BUFFALO — The Cowboys opened the preseason with the kind of performance Richard Yoder can build on: a patient ground attack, timely takeaways and a defense that kept Buffalo out of the end zone. Dallas pulled away for a 27-3 win Saturday, turning a first-quarter tie into a comfortable road result.

The Bills struck first with Larry Perry’s 31-yard field goal, but Gerald Seymour answered with a 56-yarder to make it 3-3 with 3:24 remaining in the opening quarter. That was the last time Buffalo scored. Dallas held the Bills to 18 rushing yards and 4-for-16 on third down, while recording three sacks and an interception.

John Anderson’s second-quarter interception helped turn the game’s momentum. The Cowboys moved into the red zone, and William Freeman found Joseph Kearns for a three-yard touchdown. Seymour’s extra point made it 10-3 with 7:06 left in the half. The scoreline remained there until Seymour added a 35-yard field goal early in the third.

Dallas then stretched the lead with a pair of touchdown connections from Donald Hendricks. Sidney Briggs caught a 19-yard scoring pass at 6:30 of the third quarter, and Willie Pennebaker hauled in a three-yard touchdown early in the fourth. Both plays came with Buffalo penalties declined, and Seymour converted after each to put the Cowboys ahead 27-3.

The overall numbers reflected a balanced attack. Dallas piled up 230 yards on 44 carries, while completing 15 of 28 passes for 126 yards and three touchdowns. Justin Jackson led the Cowboys with 75 rushing yards, and Hendricks finished with 85 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and 12 rushing yards. Kearns, Briggs and Pennebaker each supplied a touchdown reception.

There was a brief scare near the goal line when Javier Pulliam fumbled after a five-yard run, but Dallas’ Joel Gray recovered at the Buffalo 3. Hendricks found Pennebaker on the next play. The Cowboys also closed the afternoon with another takeaway, as Joseph Primus recovered a Buffalo fumble late in the fourth.

For a preseason opener, the result offered a useful first look at Yoder’s group: Dallas ran effectively, finished three of four red-zone visits with touchdowns and made Buffalo work for every scoring chance. It is only Week 1 of the preseason, but the Cowboys leave with a clean win and several areas of strength to carry into the next evaluation.