Buffalo Bills running back James Cook has been awarded the AFC Offensive Player of the Week honor following his outstanding display against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 15. Cook's remarkable performance included rushing for a career-high 179 yards and adding 42 yards on two receptions, contributing significantly to the Bills' dominant 31-10 victory.

This is the first time Cook has earned the Player of the Week award, making him the first Bills running back to receive this accolade since Travis Henry in Week 6 of 2002. Furthermore, Cook becomes the fifth running back in Bills history to achieve this honor, underscoring his exceptional talent and contribution to the team.

Throughout the game, Cook played an instrumental role as the Bills focused heavily on their running game, with rushing plays making up over 75 percent of their total play count of 65. From the start, Buffalo relied on Cook's explosiveness, evident from his five carries during the team's opening touchdown drive.

Cook's versatility was showcased as he scored his first touchdown of the game through the air. Accounting for an impressive 63 yards out of Buffalo's 86 yards gained on that drive, Cook executed a superb catch on a challenging low pass from quarterback Josh Allen, resulting in an 18-yard touchdown reception.

Continuing his stellar performance, Cook later broke free for a 25-yard touchdown run, punctuating the play with an acrobatic front flip as he reached the end zone.

Following the game, Cook expressed his dedication and hard work, stating, "I work my tail off every day, so the confidence level is gonna come in practice. Once you want to practice hard and do things right, it's a confidence booster, and it's gonna show on Sundays." Cook's dedication and commitment to honing his skills in practice undoubtedly translated into his exceptional performance on game day.

One aspect that stood out was Cook's remarkable field vision, allowing him to elude contact at an impressive level. His average of 4.2 yards before contact per rush places him among the top players in the league this season, making him only the third player in the last two seasons to achieve an average of at least 4.0 yards before contact on 25+ rushes, as reported by ESPN's Ed Werder.

Cook's outstanding performance against the Cowboys not only earned him the prestigious AFC Offensive Player of the Week award, but also solidified his position as an integral part of the Bills' offensive strategy. With his explosive plays and exceptional field vision, Cook continues to make a significant impact for Buffalo.