Buffalo Bills ‘Fun’ Offense Rolling Thanks to Coach Joe Brady, RB James Cook

Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady and running back James Cook have turned the offense around in the last four games.

A once-floundering Buffalo Bills offense has found its stride in the last four games, and it isn't hard to figure out what spurred the late-season surge. 

The Bills' offense has regained its form from earlier in the season under interim offensive coordinator Joe Brady, and they put together another dominant performance in a 31-10 win over the Dallas Cowboys (10-4) on Sunday at Highmark Stadium. 

Across the four games Brady has been the offensive play-caller, Buffalo (8-6) has averaged 29.3 points per game, scoring at least 31 points in three. The Bills hadn't scored over 30 points in a game since Week 4 before Brady took over for Ken Dorsey, who was fired on Nov. 14. 

The biggest difference under Brady has been the usage of second-year James Cook, who had a career day against the Cowboys with 25 carries for 179 yards and a touchdown, plus two catches for 42 yards and a touchdown. As a team, Buffalo ran for 266 yards and three touchdowns against Dallas. 

"That's the most fun," Bills center Mitch Morse said. "To see what you practice, those adjustments you make during the week and even throughout the game making those adjustments. It was nice not having to be a pass-happy against a very good defensive front that really hunts the passer."

James Cook (4) celebrating after scoring a touchdown in the Bills' 31-10 win over the Cowboys / © Gregory Fisher, USA TODAY

Bills quarterback Josh Allen didn’t have to do much. He completed just 7 of 15 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown while adding another score on the ground. 

The second-year running back has averaged 21 touches and 141 total yards and has three receiving touchdowns and one on the ground since Brady took over playcalling duties. Cook has had at least 100 total yards in the last five games after only eclipsing that total three times in Buffalo's first nine games. 

"I work my tail off in practice," Cook said. "The confidence level is going to come in practice. Once you practice hard and do the things right, it's a confidence boost and it's going to show on Sundays."

'Let It Rip!' Cook Thrives as Bills Dominate Cowboys

Winning a game where Allen threw for under 100 yards would have seemed like a joke earlier in the season. With the emergence of Cook and the running game and with Brady calling the offense, there's less pressure on Allen to do everything for the offense than there has ever been.

The usage of Cook by Brady has unlocked the offense's potential heading into the final stretch of the season. If the offense and Cook can stay hot for the rest of the season, Buffalo could be one of the scariest teams in the AFC if it gets back into the playoffs.