ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills held their second practice of the week Thursday in Orchard Park ahead of their Monday night matchup with the Jaguars.
Josh Allen is still practicing with the glove on his left hand that he injured Week 1, but the Bills didn’t need to rely on Allen the last time they were on the field.
Allen threw the ball just 19 times in the win against Miami, thanks in large part to the team’s ability to run the ball. James Cook had two touchdowns on the ground, and the team ran the ball 26 times for 106 yards, averaging over four yards per carry.
The Bills commitment to running the ball shows how the team has adapted to the league wide trend of defenses focusing on eliminating explosive plays in the pass game with the two-high safety looks that have spread across the league.
"I noticed it Week 1, and Week 2 it was heavy when James (Cook) was doing all of his stuff behind us," Bills offensive lineman Dion Dawkins said. "I think that the league is changing a little bit, where the league wants to see us run the ball. With being in a rhythm of running the football, it takes a lot of pressure off of us as offensive lineman."
The Bills have run the rock at the sixth highest rate in the NFL, at over 57%. In both games this season, Buffalo has run the ball more than they've had Josh Allen throw it.
That’s all good with Buffalo's QB1, because it’s helping the Bills win games.
"I don't know if I'd say weird. I'd say that it feels pretty good," Allen said. "Being able to hand the ball off to James (Cook) and (Ray Davis), and let them go do some work, and our offensive line is opening some holes for them. They're running it really hard and we're having some success doing it."
Against Arizona, Buffalo had a 33-23 run-to-pass disparity, with the team rushing for 130 yards. Then against Miami, the team leaned again not on the passing attack, but on the ability of its running backs to pick up yards.
Allen appears to agree with the saying: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
"If it's working, keep calling it," Allen said. "I know that it's going to present itself in the pass game, and we're going to have our opportunities and we have go make them."