1. Where the Bills stand in ESPN's playoff projections
Well the playoff projections didn't project the Bills as serious contenders this preseason. Prior to the regular season the Bills had an 18% chance to make the playoffs, according to ESPN's Football Power Index.
Today, it's up to 95%. Among AFC teams they rank fourth, only behind the New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs.
The Bills are 9-3 for the first time since 1996 and are 9-3 or better for the 11th time in franchise history. The team has made the playoffs in all of the previous 10 occasions with a 9-3 record or better.
"No man, this is perfect," Cole Beasley said. "The defense did an exceptional job. It's a lot easier to play offense when they're doing what they do and getting us turnovers and giving us great field position. Josh (Allen) played a hell of a game. We got the win. We're 9-3. Couldn't ask for anything any other way."
But for Beasley and the rest of the Bills the work isn't done yet.
"It'll be the most satisfying day when we win a Super Bowl, man," Beasley said. "The work's not done. It's just another win and another step in the right direction."
2. Defense proved to be opportunistic when it needed to be
Buffalo's defense locked down when it needed to.
The Bills forced the Cowboys to go 7-for-13 on third down situations, 1-for-3 on fourth down and 2-for-4 in the red zone. It was critical to the success of the Bills defense holding the Cowboys to nine straight possessions without scoring a point.
Rookie Ed Oliver forced one of Dallas' three fumbles with a strip sack of Dak Prescott.
"No lie, when I was rushing, I was like, man, this play is taking a long time and he still has the ball," Oliver said. "When I threw the rip in there, I was like, he is probably throwing it. So, I reached my arm out, like, if it is coming out, it will be coming out right now. It just so happened, I got the ball."
The Bills defense had a little extra motivation after being chosen to lose earlier this week.
"I think we were picked to lose," Oliver said. "I heard a couple people say we were picked to lose. Just coming in their house on Thanksgiving, that is a day they play every year, I am guessing. Just coming in their house and taking it from them, that is fun."
3. How Tre'Davious White honored his cousin on Thanksgiving
Tre'Davious White had a little extra motivation during the Thanksgiving game. For the game, he wore custom cleats that paid tribute to his cousin "NuNu" who lost her life in 2018 and would have turned 25 years old on Thanksgiving.
White didn't speak about the cleats after the game but still had a good day going against Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper.
"We just continue to go out and win," White said. "I feel like, the way that we prepare and the way that we go to work and believe in each other, it is next to none. I feel like that is what ultimately leads to us having on-field success."
