Buffalo Rumblings
The Buffalo Bills notched their first 4-0 start since 2020 with a gritty 31-19 victory over the winless New Orleans Saints on Sunday at Highmark Stadium. It wasn’t the blowout many predicted — far from it.
The Saints started nine drives in Buffalo territory, forcing the Bills’ defense to bend without breaking, while the offense leaned on familiar firepower amid sloppy moments like a rare Josh Allen interception. Turnovers were scarce (just one for Buffalo), but penalties and red-zone inefficiency kept the crowd on edge until a late surge sealed it.
In a game defined by resilience, certain Bills players emerged as clear risers, perhaps a sign that Buffalo may have a deeper roster than we expected. Others, however, faltered in key spots, highlighting areas of concern as the season progresses.
Here’s my breakdown of the top three trending up, the top three trending down, and I also included honorable mentions for those on the cusp.
These players didn’t just contribute — they elevated the Bills in clutch scenarios, turning potential disaster into dominance.
James Cook is showing why he deserves every penny general manager Brandon Beane agreed on paying him from next year on. He’s fully capable acting as the Bills’ offensive heartbeat. Against a Saints run defense ranked 25th in yards per carry allowed (4.8 entering Week 4), Cook exploded for 117 rushing yards on 22 carries (5.3 YPC), marking his third straight 100-yard game. He added 18 yards on three receptions, finishing with 135 total yards from scrimmage, including a 1-yard touchdown score.
Advanced metrics paint an even brighter picture: Cook generated 3.4 yards after contact per attempt (top-3 among RBs with 15+ carries), per Next Gen Stats, and his 87.2 Pro Football Focus (PFF) elusive rating ranked first league-wide this week.
He has shown improvement in pass protection, catching the ball (three catches on four targets), and being able to patiently wait for the offensive line blocks to develop before exploding through the holes. Cook’s consistency (4.9 YPC season average) has him on track for 1,300-plus rushing yards, easing the load on Allen and leading the team’s 1st-ranked run offense.
I hate to do it (not really), but I told you he had to play to fulfill his potential, and that he would be fine playing within the team’s defensive schemes. In a game where New Orleans quarterback Spencer Rattler targeted the middle of the field relentlessly, Bishop snagged a highlight-reel interception on a Philly Special trick play late in the first half— the first pick in his NFL career. He finished with five tackles (four solo), a pass breakup, and that game-changing INT, which preserved a 14-10 halftime lead.
PFF graded him at 82.1 overall (elite for safeties), with a 90.2 coverage grade that led all Bills defenders. Next Gen data shows Bishop’s 1.85 yards per coverage snap allowed — well below his 2.4 season...
