The Buffalo Bills head to Denver for Saturday's AFC Divisional Round matchup with the Broncos.
It's not exactly a full strength Bills team making the trip. The wide receiver group, especially, has been ravaged by injuries.
Joshua Palmer was already out before the playoffs began. Gabe Davis and Tyrell Shavers joined him on the sideline by tearing their ACLs in the opening round win over the Jaguars.
So when ESPN chose its X-factor for the Bills-Broncos game, it's no surprise that it came from Buffalo's wide receivers who are left standing.
They chose Brandin Cooks.
Cooks wasn't even a member of the Bills a few months ago. Now, he could decide whether they sink or swim in a win-or-go-home game.
"He has seven receptions for 159 yards in his past two games," ESPN's Matt Bowen wrote. "Cooks is a vertical stretch target for Allen and will have opportunities to win downfield versus the Broncos' man-heavy defense. The Bills will need to create explosive plays to pull off the upset."
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The Bills' other two healthy receivers remaining on the active roster are Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir, neither of whom is the deep threat that Cooks is.
Buffalo will have to call up one, or more likely two, WRs from the practice squad for Saturday's game, too.
But it'll be the new guy Cooks who could matter most. Denver's pass rush will get after Josh Allen, and the offensive line will have to hold up enough for him to hit Cooks down the field in a few key spots. It could decide the game.
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