The Buffalo Payments completely managed the sport in opposition to the Miami Dolphins to kick off Week 2, and maybe the most important cause for the domination was working again James Cook dinner. With assist from a commanding offensive line efficiency, Cook dinner ran all around the Dolphins to set the tone for the Payments’ large 31-10 win.
A number of instances in the course of the Thursday Night time Soccer broadcast, Cook dinner was known as probably the most underrated backs in your complete NFL, even after making the Professional Bowl following the 2023 season. Final yr, he completed tenth within the league in dashing and sixth in yards from scrimmage. Nonetheless, the previous second-round choose sits within the shadow of Josh Allen relating to the Payments’ offensive playmakers.
On Thursday night time, that was not the case.
Cook dinner was the warmth that roasted the Miami Dolphins protection, powering the Payments to an enormous early season AFC East win. The third-year working again opened the scoring on a fourth-down catch and run within the first quarter, the place offensive coordinator Joe Brady schemed him vast open to provide Buffalo the early lead.
After Buffalo prolonged their lead with a area purpose, the Payments meticulously moved the ball down the sector on the snuing possession with Cook dinner on the sideline, just for him to come back in and vulture one other landing halfway by the second quarter. Buffalo was up 17-7.
After the kickoff and some snaps, defensive sort out Ed Oliver sacked Dolphins QB Tua Tagovaiola on fourth down and the Payments acquired the ball again shortly. Simply as shortly, Buffalo introduced in an additional offensive lineman on first down, former Payments security Jordan Poyer took a foul angle, and Cook dinner was off to the races for a 49-yard landing — the longest play of his younger profession.
Cook dinner completed the sport with simply 11 carries for 78 yards (7.7 yards per rush) and the one catch for 17 yards, although many of the injury was finished within the first half-hour. With three scores within the first half, Cook dinner tied the staff report for many touchdowns within the first half of a recreation.
Sometimes called the youthful brother of Dalvin Cook dinner, James is following in his brother’s footsteps however rising from that shadow, as nicely. A child from Miami with about 40 members of the family in attendance (per the published), the youthful Cook dinner was glad to carry out nicely in entrance of his associates.
“Whenever you come again dwelling you all the time need to placed on a present,” he mentioned after the sport.
With pundits mistakenly referring to Allen because the man who has to place all the pieces on his shoulders each recreation for the Payments’ offense to work, head coach Sean McDermott has been singing the working recreation’s praises for some time. Cook dinner proved on Thursday night time that it’s not a one-man present and Buffalo’s mantra of “everyone eats” goes to incorporate the working again place.
