The key to the Buffalo Bills’ offensive success was more evident than ever against the Los Angeles Chargers last Sunday: Keep giving the ball to James Cook. The star running back rebounded from a lost fumble on the opening snap to rush 24 times for 154 yards and a touchdown in the Bills’ 24-16 win, producing the kind of ground-game control that could define Sunday’s matchup with the New England Patriots — Buffalo’s first division game of the season.
Locked On Bills host Joe Marino said Cook averaged 4.87 yards before contact against the Chargers, a number that reflected how thoroughly Buffalo’s front created space. The production came through more than one style: The line mixed duo and other gap concepts with its outside-zone looks, while right tackle Spencer Brown continued to take on a larger role as a puller.
Locked On Bills co-host Jerry Ostroski argued the offense had the ingredients for an even bigger rushing day if it had not allowed the early turnover to alter its approach. Ostroski pointed to Ray Davis as the logical complement to Cook, saying a more equitable workload split could let Buffalo maintain its physical identity without placing every carry on Cook.
Cook enters Week 4 with 346 rushing yards on 58 attempts through three games, and the Patriots are allowing more than 108 rushing yards per game. The matchup offers Buffalo a chance to turn last week’s film into a repeatable formula: Establish Cook early, keep Davis involved, and use a productive run game to create cleaner play-action opportunities for Josh Allen.
The lost fumble still matters because it showed how quickly a game plan can drift away from a successful rushing attack. Buffalo does not need to abandon an explosive passing offense, but Cook’s performance against the Chargers supplied a timely reminder that its most reliable way to control a game may be to keep its running back at the center of it.
The Bills host New England on Sunday, Oct. 4, at Highmark Stadium, with Cook’s workload and ball security likely to shape whether last week’s rushing breakout becomes a one-game result or a defining offensive staple.
Bills News and Notes
– Buffalo guard Alec Anderson faces his most significant interior pass-protection test yet against Patriots defensive tackle Milton Williams. Marino and Ostroski expect New England to seek one-on-one looks for Williams against Anderson, making that matchup a key variable in keeping Allen comfortable.
– New England placed guard Greg Van Roten on injured reserve after this episode was recorded, changing the interior matchup Ostroski initially outlined. The absence could give Buffalo defensive tackle Deone Walker and the interior rush a clearer path to pressure quarterback Drake Maye.
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