USA TODAY Sports

James Cook Caps Off Historic Season With Buffalo Bills

Originally posted on FanNation Dawgs Daily
By Jonathan Williams | Last updated 1/22/24

The NFL divisional playoff round just wrapped up this past weekend and the final game of the slate did not disappoint. The Buffalo Bills hosted the Kansas City Chiefs for another epic showdown that went down to the wire until Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs finally prevailed after a missed game-tying field goal by the Bills. While the Bills may have ended their season on a sour note, there's a lot to be excited about for one of their player's future.

Former Georgia Bulldog and current Bills running back James Cook just capped off an impressive sophomore season in the NFL and one that will leave his name in the history books. In 2023, Cook rushed for 1,122 yards, averaging 4.7 yards per carry and also racked up 445 receiving yards. He is the first Bill to reach the 1,000 rushing yard mark since LeSeason McCoy in 2017 and is the first to reach that mark within the first two years of his career since Marshawn Lynch in 2007.

Following the 2022 season, former Buffalo running Devin Singletary elected to sign with the Houston Texans, which propelled Cook to the top of the depth chart following his rookie season. His unique skillset as a running back provides a lot of versatility in his game, and based on how his numbers finished in 2023, Cook made the most out of his first season in a starting role.

The Bills have now lost in the divisional round of the playoffs three years in a row after making the conference championship game in 2020. The franchise has been knocking on the door of reaching the coveted Super Bowl game and having a running back like Cook on the roster will certainly help their chances of remaining in contention for a championship in the near future.