A win gives a coach some breathing room, but Buffalo Bills head coach Joe Brady found himself answering questions about his handling of James Cook after Monday night against the Los Angeles Rams. Cook’s fumble nearly handed the Rams a chance to steal the game in overtime, but the Bills escaped with a 37-34 victory. Brady gave a response the following day focused on the running back’s ball security and the possibility of fewer carries. But some Buffalo fans wanted to know why quarterback Josh Allen was not facing similar public criticism for his turnovers.
Why are fans calling out Joe Brady?
Brady’s warning came after Cook lost a fumble in overtime, although the running back had already scored twice and gained 111 yards on the ground. The coach acknowledged Cook’s strong performance but said his mistakes were canceling out the good work.
“It’s got to improve, or the carries are going to decrease,” Brady told reporters, making it clear that Cook’s place as the lead back would depend on better ball security.
The comments drew an immediate response from fans who believed Allen deserved the same scrutiny. One asked, “Why he ain’t threatening to bench Josh Allen??” Another argued that the quarterback’s mistakes had cost Buffalo games, adding, “We not doing this to 4!”
Allen had thrown four interceptions and lost a fumble through Week 5. His mistakes included an interception late in the Bills’ 29-26 loss to the New England Patriots on October 4. He also threw three interceptions in a September win over the Los Angeles Chargers, a game in which Buffalo committed five turnovers.
Not everyone agreed with the criticism of Brady. Some fans pointed out that a quarterback and a running back have different roles, while others felt the coach had every reason to address Cook’s repeated fumbles.
James Cook’s production complicates the Bills’ decision
Cook’s numbers made the situation harder to ignore. He led the NFL with 1,621 rushing yards last season and entered Week 6 with 532 yards on the ground, ranking third in the league. His production had made him one of Buffalo’s most valuable offensive players, even as ball security became a growing concern.
Including the postseason, Cook had fumbled 11 times since the start of the 2025 season, the most among running backs over that span.
The overtime giveaway also affected Brady’s decision-making late in the game. After Buffalo recovered from the turnover, Greg Rousseau blocked a Rams field-goal attempt, allowing the Bills to regain possession and eventually win on Tyler Bass’ 45-yard kick.
Brady later admitted he should have had Allen take two knees before the field-goal attempt rather than risk another turnover. He explained that Cook’s fumble had influenced his thinking in those moments. Buffalo, now 4-1, was preparing for Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders.