James Cook in the Playoffs

[ganesh]

We have been saying what Josh Allen needs to do to win in the playoffs and take us to the SB (and win it).

 

I think equally important is the performance of James Cook in the Playoffs.  While James has had fantastic regular season campaigns, his playoff appearances have been that great (except for the games against Denver and KC in 2024 Playoffs).   Here is his year-on-year stats

 

By playoff season

2022: 1 game — 5 carries, 13 yards

2023: 2 games — 36 carries, 140 yards

2024: 3 games — 53 carries, 272 yards, 3 TDs

2025: 2 games — 39 carries, 163 yards

Total: 145 carries, 627 yards, 4 rushing TDs in 9 games.

 

Brady has to figure how to use Cook and make him successful in the playoffs.    Success of this team in the playoffs depends as much on success of James Cook. 

[BuffaloBillyG]

12 minutes ago, ganesh said:

We have been saying what Josh Allen needs to do to win in the playoffs and take us to the SB (and win it).

 

I think equally important is the performance of James Cook in the Playoffs.  While James has had fantastic regular season campaigns, his playoff appearances have been that great (except for the games against Denver and KC in 2024 Playoffs).   Here is his year-on-year stats

 

By playoff season

2022: 1 game — 5 carries, 13 yards

2023: 2 games — 36 carries, 140 yards

2024: 3 games — 53 carries, 272 yards, 3 TDs

2025: 2 games — 39 carries, 163 yards

Total: 145 carries, 627 yards, 4 rushing TDs in 9 games.

 

Brady has to figure how to use Cook and make him successful in the playoffs.    Success of this team in the playoffs depends as much on success of James Cook. 

Aside from his rookie year he's been good in the playoffs. His per game average (aside from his rookie year) is in the acceptable range. 

 

While Cook playing well is paramount, I think our biggest issue is for the most part (excluding of course, Gabe Davis in the 13 second game) has been that we haven't had someone else step up and make a play when it counts aside from Allen and Cook. DJ Moore is here to be that guy. 

[Doc Brown]

I don't have time to go through each game but many playoff opponents had excellent run defenses.  The Jags in particular last year they knew the run game wasn't working early so they rightfully put the ball in Josh's hands.  It was a good decision.  Since Cook took off in 2023 the Bills have averaged 29 points per game in the playoffs so his usage isn't a problem.  The problem continues to be the defense and the skill positions players not being good enough to make the gotta have it play late in the game.

[ngbills]

Playcalling has been disgustingly predictable in the playoffs. In the passing game you can improvise and make something out of nothing. Which we see Allen do a ton of come playoffs. Not so much in the run game. 

[Ethan in Cleveland]

Those playoff career stats look pretty dam good when you know you are playing better teams and when the westher is worse. 

It's 1 am in Ireland and I'm too tired to look up comparable players. Is there even another running back that has half the amount of playoff carries? Kareem Hunt maybe. Derrick Henry? 

[Einstein]

I know some disagree, but I put much of the blame for the Broncos playoff loss on him.

 

His fumble was a pivotal game-changing moment. We were driving with ease about to take a 2 score lead and that fumble led to a potentially 14 point swing.

 

I think if he hadn’t fumbled, we score that drive and take over the game. 

[Mikie2times]

Just now, Einstein said:

I know some disagree, but I put much of the blame for the Broncos playoff loss on him.

 

His fumble was a pivotal game-changing moment. We were driving with ease about to take a 2 score lead and that fumble led to a potentially 14 point swing.

 

I think if he hadn’t fumbled, we score that drive and take over the game. 

Agree. On the flipside, we aren't complaining about a QB sneak in the AFC title game vs KC without his incredible effort to get across the goal line.

 

To the OP's original call out, much harder to run in the postseason. Most games we have maintained effectiveness, but at times it has been a mixed bag. We also get a lot from Allen here, but understood the context of those yards is different.  

[HerdMenatlity1]

2 minutes ago, Einstein said:

I know some disagree, but I put much of the blame for the Broncos playoff loss on him.

 

His fumble was a pivotal game-changing moment. We were driving with ease about to take a 2 score lead and that fumble led to a potentially 14 point swing.

 

I think if he hadn’t fumbled, we score that drive and take over the game. 

The fumble hurt, for sure. Although, after the fumble, he did play well the rest of the game. I think the issue in that game was qb play. Too many turnovers and missed plays. Open plays. All we needed was average play at the qb position and we  win, going away. Unlike Cook, Josh had a terrible game. Not one quarter , or one turnover. He had a terrible game. He admitted to it. 

[Einstein]

2 hours ago, HerdMenatlity1 said:

The fumble hurt, for sure. Although, after the fumble, he did play well the rest of the game. I think the issue in that game was qb play. Too many turnovers and missed plays. Open plays. All we needed was average play at the qb position and we  win, going away. Unlike Cook, Josh had a terrible game. Not one quarter , or one turnover. He had a terrible game. He admitted to it. 

 

You feel Allen was bad? Disagree. Allen was quite good that game. He had 2 turnovers that were his fault but they only led to a total of 3 points against us.

 

The other 2 turnovers were him getting blindsided only seconds after the snap because Dawkins got smoked, and a legitimate catch by Cooks that the refs inexplicably gave to the Broncos. I’m not blaming either of those on Allen.

 

He was 64% passing and had over 300 yards and 3 TD’s.

 

Edited August 19 by Einstein

[Shortchaz]

Omg, the offense is not an issue. 

[NewEra]

30 minutes ago, Einstein said:

 

You feel Allen was bad? Disagree. Allen was quite good that game. He had 2 turnovers that were his fault but they only led to a total of 3 points against us.

 

The other 2 turnovers were him getting blindsided only seconds after the snap because Dawkins got smoked, and a legitimate catch that the refs gave by Cooks that the refs inexplicably gave to the Broncos. I’m not blaming either of those on Allen.

 

He was 64% passing and had over 300 yards and 3 TD’s.

 

He also had cooks wide open in the end zone and over threw him.  Seconds later, had Knox wide open. Sailed both of them.  

 

I don’t think Josh played bad.  I think he missed easy plays that lead to Lombardis.  

[Einstein]

38 minutes ago, NewEra said:

He also had cooks wide open in the end zone and over threw him.  Seconds later, had Knox wide open. Sailed both of them.  

 

I don’t think Josh played bad.  I think he missed easy plays that lead to Lombardis.  

 

I think your memory is a bit hazy.

 

1) Cooks slowed up. The announcers actually talk about it (turn audio on). Allen didn’t sail him.

 

 

 

2) The Knox play has been discussed several times. He was never scoring. There were 2 Broncos who would have stopped him. I guess it would have been a shorter game-tying field goal, but that’s about it.

 

 

[nedboy7]

Those stats are good enough to win.  

[C.Biscuit97]

4 hours ago, ganesh said:

We have been saying what Josh Allen needs to do to win in the playoffs and take us to the SB (and win it).

 

I think equally important is the performance of James Cook in the Playoffs.  While James has had fantastic regular season campaigns, his playoff appearances have been that great (except for the games against Denver and KC in 2024 Playoffs).   Here is his year-on-year stats

 

By playoff season

2022: 1 game — 5 carries, 13 yards

2023: 2 games — 36 carries, 140 yards

2024: 3 games — 53 carries, 272 yards, 3 TDs

2025: 2 games — 39 carries, 163 yards

Total: 145 carries, 627 yards, 4 rushing TDs in 9 games.

 

Brady has to figure how to use Cook and make him successful in the playoffs.    Success of this team in the playoffs depends as much on success of James Cook. 

Crappy WRs and  no legit deep threat have a serious impact on the running game. Teams are game planning to stop Cook. They are bringing extra guys in the box. And as crazy as it is with a Qb with an arm like Allen’s (more because of the lack of game breakers at WRs), we haven’t been able to punish defenses for this. 
 

What Allen and Cook (tip of the hat to the oline) have done with the lack of difference makers at WRs is kinda amazing. 

1 hour ago, Shortchaz said:

Omg, the offense is not an issue. 

It was against Denver. Those turnovers were the main difference in that game. 

[NewEra]

9 minutes ago, Einstein said:

 

I think your memory is a bit hazy.

 

1) Cooks slowed up. The announcers actually talk about it (turn audio on). Allen didn’t sail him.

 

 

 

2) The Knox play has been discussed several times. He was never scoring. There were 2 Broncos who would have stopped him. I guess it would have been a shorter game-tying field goal, but that’s about it.

 

 

Did you see where the ball to cooks landed?  It was deemed uncatchable, hence no opportunity for a flag.  Sorry, but because Tony Romo says something, does not make it true.  It was not a perfectly placed pass as your boy says.  He’ll slob Josh’s knob any chance he gets

 

Do you have a video of the Knox pass, rather than a screenshot?  A complete pass gets us to the 5 or 10.  I didn’t say that it would’ve been a TD.   You thought it was a good pass?

 

Edited August 19 by NewEra

[Einstein]

13 minutes ago, NewEra said:

Did you see where the ball to cooks landed?  It was deemed uncatchable, hence no opportunity for a flag. 

 

It was no flag because there wasn’t enough contact. Gene Sterratore said it right after the play.

 

Where the ball lands is not where the receiver would catch it if he was in the right place. Due to arc, the ball lands slightly out of bounds but would have been right in Cooks’ breadbasket if he didn’t stop short.

 

It was a good pass.

 

 

 

13 minutes ago, NewEra said:

 

Do you have a video of the Knox pass, rather than a screenshot?  A complete pass gets us to the 5 or 10.  I didn’t say that it would’ve been a TD.   You thought it was a good pass?

 

 

This was a poor Allen pass, and yes Knox likely catches it if Allen throws it well, but the point is that it wouldn’t haven’t mattered. Prater made the field goal regardless. 

 

 

Edited August 19 by Einstein

[GASabresIUFan]

Cook has 18 catches on 21 targets for 119 yards in the playoffs.  
 

James Cook isn’t the problem.

 

That said, I actually would like to see more of Davis and Johnson with the ball and more passes to the RBs during the regular season to help lower the number of hits Cook is taking and to keep Cook fresher for the playoffs.  

Edited September 7 by GASabresIUFan

[Josher]

The problem is predictability in the run game.  Defenses are just waiting for the first down run, leaving Allen facing many 3rd and longs.  Which is what exactly happened on their final drive vs Denver, he already converted a few 3rd and longs, then ending with him having to convert another long third on a questionable deep ball throw and catch

 

 

Edited August 19 by Josher

[Puckman5]

1 hour ago, Sierra Foothills said:

 

 

 

It's absurd isn't it?  Josh had a few bad plays, but also he helped us to 30 points against one of the league's best D's in their stadium.  One int landed in Cooks hands and was pulled away on the ground.  Sure he's missed a few throws and had a boneheaded fumble, but he also made a lot of good plays and had 3 TD's like you pointed out.  Do people think we would have won with defense if Josh had no TD's, but never turned over the football?  We made Bo Nix look like Tom Brady.   

[Sierra Foothills]

2 minutes ago, Puckman5 said:

It's absurd isn't it?  Josh had a few bad plays, but also he helped us to 30 points against one of the league's best D's in their stadium.  One int landed in Cooks hands and was pulled away on the ground.  Sure he's missed a few throws and had a boneheaded fumble, but he also made a lot of good plays and had 3 TD's like you pointed out.  Do people think we would have won with defense if Josh had no TD's, but never turned over the football?  We made Bo Nix look like Tom Brady.   

 

Maybe it's because the season's approaching and more people are visiting the forum but we've literally had this debate dozens of times over the last 7 months... each time spanning numerous pages. There's literally been thousands of posts on this argument. People keep debating and no one changes anyone else's mind. It's a very divisive topic and I wish people on both sides would just put the Denver game behind them.

 

This topic is about James Cook.