Led by Gillislee, Bills ground out 16-6 win over Cowboys

The chance to affect the post-season picture motivates guard Richie Incognito.

Here’s what he was asked: “Will it be extra satisfying because of what Jerry [Jones] said to see the Cowboys completely just turn into a dumpster fire if you’re in the playoffs?” With Buffalo holding a 9-6 lead, all the Cowboys had to do was make a stop and get the ball back to tie up the game; but Dallas couldn’t stop the Bills and lost another tough game, 16-6.

With injuries and performance issues mounting, the Bills and Cowboys combined to start 11 new players, in essence, kicking off the 2016 preseason.

And all the Bills did was rush 40 times for 236 yards – without Pro Bowl running back LeSean McCoy – to stay in command from start to finish, much to the delight of 70,172 fans who redefined what “diehard” means.

The Cowboys (4-11) continue to slide without injured quarterback Tony Romo.

Back in September, former Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden found himself 0-3 as a starter for the struggling, Romo-less Dallas Cowboys. He needs 173 yards over the final two games to get there.

Now Moore will get the start and the Cowboys will try to build a little momentum and hopefully identify their backup quarterback for 2016.

In fact, Weeden, who delayed his football career while trying his hand at professional baseball, became the first quarterback in the history of the franchise to throw for two touchdowns and run for another. “But, we weren’t able to sustain drives”. Moore finished with just 13 completions in 36 attempts for 186 yards as Dallas mustered just two field goals.

Subplots: Buffalo’s special teams recovered a fumble on a kick return when A.J. Tarpley forced Lucky Whitehead to cough up the ball and then recovered the fumble right after the Bills had gone up 16-6 late in the game. Jerry Jones eventually traded for Matt Cassel and after the teams week seven bye, Garrett named Cassel the starter and Weeden was eventually released from the Cowboys. Bills DT Marcell Dareus (shoulder) and WR Marcus Easley (knee) left in the second quarter and did not return…. The Cowboys lost S Barry Church (broken arm) in the fourth quarter and WR Devin Street (concussion) in the second quarter.

NO DEZ? Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant’s status is uncertain because he has been bothered by injuries to his right foot and ankle. “There will be plenty of time to deal with evaluating what this team did for the season at the end of the season”. A year after having an NFL-leading 54 sacks, Buffalo has managed just 20 through 15 games. It was cold and rainy at Ralph Wilson Stadium and both of these teams were playing far from their best football of the season. Dan Carpenter missed an extra point.

Running Back:Darren McFadden put together his second consecutive good game, as he broke a 28-yard run and averaged 5.2 yards per carry on his way to 99 yards on 19 carries.

Watkins had another solid day, recording five catches for 84 yards but was kept out of the end zone. In the process, he set the Bills’ single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback, breaking the mark of 476 by Doug Flutie in 1999.