Believe it or not, the Buffalo Bills exceeded expectations in the 2024 season. While their heartbreaking 32-29 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs may not make it feel that way, given the preseason outlook, it was still an impressive overachievement.
The Bills finished 13-4 and clinched the AFC East title by Week 13. Although they didn’t manage to sweep the entire division, they won all the crucial games. Their Week 18 game against the New England Patriots ended up being largely irrelevant for Buffalo since they had already secured the No. 2 seed. Ironically, with the Patriots’ win, they ended up losing their shot at the first overall pick in the NFL Draft.
Buffalo’s offense was a standout this season, particularly considering the absence of Gabe Davis and Stefon Diggs for much of the year. Before trading for Amari Cooper, the Bills relied on Khalil Shakir and Mack Hollins as their top targets. Rookie Keon Coleman had some solid moments but was quieter after his wrist injury in Week 9 against Miami.
Given the roster, many assumed star quarterback Josh Allen would be the driving force behind Buffalo’s success. And while he certainly played a key role, posting a career-low in turnovers and helping nearly every offensive weapon reach the end zone, Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports isn’t naming Josh Allen as the Bills’ MVP for the 2024 season.
CBS Sports names James Cook as the Buffalo Bills’ MVP
“Of course, Josh Allen is a clear (and deserving) choice here, given he was a Second Team All-Pro this season and will most likely finish second in the overall league MVP award race, but let’s give Cook some credit. Cook’s prowess on the ground coincided with Buffalo’s offense’s greatest performance. Cook tied a Bills single-season record with 16 rushing touchdowns during his third season in the league.
Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports
While Josh Allen had an outstanding season, James Cook certainly deserves significant recognition for his contributions. In addition to recording back-to-back 1,000+ yard rushing seasons, he tied for the most rushing touchdowns of the year with Derrick Henry and Jahmyr Gibbs, each scoring 16.
Cook has been instrumental for the Bills this season, even making his mark in the team’s history:
- He became one of only two players in Bills franchise history to score 20+ touchdowns in a season, including both regular season and playoffs. The other player to achieve this was O.J. Simpson.
- He tied O.J. Simpson for the most rushing touchdowns in a single season for the Bills with 16.
- Cook set a new franchise record with 4 rushing touchdowns of 40 yards or more, surpassing O.J. Simpson’s previous record.
- He became the first Bill since Thurman Thomas in 1991 to score both a rushing and a receiving touchdown in a game against the Miami Dolphins.
The 2024 season has positioned Cook for a well-deserved payday, and it would be a mistake for Brandon Beane to let him go without extending his contract before the end of next season.