Cook's productive month + the importance of winning the division
Bills running back James Cook was named AFC Offensive Player of the Month for his September full of numbers. Cook has recorded three straight games of at least 100 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.
Left tackle Dion Dawkins is proud of his teammate and said they want to make him look good on every play.
"We love him," Dawkins said of Cook. "We help him get there...And he leans on us just like we lean on him. When he's running the ball, we want to get that guy in the end zone...Cook is cooking, and we're thankful to have him."
Cook leads the NFL with five rushing touchdowns and has the second-most rushing yards at 401. With one more rushing touchdown, Cook will move into eighth place on the Bills all-time rushing touchdown list tying Antowain Smith with 26.
The Bills are 2-0 against the AFC East to start the season. The Patriots are the lone team they haven't faced yet in the AFC East. The Bills know they're going to get their best from a team that has a talented quarterback and a tough defense.
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye leads the NFL in completion percentage (74%) and has the third most touchdowns (9). Their defense has the second-best run defense allowing under 80 rushing yards per game.
"Learning the importance of a divisional game is the biggest thing in football to get to the next level of the regular season," Dawkins said. "...Handle your divisional games, you'll probably have a great shot of making it to the playoffs. McDermott has preached that...it's we won't lose at home mindset and handle our division. The intensity is always high because we know how much it means to him and now because of how much it meant to him, how much it means to us."
With a win, the Bills will be 3-0 against their division and earn their fourth straight home win against New England.