James Cook might get promoted to head chef for his first half on Thursday night.
The Bills running back was nearly unstoppable, scoring three touchdowns for Buffalo before the second quarter was over in Miami.
He finished the 31-10 Bills win with 78 rushing yards and 17 receiving yards.
Cook got things started on the Bills’ first drive of the game, when Buffalo got aggressive and went for it on fourth-and-3 at the Dolphins’ 17-yard line.
“As long as they trust me, I’m going to get in the end zone,” Cook told reporters after the game.
James Cook runs for a touchdown during the first half of the Bill’s game against the Dolphins on Sept. 12, 2024. APMiami sent a blitz, while Buffalo countered with crossing wide receivers, leaving Cook wide open on the far side where quarterback Josh Allen hit him in stride before he sprinted into the end zone for a touchdown.
Cook’s next score was a bit easier, breaking through on a one-yard rush at the goal line to cap off an 85-yard drive in the second quarter.
The hat trick came one drive later, right after the Dolphins turned the ball over on downs.
Allen handed the ball off near midfield, and Cook scampered away from the Miami defense for a 49-yard touchdown.
James Cook scores a touchdown during the first half of Bills-Dolphins game. AP
James Cook scores a touchdown during the first half of the Bills-Dolphins game in Miami. APIt marked the longest rush of his NFL career.
He also topped out at 20.99 mph on the run, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
Cook, a 2022 second-round pick out of Georgia, had just two rushing touchdowns in each of the last two seasons.
The running back at 77 total yards of offense over the first 30 minutes.
