Bills Central

New Bills Run Wild In Preseason Finale vs. Bears

The Buffalo Bills' revamped run game gave decisionmakers plenty to think about after racking up 173 yards against the Chicago Bears in Saturday's preseason finale.

Geoff Maggliocchetti

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The newest backfield Buffalo Bills will apparently fit right in ... if they get to stay, that is.

Time will tell how many get to stay, but each of Buffalo's running backs made a sterling case in Saturday's 2023 preseason finale, a 24-21 victory over the Chicago Bears. The Bills' backs accumulated 173 yards on 34 carries and accounted for two of their scores to close out summer exhibitions. 

Presumed premier man James Cook got things started with 23 yards on the opening possession featuring his depth chart No. 1 cohorts before the drive was capped by a short Damien Harris run. Former Bear Darrynton Evans bestowed fresh revenge with a game-best 65 yards on nine attempts, the headliner being a tally from 35 away that will undoubtedly reach the most legitimate preseason highlight reels. Newest Bill Ty Johnson closed things out with 51 on 11 to secure Buffalo's second win in three exhibitions.

"I’d be lying if I said it didn’t feel good coming back to Soldier Field and putting on a show," Evans said on X, formerly known as Twitter, in sharing a video of his run to glory. "Bills Mafia on Top!"

From a plain look at the box scores, it's not like the Bills' run game had any true glaring issues last season: the team placed seventh in total ground yardage at 2,232 and its average carry of 5.2 was good for the runner-up spot.

That, of course, is partly thanks to the Josh Allen beautification process.

Behind the franchise quarterback, all but one of Buffalo's top rushers (Cook) has moved on, as the team bid farewell to young staples Devin Singletary, Zack Moss, and Isaiah McKenzie. Cook, a second-round sophomore, is a likely lock while Harris has an edge as both a red zone option and former starter for a divisional rival. All that hoopla and more doesn't account for the idea that the Bills are entangled in the latest Jonathan Taylor gossip as the elite runner plans his escape from Indianapolis. 

In either case, Saturday's substitutes certainly gave management the finest kind of headache ... but a stinger nonetheless.

Time will tell which backs suit up for the Bills when they officially kick off the 2023 season against the New York Jets, Johnson's most recent employers, on Sept. 11 at MetLife Stadium (8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN).

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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Geoff Maggliocchetti
GEOFF MAGGLIOCCHETTI

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