Buffalo Bills running back James Cook has been a dominant force for the Bills’ offense this season. He leads the NFL in rushing yards and has scored 12 times on the ground and caught two touchdowns.
However, during Buffalo’s Week 17 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Cook has gotten off to a slow start, silenced by the Eagles’ suffocating defense.
What Happened to Buffalo Bills RB James Cook?
No, Cook is not hurt; in fact, he’s played in all 15 games for the Bills so far this season. He leads the NFL with rushing yards coming into Week 17 with 1,532 yards and 12 touchdowns. He’s also caught 32 of 36 targets for 288 yards and two touchdowns.
However, during the first quarter of the Week 17 matchup against the Eagles, Cook has been held to 4 carries for 24 yards and one reception for three yards on two targets from quarterback Josh Allen.
Cook has been the highest-rated running back in the NFL, according to PFSN’s RB Impact metric, with a score of 91. He, along with Allen, is a driving force behind PFSN’s third-ranked offense, according to PFSN’s Offense Impact metric, with a score of 86.5.
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While neither team has found an edge, the Eagles have a 7-0 lead through the first quarter, as Buffalo’s first two drives have ended in a punt and a fumble. The Eagles were finally able to make their way into the end zone at the end of the first quarter on a one-yard pass from quarterback Jalen Hurts to end Dallas Goedert tight.
However, the Bills seem to have a drive going in the second quarter, with Cook gaining 19 yards to raise his first-half total to 37 yards. Yet, they weren’t able to get any point out of it. Buffalo will need to find a way to maintain offensive consistency despite the Eagles’ leading early on.
Buffalo can still win the AFC East after beating the New England Patriots in Week 15, but it will need the Miami Dolphins to beat them in Week 18 to have a chance. After their win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 17, never say never, but the chances seem unlikely.
However, Buffalo still has plenty at stake outside of the AFC East as it holds onto the fifth seed in the AFC. However, both the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Chargers are on Buffalo’s heels at 11-5. A loss to Philadelphia would drop them all the way to the seventh seed. They would need a win in Week 18 and some help to climb back higher in the AFC seeding.
