The Buffalo Bills needed to get back on track against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A 6-3 start had already been underwhelming for a potential Super Bowl contender, as they stood behind the New England Patriots in their own division.
But things took a turn for the worse in Week 10, when they faced the lowly Miami Dolphins, fresh off firing their general manager Chris Grier, and were blown out in humiliating fashion. Unfortunately, the first half against Tampa Bay wasn’t the knockout response many expected, especially from superstar running back James Cook.
What Happened to James Cook?
After an excellent breakout campaign in 2024, Cook seemed to be taking another jump this season. Coming out of the bye week against the Carolina Panthers, he put together an awe-inspiring performance with 216 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
On the season, his overall numbers have been excellent, with 920 yards and seven touchdowns through nine games. Last week, though, was arguably the worst game of the year for him, as he finished with 53 rushing yards on 13 carries.
This week, as Buffalo announced they were without Dalton Kincaid and Keon Coleman was set to be a healthy scratch, it felt safe to assume that the offensive game plan would heavily involve Cook.
However, the first half did not meet those expectations. Instead, he finished with just five rushing attempts to his tally, adding 10 rushing yards, as a pass-heavy game led Buffalo to a 21-20 lead going into the break.
Ultimately, it proved to be enough for them, as they were able to follow up with an even more dominant showing in the second half that gave them a 44-32 victory over the Buccaneers.
Allen, despite the two interceptions, had an excellent showing, as he threw for 317 yards and three touchdowns, while completing 19 of his 30 passing attempts. He also did major damage on the ground, where he tallied 40 yards and three touchdowns.
On the other hand, the quiet night for Cook continued, as he finished the game with 48 rushing yards on 16 carries. However, he did make an impact through the air, where he had 66 yards on just three catches, while also adding a score to the tally.
Coming into the game, he was ranked second on PFSN’s RB Impact, only behind an MVP candidate in Jonathan Taylor. The game against Tampa Bay might not have gone as well as Cook would have hoped, but for a Buffalo team that had been struggling all season long, it was the perfect game to get back on track.