Whether you believe it or not, the Buffalo Bills overachieved in the 2024 season. It sure doesn’t feel like it after their 32-29 heartbreaking loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, but considering what was expected out of the Bills going into the season, it was an overachievement.
They finished 13-4 and won the AFC East by Week 13. Even though they technically didn’t sweep the whole AFC East, they won all of the meaningful games. Their Week 18 matchup against the New England Patriots was the most meaningless game for them in a long time. They had the No. 2 seed locked up so it didn’t matter the outcome for the Bills. The funny part is that with the Patriots winning, they played themselves out of the first overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Buffalo’s offense really shined this season especially given the fact that there was no Gabe Davis or Stefon Diggs. Up until the trade acquisition of Amari Cooper, the Bills had Khalil Shakir and Mack Hollins as the go-to guys. Rookie wideout Keon Coleman showed flashes here and there but was very quiet post his wrist injury in Week 9 against Miami.
Seeing as who was on this roster, a lot of us would think that due to the Bills’ success, it was star quarterback Josh Allen that led the way. Many people thought that he would be the reason why Buffalo would be in playoff contention. Now granted, he definitely was one of the reasons why. He had a career-low in turnovers and he was able to help get almost every weapon the Bills have into the endzone at some point this season. However, Tyler Sullivan from CBS Sports isn’t listing Josh Allen as the Bills’ MVP for the 2024 season.
James Cook named MVP for Buffalo Bills from CBS Sports
"Of course, Josh Allen is an obvious (and worthy) option here as he was a Second Team All-Pro this season and will probably come in second place in the overall league MVP award race, but let's give Cook some love. When Buffalo's offense was humming at its peak, it was when Cook was finding success on the ground. In his third season in the league, Cook tied a Bills single-season record with 16 rushing touchdowns. "Tyler Sullivan, CBS Sports
For as impressive as Josh Allen was this season, James Cook definitely deserves a lot of credit for his production. Aside from rushing for back-to-back 1,000+ rushing yard seasons, he was tied for the most rushing touchdowns this year with Derrick Henry and Jahmyr Gibbs (16).
Cook has done a lot for the Bills this season and has even put himself into the record books within franchise history:
- Is one of two Bills in franchise history to score 20+ touchdowns in a season, both regular season and playoffs. The only other Bills to do it was O.J. Simpson.
- He tied O.J. Simpson for the most rushing touchdowns in a single season in franchise history (16).
- He rushed for 4 rushing touchdowns of 40-yards or more which is a new franchise record, previously held by O.J. Simpson.
- Became the first Bill since Thurman Thomas in 1991 to score a rushing and receiving touchdown in Miami against the Dolphins.
The 2024 season has set Cook up for a nice payday and hopefully it’s from the Bills. He is heading into the last year of his rookie contract and it would be foolish of Brandon Beane to not extend him prior to the end of next season.