The Buffalo Bills escaped SoFi Stadium with a 37-34 win over the Los Angeles Rams, but they have a James Cook problem they need to figure out.
Cook had a productive game against the Rams, rushing for 111 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. However, he coughed up the football twice, which included a fumble in overtime. If Harrison Mevis made his game-winning field goal attempt from 48 yards out, the blame would’ve fell squarely on Cook’s shoulders.
While some fans may view Cook’s performance as a rare off-night, he has 11 fumbles since the start of the 2025 season. Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Bills head coach Joe Brady addressed Cook’s recent history of fumbling.
“Look, he’s doing so many good things running the football. I don’t want to lose sight of how great he is running the ball right now. But putting the ball on the ground, it’s negating all the positive. I have all the confidence in him. That’s why I put him right back out there. But obviously, at some point there has to be consequences to when we’re putting negative stuff out there,” Brady said, via ESPN.
“It’s going to cost us football games. It almost cost us one. We can’t confuse because we won the game that that’s OK. It’s got to improve or the carries are going to decrease.”
Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images.
The Bills still have high hopes for James Cook.
Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins gave Cook some words of encouragement after his fumble in overtime.
“I walked over to him and I was like, ‘Bro, it’s all right. We’re gonna get it. It’s all right.’ I know Cook is upset because he tries to be a perfectionist, which he is. It sucks, right? We gotta take better care of the football, but things are gonna happen in a football game,” Dawkins said. “It’s a testament to our team to really not blink and keep it going. James Cook is still James Cook, and we need him. So why not tap him on the shoulder and tell him it’s gonna be all right?”
We’ll see if Cook redeems himself in Week 6 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
