ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver couldn’t help but interrupt upon overhearing a conversation teammate James Cook was having regarding the running back’s college days with the Georgia Bulldogs.
The Bills (4-1) are about to visit the Atlanta Falcons (2-2) for an NFL “Monday Night Football” matchup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which is also the site each December of the Southeastern Conference championship game. What caught Oliver’s attention was Cook acknowledging that, in three trips to the SEC title game — a trio of Georgia losses in 2018, 2019 and 2021 — he never scored a touchdown.
“That’s crazy to believe. I don’t believe that,” Oliver said of Cook, who totaled 20 touchdowns (14 rushing, six receiving) in four seasons at Georgia, where he was part of a formidable and crowded backfield.
“Never had one,” Cook responded. “But now I’m going to get one this week.”
Add another log to the motivational fire for Cook and the Bills after the team committed three turnovers in a sloppy outing in their most recent game, a 23-20 loss to the rival New England Patriots in AFC East Division play on Oct. 5. Not only was the offense — led by quarterback Josh Allen, the reigning NFL MVP — held to fewer than 30 points for the first time this season, Cook was limited to a season-low 49 yards from scrimmage (all rushing) and his franchise-record streak of games with at least one touchdown ended at eight.
“Just get back to playing our football,” Cook said, “and we’re going to get back on track.”
Cook’s emergence since taking over the starting job at running back midway through his second NFL season in 2023 has been critical in providing the offense balance and taking the load off the dual-threat Allen from having to do it all.
Cook has 23 touchdowns (21 rushing, two receiving) since the start of the 2024 season. After a weeklong hold-in during training camp this year — he was present but didn’t practice — that led to the 5-foot-11, 190-pounder signing a four-year contract extension, the former second-round draft pick has already started proving his value. He entered the sixth week of the season ranked second in the NFL with 430 rushing yards and tied for second with five touchdown runs.
Cook also gets to showcase how his role in Buffalo has expanded since his college days. In his freshman season at Georgia, he was third on the Bulldogs’ depth chart behind current Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift and Elijah Holyfield. Over his final two seasons, Cook shared the backfield with current Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White.
“Same mindset,” Cook said. “Keep doing what I do.”
Buffalo’s ground game could be key Monday night against the NFC South’s Falcons, who are returning from their open date. Atlanta’s defense has been stingy against the pass, allowing an NFL-low average of 135 yards per game through the air, but the Falcons are in the middle of the pack in giving up an average of 109 yards per game on the ground.
Atlanta first-year defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich is aware of the challenge ahead, especially after spending the previous four seasons with the AFC East’s New York Jets.
“There’s bags under my eyes for a reason,” Ulbrich said of devising a plan to contain Allen and Cook. “It felt a lot better when they didn’t have an elite running back there.”
Buffalo, meanwhile, will have its hands full while facing Atlanta running back Bijan Robinson, who entered the sixth week of the season fourth in the NFL with 584 yards from scrimmage, 45 ahead of Cook. The two are elusive runners, threats in the passing game and are the same height, though Robinson is 25 pounds heavier at 215.
Bills linebacker Shaq Thompson spent the past 10 seasons with the NFC South’s Carolina Panthers, so he is already familiar with Robinson, the No. 8 pick of the 2023 draft.
“He’ll get going one way, make a cut on a dime, and still have the same speed,” Thompson said. “James is the same way. But we’re playing Bijan, so we’ve got to bring our pads. He’s one of those guys who’s not going to go down off one tackle.”
The Bills have struggled against the run, including allowing 238 rushing yards in their season-opening 41-40 win over the Baltimore Ravens. They were better more recently in limiting the Patriots to 71 yards on the ground, though Rhamondre Stevenson had a pair of short touchdown runs for New England.
“He tests every gap, so everything’s alive with him,” Thompson said of Robinson, before turning his attention back to Cook.
“He’s going to get one this week, for sure,” Thompson said, when reminded that Cook never scored at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. “Maybe two.”