‘I mean, what more is there to say? James Cook came into Sunday as the Bills ‘ second-best player on offense and definitely left it as the top performer of the day. At halftime, he had 158 yards rushing, on 12 carries and a massive 64-yard touchdown, the second-longest run of his career.’
BillsBeat - October 27, 2025
Defense answers the call with takeaways, big plays in Buffalo Bills lopsided win on Sunday
‘Allowing just nine points, while tallying seven sacks and three turnovers, it was evident on Sunday that they played with a chip on their shoulder.’
John Murphy: Keep letting Cook cook
‘Who concluded first regarding Cook isn’t important now. What is important is that the Bills suddenly have a ground game to go along with Allen’s talented right arm. They have to continue to use it.’
Today in Bills stadium history: Oct. 27
‘1974 — Bills 16, Bears 6 — O.J. Simpson amassed 90 yards from scrimmage, Tony Greene had an interception that set up fullback Larry Watkins for a 1-yard touchdown, Mike Kadish had two of Buffalo’s four sacks, and John Leypoldt made three of his five field goal attempts in a defensive struggle that gave the Bills a 6-1 record at midseason. Buffalo QB Joe Ferguson was 8 of 17 passing for 103 yards. Carl Garrett had 128 total yards for the Bears (3-4).’
Cook helps the Bills find a winning recipe, crush Panthers
‘For at least one day, they seemed to have the answers. James Cook provided explosive plays, running for 216 yards and two touchdowns, as the Bills rolled past the Carolina Panthers 40-9 on Sunday afternoon in Charlotte.’
Carucci Take 2: Big win doesn’t necessarily mean Bills are back
‘Still, as comfortable a margin as the victory was, it did not necessarily make a resounding statement that the “Bills are back!” The game probably said more about the ineptitude of the Panthers and journeyman quarterback Andy Dalton, who became a starter after an ankle injury Bryce Young suffered last week, than it did about the Bills. Dalton set up two touchdowns and a field goal with an interception and a pair of fumbles (he had a third fumble that he recovered). Dalton also was sacked seven times while throwing for 175 yards.’
James Cook’s career day carries Buffalo to dominant victory
‘“James is playing outstanding right now,” quarterback Josh Allen added about his running back. “Our offensive line is giving him a lot of holes, but he’s making some unbelievable cuts and outrunning people. He’s doing what James Cook does.”’
Thad Brown: Bills look great in Carolina, but what did they prove?
‘Buffalo finished with seven different defensive linemen registering at least half a sack. The D-line played well, but not that well. A chunk of those sacks came thanks to excellent coverage courtesy a secondary featuring two rookies getting their first ever defensive play time. Max Hairston and Jordan Hancock seemed fine enough in their debut. Not spectacular, but no big mistakes either. Bills fans will sign up for an afternoon without repeated facepalms. It’ll require an all-22 film review to get a better handle on their performance, but the seven sacks and nine points allowed speak volumes.’
Bills wallop Panthers as Cook goes over 200 yards
‘James Cook led the way offensively for Buffalo, rushing for 216 yards and two touchdowns, while Khalil Shakir added a 54-yard receiving touchdown for good measure. Defensively, Buffalo was as strong as they have been all season long, sacking Andy Dalton seven times and forcing three turnovers.’
“Starting fast;” James Cook speaks about career day vs Panthers
‘“That’s what we harped on all week, just starting fast, and setting our identity as a football team and I feel like we did that early and often,” said Cook.’
Bills 40, Panthers 9 | Final score, game recap + highlights
‘Running back James Cook III came out on the field ready to have an explosive afternoon for the Buffalo Bills.’
Top 3 things we learned from Bills vs. Panthers
‘Buffalo’s 40 points scored is the most coming out of the bye in the McDermott era and their 9 points allowed is the fewest in that span.’
'Different attitude, different energy' | Buffalo gave a full-team effort in Sunday's win against Carolina
‘”If you go back and watch that play, [Moore], he was coming from the other side, making a really key block, allowing [Shakir] to spring free and that’s the effort. It’s not going to get talked about in the box score, but … Moore, makes that play there,” Allen said on Sunday. “I’ve got to be better for [Moore]. I missed him on a deep out earlier in the game, but for him to not care about that, to put his head down, go make an extra block for a guy, speaks a lot about the character that he has.”‘
BillsBeat - October 26, 2025
As homecoming awaits, here's how Shaq Thompson has gone from afterthought to integral part of Bills' defense
‘“I used to do that, but I try to stay away from that now,” Bills linebackers coach Al Holcomb said with a laugh Friday, asked about whether he ever ribs Thompson about his baseball career. “I don’t want him to put his hands on me and get physical with me. I’m a little bit older at this point. I might crumble if he gets too close to me. So, I try to stay away from that, but he knows I know all the dark secrets, and I do give him a hard time, just as he gives me a hard time.”‘
Four keys for the Buffalo Bills to beat the Carolina Panthers
‘The Bills have 44 penalties this season for 351 yards. McDermott has certain penalties that especially irk him. “The line of scrimmage penalties are 100% within our control and those are not negotiable, McDermott said. “And then the holding penalties are, again, technique in this case and controlling what we can control.” But the Bills are making those corrections. “That’s been addressed, it’s been looked at,” McDermott said. “The spotlight has been shined on that area in particular. And we have to be better because it’s impacting offensive drives, it’s impacting defensive drives as well. So it’s hard to win when you’re actually hurting yourself without the offense or the opponent even doing anything.”’