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The Bills need more James Cook, but they must stay dedicated to this philosophy

The Buffalo Bills’ Week 4 loss to the New England Patriots underscored a persistent debate over their offensive strategy, particularly regarding the role of star running back James Cook. Despite Cook’s prime physical form, the team’s reliance on early-down passing has shown measurable success, with the Bills ranking fourth in expected points added (EPA) per play in non-garbage time during Weeks 1 and 2.

In those games, Buffalo threw on first and second downs at a 58.0% rate—among the highest in the league—while still scoring 36 points in Houston. However, after shifting to a more conservative approach in Weeks 3 and 4, their early-down pass rate dropped to 47.4%, the 10th-lowest in the NFL, and their EPA per play fell to 16th place.

The data suggests that when the Bills prioritize the pass game early, their offense performs more efficiently, even as calls grow louder for more run-heavy schemes to feature Cook more prominently. The challenge for head coach Joe Brady lies in balancing these philosophies: maximizing Cook’s impact without abandoning a proven high-octane passing approach that has driven recent offensive success.

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