Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Bills are gearing up for, what seems like, their annual regular season matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park.
The Bills returned to form last week after dropping two-straight games before the bye week, throttling the Carolina Panthers, 40-9, in Charlotte, N.C.
While the defense seemed to clean up some issues that plagued them through the first six weeks of the season, it was running back James Cook having one heck of an afternoon with 216 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns. That performance helped Cook earn honors as AFC Offensive Player of the Week.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott has been very impressed with Cook's results this season, and speaks highly of the 26-year-old's work ethic.
"It really jumped last year, and then if you were at our practices... he was doing the same thing," said McDermott on Friday during his weekly appearance on the "Extra Point Show" on WGR. "When he got the ball in his hands, he was going the distance each rep. Of course, you've got to get somebody else in there for the next rep, but what happened then in the game was a result of his habits and the execution during the week in practice."
The injury bug has certainly been biting the Bills this season. A total of three players will be out for Sunday's game against Kansas City: Defensive tackle DaQuan Jones, wide receiver Joshua Palmer, and linebacker Shaq Thompson.
McDermott says the issues with Thompson have been lingering for some time this season.
"I thought it would have gone away, and then it kind of resurfaced a little bit at the start of practice there. So it's kind of something that sounds like it didn't quite go away the way we thought it had," McDermott said with Sal Capaccio.
When looking ahead to Sunday's matchup with the Chiefs, the 10th such game over the last six seasons, McDermott points to the success both franchises have had over that span, resulting in the several marquee games on the football calendar.
"You do focus on one game at a time, though, like anything else. And you try and stay as consistent as you can be in your normal process," McDermott said. "It's an opportunity we're looking forward to. I know our fan base is as well, and we're looking forward to Sunday afternoon there."
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