The Buffalo Bills clearly used their bye week wisely to make some needed changes to come out ready to play against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday afternoon. For starters, they remembered that running back James Cook could be used, and he repaid the team, rushing for 216 yards on 19 carries and two rushing touchdowns.
The defense did not disappoint either, as they had seven different players recording at least a half-sack. It hadn't occurred since 2021, when the Bills routed the New York Jets. It was also the first time since week two that both the offense and defense played a complete game.
While making their season debuts for the defense, defensive end Michael Hoecht and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi were very effective during the game. They were both serving six-game suspensions for failing performance drug tests.
How Michael Hoecht helped the Bills beat the Panthers 40-9
Visualizing the plays and attacking the field
Hoecht was excited the minute he arrived at Orchard Park as a new member of the Buffalo Bills. Despite being suspended, he was already picturing his debut in a Bills uniform. He had to wait the first two months from the beginning of the season to even play his first rep with his new squad.
The big defensive end was required to serve a six-game suspension for illegal PED use to begin with. The Bills knew about this while looking for Hoecht, a two-way pass rusher that head coach Sean McDermott could use to go after the quarterback.
Against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Hoecht proved why the Bills wanted to sign him. He was everywhere on the defensive line, pressuring the quarterback on the side, and blasting through guards on the inside in the obvious passing situations.
Hoecht completed his day with a forced fumble, one-and-a-half sacks, and a tackle for a loss while leading the Bills with five quarterback hurries.
It was a productive day for the Bills' defensive line, as each member made at least one half sack. Seven different players on the defensive line recorded a sack, including Ed Oliver, AJ Epenesa, Michael Hoecht (1.5 sacks), Greg Rousseau, Joey Bosa, Jordan Phillips, and DeOne Walker (.5).
In the first quarter, Rousseau knocked the ball out of QB Andy Dalton's hand, and CB Christian Benford recovered it. In the second quarter, Bosa recorded his first sack since Week 4. Epenesa picked the ball off and was stopped near the goal line before halftime, which led to a touchdown.
Walker also recovered a fumble and has continued to show why he deserves to remain a starter in the regular season. Not only did the team take Dalton down seven times in his game, but the defense also stayed away from giving up the big play, only permitting 4.1 yards per play.
The other Bills' defensive players made their presence known as they felt the spark from Hoecht and Ogunjobi returning from their suspension and fed off their energy.
It was a nice bounce-back game, but the whole team on all three phases will need to bring their A-game next week when QB Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs make their second annual trip to Orchard Park.
The Bills are right there, but they are not "Out of the Woods" yet.