BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Buffalo Bills discovered something about themselves in Sunday’s 40-9 win over Carolina.
They’re a good running team.
They have a great running back in James Cook.
“When you got James Cook,” according to Josh Allen, “you let him cook.”
He ran for 216 yards Sunday on 19 carries. Through seven games he’s on a pace for 1,712 yards for the season. Only O.J. Simpson has had better rushing seasons (in 16 games).
Moreover, Cook’s production has forced the Bills to re-think their offensive approach. But not Sean McDermott though – he knew it all along.
“I know the value of being a two-dimensional offense and I love the run game,” he said after the game. “I don’t think I’ve ever said that.”
Coach, you haven’t.
Who concluded first regarding Cook isn’t important now. What is important is that the Bills suddenly have a ground game to go along with Allen’s talented right arm. They have to continue to use it.
Even in the first quarter Sunday the Bills had not fully committed to Cook. On their first possession, he ran the ball four times for 33 yards all the way to the Panthers 23-yard line. Then he was out of the game and four plays later the Bills settled for a 45-yard field goal.
The next two offensive series, Cook got seven carries. The last one was his 64-yard sprint for the end zone in the second quarter to give the Bills a nine-point lead. It was the longest play of the season for the Bills, a thing of beauty for McDermott.
“There was an attitude that came with that,” according to McDermott. “He breaks through into the second level of defense, you’ve got wide receivers and tight ends blocking. He’s of this mind set he’s going. He’s going!”
Cook was also going into the end zone from 21 yards out in the third quarter. He got his 216 yards in three quarters. And he’s smart enough to throw credit at Aaron Kromer’s offensive line as soon as he stepped to the postgame podium.
“First thing, I wanna thank my O-line,” Cook said. “Without them, I couldn’t run it. Just thanking those guys for always having my back.”
Cook was not the only reason the Bills won a blowout Sunday. The defense was outstanding giving up one touchdown, coming up with three takeaways, and sacking Carolina QB Andy Dalton seven times. One-and-a-half of them came from Michael Hoecht, a free agent signed by the Bills who missed the first six games on suspension.
The Bills got two rushing touchdowns from Allen who admitted he didn’t throw it that well, especially in the first half.
The Bills will need his arm in the next six weeks – the meat of the schedule. They play Kansas City and Tampa Bay at home and Houston and Pittsburgh on the road.
But now, they have the NFL’s top rushing attack led by a bona fide superstar, Cook, to showcase in the second half of the season.
John Murphy, the longtime Voice of the Bills and former News 4 sports director, now writes columns for WIVB.com. Find more of his work here.