The Buffalo Bills know they will be in a true AFC East dogfight on Sunday as they take on the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium with the division on the line.
With the Bills showcasing their offensive power against the Cincinnati Bengals last week, they are going to need something special to put points on the board against a stout Patriots defense Sunday.
And they might just have the receiver to do it -- Brandin Cooks
The veteran has been a slow burn since arriving a couple of weeks ago, but his chemistry with Josh Allen is improving each week. Now, who knows? Maybe Cooks is the player who can make a game-changing play on Sunday.
“Yeah, I think we're in a really good spot,” Allen said of his chemistry with Cooks. “He works his tail off at practice, and he's obviously been around the league for a very long time. He's been a true professional. He's always in the wide receiver room, in the playbook, and then when we come out to practice, he's freaking flying around.
"So, I feel very, very good, and I think comfort [will] just going to continue to grow.”
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Bills' AFC East dominance on the line Sunday
Since Tom Brady departed for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Bills have owned the AFC East, winning the division for the past five seasons.
Such has been their dominance that they have been called the "bullies of the AFC East," but in 2025, the Patriots, while not bullies, have played far more consistent football, and as such, can just about wrap up the division on Sunday with a win.
So, there is a lot at stake for Buffalo, and while the division is important, so too is punching your playoff ticket, which will be enhanced with a win.
The Bills have struggled to push the ball down the field this season, and with Cooks now part of the offense, in a game where points will be hard to come by, his blazing speed might be the deciding factor in where the AFC East crown resides in 2025.
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