The Buffalo Bills have long been known for their high-flying offense, powered by the cannon arm of Josh Allen. For years, it’s been about the deep shots, the highlight-reel throws, and Allen playing the role of superhero. But this season, something’s shifted in Buffalo - and it’s happening on the ground.
Coming off a dominant 249-yard rushing performance against the Steelers, the Bills have officially taken over as the NFL’s top rushing team, averaging 155.7 yards per game. That’s not a typo.
This isn’t a fluke or a one-off. It’s the third time this season they’ve gone over 200 yards on the ground, and they’ve cracked 100 rushing yards in all but two games.
This is a trend. This is an identity.
And while James Cook has been the face of this ground game, offensive coordinator Joe Brady points to a different source of the Bills’ rushing success - and it’s still No. 17.
“I think number one is having Josh Allen as your quarterback,” Brady said. “That’s not to discredit any of our players, but when you play Josh Allen, you’re always going to want to stop Josh Allen in the pass game first, right?”
That’s the chess match Buffalo is winning. Defenses are so keyed in on stopping Allen through the air that it’s opening up lanes for the run game.
And the Bills are capitalizing. It’s not just Cook - though he’s been electric - it’s the offensive line, the scheme, and the collective buy-in.
Everyone’s locked in, and the results speak for themselves.
Brady emphasized that success on the ground comes from execution across the board. “Our guys understanding the scheme, the detail, and working together. The only way for the run game to work is everybody being on the same page.”
And right now, the Bills are in sync.
But the real test is coming.
After a convincing 26-7 win over Pittsburgh, Buffalo is staring down a pivotal two-week stretch that could define their season. Up next: Joe Burrow and the Bengals, followed by Drake Maye and a red-hot Patriots team that’s sitting at 11-2.
These aren’t just tough matchups - they’re statement opportunities. If the Bills want to plant their flag in the AFC playoff picture, this is the moment.
The formula is working. The run game is humming.
But make no mistake - for Buffalo to make a real run in January, Josh Allen will still need to be Josh Allen. There will be moments when the game is on his shoulders, and he’ll have to deliver.
Still, maybe the key to unlocking this team’s full potential is letting Allen take a step back - not out of the spotlight, but out of the pressure cooker - and letting the run game take center stage. It’s not about taking the ball out of his hands.
It’s about giving defenses something else to worry about. And right now, that something else is running right through them.