of Buffalo Bills Completely controlled the match Miami Dolphins Running back James Cook was perhaps the biggest factor in the dominating win in the Week 2 opener. Aided by a dominant offensive line performance, Cook dominated the Dolphins and set the tone for the Bills' 31-10 victory.
Many times Thursday Night Football The broadcast called Cook one of the most underrated backs in the entire NFL, even after he was selected to the Pro Bowl after the 2023 season. Last year, he finished 10th in the league in rushing and sixth in scrimmage yards. Still, the former second-round pick has been in the shadow of Josh Allen when it comes to the Bills' offensive playmakers.
That wasn't the case Thursday night.
Cook torched the Miami Dolphins defense and led the Bills to a big win in the AFC East division early in the season. The third-year running back opened the scoring with a catch-and-run on fourth down in the first quarter, giving offensive coordinator Joe Brady a wide berth to give Buffalo an early lead.
After Buffalo extended its lead with a field goal, the Bills carefully drove the ball down the field while Cook was on the sideline, but midway through the second quarter, Cook came on and ran in another touchdown, giving Buffalo a 17-7 lead.
A few snaps after the kickoff, defensive tackle Ed Oliver sacked Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailo on fourth down and the Bills quickly got the ball back. Just as quickly, Buffalo put another offensive lineman to work on first down and former Bills safety Jordan Poyer took a bad angle and Cook ran for a 49-yard touchdown, the longest play of his young career.
Cook finished with just 11 rushes for 78 yards (7.7 yards per run) and one catch for 17 yards, but most of the damage was done in the first 30 minutes: Cook scored three points in the first half, tying the team record for first-half touchdowns.
James, often referred to as Dalvin Cook's younger brother, is following in his brother's footsteps while also trying to step out of his shadow. The Miami native was in attendance (per broadcast) with about 40 family members in attendance, and the younger brother was happy to perform well in front of his friends.
“Whenever I come home I have to perform at my best,” he said after the match.
Pundits have mistakenly referred to Allen as giving his all every game to make the Bills' offense work, but head coach Sean McDermott has been praising the running game for some time. Cook proved Thursday night that the running game isn't a one-man show, and Buffalo's “everyone eats” motto will include the running back position.
