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Bills Announce James Cook Development After Win Over Panthers

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Chris Phelps | Last updated Oct 26, 2025 11:10 PM ET

James Cook and the Buffalo Bills got back on track in Week 8 of the 2025 NFL season, snapping a two-game skid with a 40-9 win over Andy Dalton and the Carolina Panthers. The Bills now jump to 5-2 on the year and will return home in Week 9 for an AFC Championship rematch with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Cook delivered one of his best performances of the season, rushing 19 times for a career-high 216 yards and two touchdowns, while Josh Allen added a scoring strike to Khalil Shakir. Cook’s 216 rushing yards are the most by a Bills player in a single game since 1976.

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook reacts after scoring a touchdownBrian Fluharty-Imagn Images

The last Buffalo running back to record more rushing yards than Cook was Pro Football Hall of Famer O.J. Simpson, who recorded 29 carries for a franchise-record 273 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-14 loss to the Detroit Lions in 1976.

Cook now ranks sixth in Bills history for most rushing yards in a single game, with four of the top five spots belonging to Simpson. The other belongs to Cookie Gilchrist, who ran for 246 yards in a 1963 win over the New York Jets. Cook also becomes the first Buffalo player to reach 200 yards since Fred Jackson tallied 33 carries for 212 yards and one receiving touchdown in a 2009 win over the Indianapolis Colts.

"RB JAMES COOK III set a career high with 216 rushing yards, the most rushing yards by a Bill since November 25, 1976, when O.J. Simpson logged 273 yards," Buffalo Bills PR posted on X. "He became the first Bill to surpass 200 yards rushing since 2009 (Fred Jackson, 212 rushing yards) in Week 17 vs. IND."

James Cook III rushed for 216 yards today, marking the most rushing yards by a Bill since 1976.

More stats from the Bills 40-9 win ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/0hiFhQBatc
— Buffalo Bills PR (@BuffaloBillsPR) October 26, 2025

Cook also becomes the third Bills player to have 214 or more rushing yards and two or more rushing touchdowns in a game, joining Simpson and Gilchrist. The Bills will host the Chiefs on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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