When Sunday Night Football came to an official end off of a Tyler Loop missed field goal that eliminated the Baltimore Ravens from playoff contention, the Buffalo Bills could celebrate one big milestone for one of their star players. Running back James Cook took the NFL’s rushing title with 1,621 yards after a breakout season that started with him getting a contract extension before the season.
Going into Week 18, Cook had the lead but Jonathan Taylor and Derrick Henry weren’t too far behind him. Taylor was not productive in Indianapolis’ final game, but there was a moment where people were thinking that Henry could pass Cook. Henry has rushed for over 100 yards in the first half, putting him very close to passing Cook. Then, the Steelers' defense finally stepped up and contained Henry.
Henry would finish with 126 yards which was impressive, but it only brought him up to 1,595 yards on the season. Cook became the first Bill since O.J. Simpson to lead the league in rushing and now he has a ton of momentum going into Sunday's game in Jacksonville.
One of Cook's offensive lineman Spencer Brown was asked about Cook claiming the rushing title and Brown said "That was awesome...shoutout to the Steelers' defense" per Dan Fetes.
"That was awesome... shoutout to the Steelers defense."
— Dan Fetes (@danfetes) January 7, 2026
-Spencer Brown on James Cook winning the NFL's Rushing Title#BillsMafia @BuffaloPlus pic.twitter.com/YJWGqqErkV
Steelers helped James Cook earn rushing title in 2 different ways
Obviously, this comment from Brown focuses on how Pittsburgh stepped up and slowed down Henry in the second half. However, the Steelers’ defense can also be thanked by the Bills because back in Week 13, Cook ran for 144 yards against Pittsburgh which was Cook’s second highest amount in a game this season.
Once the second half of that game began, Pittsburgh could not slow down Buffalo at all. The Bills scored 26 unanswered points and the rushing attack absolutely tore down the Steelers’ defense. Buffalo ran for 249 yards against Pittsburgh.
So yes, as much as the Steelers helped Cook win the rushing title in Week 18, they also helped him out a lot back in Week 13.