'Let It Rip!' James Cook Thrives as Buffalo Bills Dominate Dallas Cowboys in Week 15

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook sent the Dallas Cowboys soul-searching after an explosive Week 15. How did the second-year back react to his big day?

The NFL has a way of making expectations go by the wayside every Sunday. In what was hyped up as a clash of quarterbacking titans between Josh Allen and Dak Prescott, it was a running back that made headlines in Week 15.

On Sunday evening, the Buffalo Bills beat the Dallas Cowboys 31-10. Running back James Cook was a constant presence, helping Buffalo impose its will on the ground and even strike through the air. His two scores would be more than enough in Buffalo’s most impressive showing since Week 4’s blowout of the Miami Dolphins.

Bills RB James Cook takes a handoff from QB Josh Allen in a win against the Dallas Cowboys / USA TODAY Sports

Cook saw his number called 25 times and was targeted three times as well. In all, he scampered for 179 yards and had 42 more through the air.

“I just let it rip when I get my opportunity,” Cook said.

Interim offensive coordinator Joe Brady hasn’t hesitated to lean on Cook, and it has come with some remarkable success. He has put up at least 100 yards of offense in every game with Brady calling the shots, culminating in Sunday’s 221-yard performance.

“My O-Linemen, they were opening it up,” Cook said. “And I was hitting it and finding that rhythm.”

He has finally found consistency on the ground that had eluded him and Buffalo for the first season and a half of his career. From sprint draws to make life easier and brief benchings due to fumbles, Cook’s ascension wasn’t guaranteed – but it has come at an incredible time.

His confidence isn’t newfound, but the production is a recent development that could help Buffalo catapult into the playoffs, even without a spot through 15 weeks.

“I work my tail off every day so the confidence level is gonna come in practice,” Cook said. “Once you practice hard and do things right, it’s a confidence booster and it’s gonna show on Sunday.”

Center Mitch Morse was grateful for Cook's performance, implying that his explosiveness and vision helped make the linemen right when they probably shouldn’t have been. The run game helped underline one of the Bills’ best showings of complementary football this season and nullified a strong Dallas pass rush.

“It was kind of a celebration of the preparation we’ve had as a team,” Morse said. “Just trying to take it one moment at a time.”

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With three games to play, Buffalo still has work to do if it wants to make the playoffs. Anything worse than 2-1 could end their season. Even so, there are few teams more feared than the Bills, especially if Cook’s dynamic days are here to stay.