The Buffalo Bills have been starved for a downfield threat at wide receiver in 2025.
It’s never easy to search for bright spots following a disappointing Buffalo Bills loss — especially when the team fails to convert a two-point conversion that would have won the game. But in an effort to search for the positive, there was certainly one player who stood out above the rest, that being newly acquired wide receiver Brandin Cooks.
Prior to Sunday’s 13-12 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Cooks had been known for two dropped passes in match-ups with the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns. Despite those drops, the Bills had continued to show confidence in Cooks — keeping him active while players like Gabe Davis and Keon Coleman missed games as healthy scratches in recent weeks. Thankfully for Cooks, and the Bills, his performance on Sunday was a bit of a breakthrough that fans can hope is sustainable into the playoffs.
In his first four games with the Bills, Cooks had one reception on five targets, while playing around 30% of offensive snaps per game. That all changed on Sunday, with Cooks bringing in four catches on six targets for 101 receiving yards, while playing 51% of the offensive snaps. Cooks and quarterback Josh Allen finally connected on a deep ball during the first quarter, with the two hooking up on a 54-yard reception. It was certainly a welcome sight for Bills fans on Sunday, as the Bills have struggled to establish any sort of a vertical passing game this season.
While I realize that it’s just one game, fans can hope that Cooks provides the skillset the Bills have lacked at outside receiver this season. It looks like the Keon Coleman experiment is on thin ice in Buffalo, and the Josh Palmer signing has failed to pay dividends (21 receptions for 302 yards in 11 games). If Cooks can prove to be a reliable option for Allen and the Bills’ passing offense, it could provide a spark the team desperately needs in the playoffs.
Category: General Sports
