AFC East Eruption: James Cook's Major Honor Met With Immediate Controversy, Dividing Fanbases and Franchises Alike.

The Buffalo Bills really couldn’t have had a better game on Sunday, October 26, against the Carolina Panthers. The 40-9 victory was so strong and solid that the Bills even benched their top players in the fourth quarter, because there was just no way the Panthers were going to catch up. One of those starters was Bills running back James Cook, who had a riveting game.

James Cook 2025 stats, game log, news, injury status

During the matchup against the Panthers, Cook notched the most rushing yards at 141 before contact by any player in the 2025 season to date. He also totaled the most yards per carry at 11.4 by a running back since Derrick Henry’s showing in Week 14 of 2018.

Those statistics speak for themselves, so it should have come as no surprise that Cook was crowned the AFC Offensive Player of the Week. The NFL announced Cook’s honor on Wednesday, October 29, and it was met with praise from those on the side of the Buffalo Bills. But, some in the NFL weren’t happy about the pick.

Buffalo Bills Running Back Gets Big Honor, But With Some Push Back

While Cook totally cooked during the game against the Panthers, some voices wanted to see New York Jets running back Breece Hall snag the AFC Offensive Player of the Week honor. The NFL shared the AFC news on X on Wednesday, and one commenter swiftly replied, “James cook played great but Breece Hall had over 150 APY, 2 RTDs and a PTD.” Another simply said, “Breece Hall??” One more added, “Breece Hall had a more impressive game than Cook…”

This is Cook’s second AFC honor of the 2025-26 season. He was named the conference’s September Offensive Player of the Month, according to the Bills’ official website.

During Sunday’s game, Cook notched 216 rushing yards and tough rushing touchdowns on 19 carries. “His 64-yard rushing touchdown halfway through the second quarter was his second-longest of his career,” the Bills add. “Cook had a 65-yard rushing score against the 49ers in Week 13 of 2024.”

Where the Buffalo Bills Stand

Eric Edholm of the NFL’s website has the Bills as the No. 9 strongest team in the NFL for Week 9.

“That was a great way to come out of the bye, with the Bills turning in their finest defensive performance this season,” he says in the piece out on Tuesday, October 28. “They were feckless in the Week 6 loss to the Falcons but in complete command at Carolina, sacking Andy Dalton seven times, forcing three turnovers and allowing just nine points.”

He adds that it was extra “encouraging to see Mike Hoecht and Larry Ogunjobi come off suspension to make immediate impacts, though Ed Oliver’s brutal biceps injury is significant moving forward. Any extra possessions are dangerous for this Bills offense to receive, and two of them started in the red zone. Buffalo’s offensive issues weren’t all suddenly fixed, but James Cook was so good that it didn’t matter.”

Now, the Bills have a record of 5-2 for the 2025-26 season going into their Week 9 matchup against one of their biggest rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs. Buffalo will take on the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, November 2, at home. Before the Bills’ win over the Panthers, the team lost to the New England Patriots in Week 5 (20-23) and to the Atlanta Falcons (14-24) in Week 6.