The 32 lessons we took away from the 2023 NFL season’s fifteenth week:1. Is a stampede imminent? The Buffalo Bills defeated the Dallas Cowboys 31-10 on Sunday, moving “America’s Team” out of first place in the NFC East. Since firing offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, the Bills have won three of their last four games and are averaging 29.3 points.
2. Despite climbing to ninth place in the AFC on Saturday, the Bills’ record of 8-6 is tied with the Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, and Houston Texans—teams that will not be facing the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Chargers in the next two weeks.
.. Josh Allen, the quarterback for Buffalo, is making a more convincing case for Offensive Player of the Year. After a few early-season blunders, he would need a Hail Mary to win the league MVP title. The Bills would likely need to win out, including a Week 18 victory at Miami, to just reclaim the AFC East. Despite a weak passing game (94 yards in the rain) on Sunday, he has now responsible for a league-best 37 touchdowns (26 passing, 11 rushing).
4. Allen surpassed Kyler Murray to become the first player to record 10 games with at least one touchdown pass and run in a single season.
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5. Buffalo wide receiver In the victory, James Cook ran for 221 yards and two touchdowns. Against Dallas, he amassed the most rushing yards for the Bills in 13 years with 179.
5a. RB Dalvin Cook of the New York Jets, his brother, has 292 yards and zero touchdowns this season.
Regarding the Cowboys? In addition to hurting quarterback Dak Prescott’s MVP chances, their fourth road loss—and third humiliating one after prior losses at Arizona and San Francisco—raises major concerns about their ability to compete in the Super Bowl.
7. Darnell Mooney, a wide receiver for the Chicago Bears, has redefined the phrase “fail Mary.”
8. The Chargers may be looking for a new head coach, but interim head coach Giff Smith has good news because two other substitute teachers, Chris Tabor of the Carolina Panthers and Antonio Pierce of the Las Vegas Raiders, both won in Week 15. Pierce’s victory on Thursday was clearly coming at the Bolts’ expense.
