Buffalo Bills running back James Cook scored a hat trick on his homecoming, reaching the end zone three times in his team’s convincing 31-10 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night in front of fans in his hometown of South Florida.
His first touchdown of the night came on a gutsy fourth-and-3 attempt in the first quarter, a skillfully executed play by offensive coordinator Joe Brady that allowed Cook to sneak into the flat and reach the final goal almost unchallenged. His second touchdown came on a 49-yard run to the goal line in the second quarter to put Buffalo ahead 24-7. The three touchdowns capped off a stellar performance by Cook, who averaged 7.1 yards per run and finished the game with 95 total yards.
Head coach Sean McDermott raved about his third-year ball carrier during the postgame press conference, highlighting the running back as a player who contributed significantly to the dominant win.
“James Cook stepped up for us in many ways tonight,” the sideline boss told reporters.
Related: 5 important statistics on the Bills’ convincing 31-10 win over the Dolphins
Cook was a much-discussed player in Western New York all summer after quietly playing at a near-elite level in his sophomore season. In 2023, he ranked fourth in the NFL in rushing yards (1,122) and sixth in scrimmage yards (1,567). His stellar stat line was largely overlooked by national pundits due to his lack of production (he finished the season with just six touchdowns). Whether Cook would continue his development under now-full-time playmaker Joe Brady or regress toward the mean was a popular topic of conversation throughout the offseason. After two games, the former seems the more likely outcome.
The 24-year-old was electric in the first two games of the new season, managing 71 rushing yards and 32 receiving yards in Week 1 before scoring a hat trick in the AFC East opener. He has already scored half as many touchdowns in 2024 as he did last season, and if his early effort and skill are any indication, he will surpass that number this season.
McDermott further discussed Cook’s development during his post-game press conference, stating that it was encouraging to see his noticeable development.
“James just continues to grow and get better,” McDermott said. “He was one of our captains tonight and he deserves it. He’s from (Miami) and I know it was important for him to play well and he just continues to grow and develop. I’m just extremely proud of him.”
Not only has Cook developed into one of the most intriguing and exciting young running backs in the league, but he has also added an extra dimension to a Buffalo offense that has struggled to get consistent production out of its backfield in the recent past. He will look to continue his stellar 2024 season when the Bills host the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 3. Monday Night Football Collision.
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