A method for storing a packet in an application buffer of a processor node is described. A first out of order (OOO) packet within a stream of packets transmitted from a second network interface controller is received in a sequence represented by respective sequence numbers that are assigned to corresponding packets in the stream. The first OOO packet is received out of order relative to at least a first missing packet of the stream of packets. One of an OOO buffer associated with the first network interface controller or the application buffer associated with the first network interface controller is selected. The OOO buffer is configured to store OOO packets. The first network interface controller is configured to store the stream of packets in sequential order in the application buffer. The first OOO packet is stored in the selected buffer.