A rushing title is within reach for James Cook. Here's what to know
The NFL’s rushing title is within reach for Buffalo Bills running back James Cook. He sits atop the league at 1,606 rushing yards heading into the final week of the regular season.
Around Thanksgiving, Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins texted Buffalo Bills running back James Cook.
Dawkins had seen a graphic on social media by the NFL about the league’s rushing leaders. He looked down the rankings – one, two, three, four, five – and he visualized Cook’s name at the top come January.
“I was like, ‘Bro, we're gonna get you this title,’ ” Dawkins said Thursday. “And (Cook) just said, ‘Let's do it, my boy.' ”
Bills running back James Cook III is introduced prior to playing the Eagles on Sunday at Highmark Stadium.
Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
The NFL’s rushing title is within reach for Cook. He sits atop the league at 1,606 rushing yards heading into the final week of the regular season. While not everything is within Cook’s control as the Bills debate how much they will play their starters, it is possible that Cook could become the first Bills player to lead the league in rushing since 1976. The rushing title would reflect more than just Cook’s dynamic abilities to the Bills. They look at it as a team award.
“It would mean everything,” Dawkins said.
Coach Sean McDermott has not yet revealed the expected play time for any of his starters, and the Bills very well could rest a number of playmakers Sunday. But McDermott is factoring Cook’s potential title into any decisions.
“Yeah, that’s definitely on my mind,” McDermott said Wednesday. “Again, we’ll see where that goes this week, in terms of how the week unfolds, here. That’s a heck of an accomplishment, if one can accomplish that, or in this case a team or an offense can accomplish that. So, I’m aware of it, we’ll see where it goes here.”
The fourth-year running back said he is not lobbying for playing time, but rather awaiting coach’s orders.
“Just kind of waiting,” Cook said.
The Bills will have more information Sunday. They’ll know the final tally for Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor. Taylor sits behind Cook with 1,559 rushing yards this season, though his numbers have dropped off since quarterback Daniel Jones’ Week 14 Achilles injury.
The Colts, who have been eliminated from playoff contention, face the Houston Texans, who are allowing 94.8 rushing yards per game, fourth best in the league.
With the Colts playing at 1 p.m. and the Bills in the 4:25 p.m. slot, McDermott will know a bit more about where Cook ranks. But Taylor isn’t the only threat.
At 1,469 rushing yards, Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry ranks third and is just 137 yards behind Cook. The Ravens play their rival Pittsburgh Steelers in a win-and-get-in game for the AFC North. Henry, who is averaging 5.1 yards per carry, will likely have a big role in the game.
Henry won the rushing title in 2019 and 2020 with the Tennessee Titans, making him the last player to win back-to-back titles. He’s had seven games of 100-or-more rushing yards this season, and he’s had two games this year with more than 137 yards. He had 94 yards in the loss to the Steelers earlier this season. The Ravens-Steelers game is the Sunday night matchup, so the Bills won’t know Henry’s production until well after Cook is done.
Only one Bills player has ever won the NFL’s rushing title: O.J. Simpson, who won four times in a five-year span from 1972 to 1976.
Cookie Gilchrist did win the American Football League (AFL) rushing title twice, in 1962 and 1964.
Cook has all that history in mind, as well as personal goals.
“It would mean a lot,” Cook said. “Just somebody ain’t do it in a long time. … And let me just give credit to the O-line. It would mean more to them, the guys that be blocking. So, I’m trying to win it for them, me, my family.”
Cook noted he would be the first in his family to reach that goal. His older brother, Dalvin, had his best season in 2020, with 1,557 rushing yards. Those were good for second-most in the league that year, but were eclipsed by Henry’s 2,027 rushing yards.
After the Bills extended Cook this summer, he has proven his worth to them, game after game. But his numbers also are signs of a great supporting cast.
“It’s never really just about one person, but it is a heck of an accomplishment,” McDermott said. “If it can be accomplished, it would be for James, in this case. So, we’re all pulling for him.
Left guard David Edwards has seen Cook grow and grow in their three years together.
“I feel like he’s elevated us, as a group,” Edwards said. “…There’s nobody on this planet that wants us to have that for Jimbo more than the O-line.”
Cook’s abilities to cut, break tackles and see holes all stand out to his teammates. Center Connor McGovern has seen the chemistry between the offensive line and Cook develop, as well.
For a group that doesn’t get many of their own awards, the offensive line takes pride in Cook’s production. A rushing title would affirm that.
“It would just mean a lot, seeing how we can block for the rushing title this year and the MVP of the league last year, just having those two titles under our belt can bring the morale of a team up,” right guard O’Cyrus Torrence said. “And as the offensive line, seeing how much work we put in the last two or three years, it’s just paying off.”
All around the offense, players are on alert for Sunday’s potential history.
“There's been times where he's broken a run and may have not had an extra 15 to 20 yards if those receivers weren't downfield blocking for him,” quarterback Josh Allen said of Cook.
“But it takes everybody. But also, James is such a special back. The way that he sees the field when he's got the ball in his hands, he's a truly special player. I don't know exactly what's going to happen this week and who's playing, who's not playing, how many reps, whatever, but he's definitely deserving of that rushing title.”
