Bills offense welcome run game contributions vs. Patriots
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Buffalo rookie RB James Cook had a career evening in Foxborough, MA on the way to a 24-10 Bills victory over their AFC East rival, the New England Patriots.
Cook led the team in rush attempts and yardage on the ground, also hauling in six targets that made him second in receptions on the night. In all the first-year pro had 14 carries for 64 yards with 41 yards receiving.
The contest was the third in which he logged double-digit attempts rushing, and marked the best overall performance of his young career.
Let Cook cook! 👨🍳 @thegreat__4 | @buffalobills#BUFvsNE on Prime Video
Also available on NFL+ https://t.co/bTTcEL41DH pic.twitter.com/DmO7ntLdZ7— NFL (@NFL) December 2, 2022
Much of the Bills ground game has previously been carried on RB Devin Singletary’s shoulder, so what’s led to the increased role on offense? In part, the playcalling has been more balanced, but there are some other things Cook’s head coach noticed as well.
“It was just overall his growth and seeing what he can do,” Sean McDermott said to the press postgame. “Rotating different guys in there. It was just all Motor (Devin Singletary) and I think that’s a good thing there.”
The playcalling was absolutely a factor in giving the running back’s group a chance to gain ground in the offense, and the coach acknowledged how offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey has been reading when to run or pass the football.
“I thought coach (Ken) Dorsey did a really good job of changing it up. When the run is working like it was at times, just being able to stick it–And sometimes it wasn’t–but just being able to stick with it, I thought he was very patient in that regard. I thought the O-line did a very good job up front,” McDermott added.
Cook’s teammates noticed the impact he and Singletary, who added 51 yards on 13 carries with a touchdown, had in the win.
“We got the backs that can make explosive plays. They do a great job,” WR Stefon Diggs said during his media session. “It helps the pass game.”
Diggs went on to praise Cook specifically, adding “He’s a special player… He’s young. He’s growing and he’s growing in the right direction fast.”
“He’s dynamic with the ball in his hands,” QB Josh Allen said about Cook. “The more we can get him going, in the long run, is going to benefit us.”
Veteran center Mitch Morse noticed the overall development as well, speaking favorably as well about how this Bills team is evolving and expanding to be more multi-dimensional in their offensive game plan and attack.
“It felt good to execute in the run game to give ourselves a little bit of a cushion at least to not feel like we had to just drop back and play one-dimensional,” Morse said.
The team will have the opportunity to continue to build on their performance in the coming weeks, as they square off at home against the Jets and Dolphins in back-to-back AFC East matchups on December 11th and 18th.
