead. After Dallas’s left guard left with an injury, Ed Oliver beat his replacement around the corner for a perfect strip sack. Trent Murphy came up with the ball and gave Buffalo its second consecutive drive in enemy territory. This time, they kept it going (after Josh Allen muffed a QB sneak, picked it up, and dove ahead on a second effort). Brian Daboll dialed up some outright wizardry on the next play: a double reverse to John Brown, who threw the ball to a wide-open Devin Singletary for the touchdown. Hauschka missed his extra point.
Buffalo had an interception nullified by penalty on their next drive, but they held Dallas out of the end zone. The Cowboys did find enough chunk yardage to make a 35-yard field goal attempt, but for the third time today, a kicker failed in his primary duty. The Cowboys missed their kick, and Buffalo held at their 13-7 lead.
The Bills deferred to start the game, so they’re set to receive the opening kickoff of the second half. They need to jam their foot onto the accelerator and take command of the game to come away with the win. Here’s your place to commiserate over the rest of the game! Go Bills!