The Buffalo Payments completely managed the sport in opposition to the Miami Dolphins to kick off Week 2, and maybe the most important motive for the domination was operating 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’ massive 31-10 win.
A number of occasions through the Thursday Night time Soccer broadcast, Cook dinner was known as one of the underrated backs in all the NFL, even after making the Professional Bowl following the 2023 season. Final 12 months, he completed tenth within the league in speeding and sixth in yards from scrimmage. Nonetheless, the previous second-round choose sits within the shadow of Josh Allen in terms of the Payments’ offensive playmakers.
On Thursday evening, that was not the case.
Cook dinner was the warmth that roasted the Miami Dolphins protection, powering the Payments to a giant early season AFC East win. The third-year operating again opened the scoring on a fourth-down catch and run within the first quarter, the place offensive coordinator Joe Brady schemed him broad open to present Buffalo the early lead.
After Buffalo prolonged their lead with a discipline purpose, the Payments meticulously moved the ball down the sphere on the snuing possession with Cook dinner on the sideline, just for him to return in and vulture one other landing halfway via 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 obtained the ball again rapidly. Simply as rapidly, Buffalo introduced in an additional offensive lineman on first down, former Payments security Jordan Poyer took a nasty 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 harm was executed within the first half-hour. With three scores within the first half, Cook dinner tied the group document 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 relations in attendance (per the published), the youthful Cook dinner was glad to carry out nicely in entrance of his buddies.
“While you come again house you at all times should placed on a present,” he stated after the sport.
With pundits mistakenly referring to Allen because the man who has to place all the things on his shoulders each recreation for the Payments’ offense to work, head coach Sean McDermott has been singing the operating recreation’s praises for some time. Cook dinner proved on Thursday evening that it’s not a one-man present and Buffalo’s mantra of “all people eats” goes to incorporate the operating again place.
