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James Cook continues to prove why Bills were smart to pay him

Brandon Ray
Brandon Ray

BuffaLowDown

Buffalo Bills v New York Jets / Jordan Bank/GettyImages

The Buffalo Bills have come out strong against the New York Jets and have yet to show any kind of weakness against their division rival. After a horrible defensive performance last week against the Ravens, the Bills are playing a completely different game for the better.

Buffalo has scored two touchdowns and both have come from running back James Cook. Leading up to the season, the Bills and Cook were in a contract dispute and it was getting to the point where we didn’t know if Cook was going to be in Buffalo after 2025. The good news is that he received his four-year extension and is now a Bill for the long haul.

Cook was solid last week against Baltimore, but he is already off to a strong start against the Jets. He is once again proving that he was worth the money that the Bills paid him. After scoring the Bills’ first touchdown of the game from just one yard out, Cook followed up that score with a 44-yard rushing touchdown to put the Bills up 20-0.

Bills are getting the upside of James Cook extension

Say what you want about Cook not being a third down back…he is the Bills’ second best offensive player and is one of the best on the team. Buffalo does better with him on the field than when he’s not. He’s a dynamic playmaker who can take the pressure off of Josh Allen. He can run and catch passes out of the backfield, showing his versatility.

It’s still early in the season and anything can happen. However, he is showing the organization and fans why he was worth paying. Being the best back the Bills have had since LeSean McCoy, the Bills would have lost more if Cook didn’t get his extension.

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Brandon Ray

Brandon Ray

Brandon Ray is a contributor for FanSided, with main coverage for the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans. Brandon joined FanSided in 2023 and has had the chance to cover multiple teams over his tenure. His work has been featured on different media outlets including Sports Illustrated and Bleacher Report. When Brandon isn't writing about the Bills and Titans, he is planning his next NFL stadium visit trip with his wife. As of the 2025 season, Brandon has been to 8 stadiums.