ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Brandin Cooks had a smile on his face.
Standing within the indoor fieldhouse on the Buffalo Payments’ apply facility, the veteran huge receiver was requested questions forward of the crew’s wild-card sport on the Jacksonville Jaguars, his first playoff sport as a Invoice.
Does this offense have one other gear it simply hasn’t discovered but?
“Completely,” Cooks grinned.
He declined to elaborate, as an alternative saying, “That is it. You are not gonna get me.”
Towards the Jaguars, the offense put collectively consecutive fourth-quarter landing drives that sealed the sport, with assist from a Cole Bishop interception. Quarterback Josh Allen willed the Payments down the sphere regardless of the operating sport’s season-worst efficiency (79 yards) and a large receiver corps that regardless of a robust day had struggled to seek out consistency and underperformed this season.
Cooks performed a big function within the win, together with catching a 36-yard go from Allen to arrange the profitable rating.
The Payments, nonetheless, did not depart the sport unscathed. As a substitute, they had been dealt an onslaught of receiver accidents this previous week. Joshua Palmer was positioned on injured reserve (IR) earlier than the win in opposition to the Jaguars, and each Gabe Davis and Tyrell Shavers suffered torn ACLs in Jacksonville.
The Payments have proved that profitable video games with out an apparent No. 1 receiver is possible with Allen on the helm and heavy utilization of their tight ends and operating backs, however the query stays about profitable the sport — Tremendous Bowl LX. In 2024, the offense broke franchise information for factors and touchdowns however misplaced within the AFC Championship Sport. There are clear high targets in tight finish Dalton Kincaid, who’s a difference-maker when he is wholesome, and first slot receiver and 2022 fifth-round decide Khalil Shakir. Shakir has turn out to be Allen’s most dependable and go-to goal (he led the crew in targets and receptions the previous two seasons), however, for context, ranked thirtieth in receptions (72) and forty fourth in receiving yards (419).
Because the Payments traded Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans in March 2024, the huge receiver place, particularly outdoors receiver, has been a query mark. Acquisitions from the draft and free company have been restricted or unsuccessful. Accidents have posed further challenges. The dearth of a constant presence at receiver has elevated the load on Allen and a operating assault led by the league’s main rusher in James Cook dinner III, which has largely thrived.
However because the Payments go deeper into the playoffs, will Allen’s postseason magic and the present offensive gamers be sufficient? Allen’s impeccable playoff manufacturing shall be examined as three of the six receivers who had been on the energetic roster lower than every week in the past are not obtainable. The Payments can even be up in opposition to one of many league’s finest defenses within the divisional spherical as they go to the Denver Broncos on Saturday (4:30 p.m. ET, CBS).
Because the Payments look to proceed their postseason march on the street, the place does the receiver group stand and can their offense be sufficient?
WHEN THE BILLS traded away their star receiver in Diggs, there was a gap to fill. Regardless of a down finish to the 2023 season, Diggs set a a number of franchise information throughout his 4 seasons with the crew.
One funding Buffalo made to bulk up the receiver room in his absence was drafting receiver Keon Coleman, buying and selling again twice to the thirty third decide to take action, the one time common supervisor Brandon Beane has chosen a large receiver on Day 1 or 2 of the draft. Since 2024, the Payments have drafted two huge receivers — Coleman and 2025 seventh-round decide Kaden Prather, who agreed to an damage settlement in August.
Up to now two years, Coleman, 22, for quite a lot of causes, has not clicked in Buffalo’s offense. A wrist damage impacted the second half of his rookie season, and Beane expressed disappointment in his efficiency after his restoration.
“I want he had completed the season stronger,” Beane mentioned on the finish of the 2024 season. “However we had trustworthy, direct conversations with Keon. … His profession is not going to be outlined by one season.”
Coleman then began the 2025 season on a promising notice after a robust coaching camp, catching eight passes (from 11 targets) for 112 yards and a landing in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1, however the remainder of the common season didn’t pan out.
He grew to become a sizzling subject when he was late to a crew assembly the Friday earlier than the Payments confronted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 11. The huge receiver was a wholesome scratch for the sport for disciplinary causes by coach Sean McDermott.
“Let’s consider it on the finish of the season the place [Coleman’s] at after two years,” Beane mentioned after the Nov. 4 commerce deadline. “… We’ll want him down the stretch if we’ll get the place we’re making an attempt to get to.”
Coleman has been a wholesome scratch for 4 video games this season and hasn’t had 50 receiving yards in a sport for the reason that season opener. McDermott mentioned this week that since his benching, Coleman “appears like he is understanding slightly bit extra of what is required.” Huge receivers coach Adam Henry mentioned he additionally has seen the impression.
“Adversity is nice for anybody,” Henry mentioned. “To undergo adversity, that is the place development comes, that is the place change comes. … Now you get to the core of who you’re and what occurs. And so, what he is doing now and caring for his enterprise, he is been doing properly.”
Coleman mentioned not being on the sphere has been powerful and emphasised he is prepared and targeted on making an impression: “I really feel like I ought to have been on the market or regardless of the case could also be, however choices occur that is probably not as much as me, however only a competitor myself, I really feel like I may make a play on any given down, any day of the week.”
As Beane alluded to on the commerce deadline, Coleman is about for a big alternative on Saturday.
WITH TWO WEEKS to go within the common season, the Payments had been nonetheless determining the fitting mixture of receivers to have energetic on sport day, one thing that McDermott acknowledged was not a really perfect state of affairs. The crew had 10 totally different teams of energetic receivers for sport days this season.
“You need to have continuity,” McDermott mentioned. “… That is what we would like, and the place we’re at, are proper now two various things. That is simply being actual with you right here. So, however we’re looking for that with a view to get it to right here. It is simply, it is taken longer than we’d have favored at this level. However I stay assured within the guys in that room, within the huge receiver room.”
Investments on the place in free company have largely not panned out for the Payments. The offense beneath coordinator Joe Brady prioritizes spreading the ball round as an alternative of specializing in one participant; no outdoors receiver has put up large numbers since Brady took over in November 2023.
Receiver Curtis Samuel was signed to a three-year, $24 million deal in 2024 however has performed in solely 20 regular-season video games in two years, catching 38 passes for 334 yards and two touchdowns.
Samuel will see his first motion since Nov. 16 after he was activated off injured reserve and was a full participant all through the week.
This season’s greatest free agent addition in Palmer (three years, $36 million) performed in solely 12 video games (22 receptions, 303 yards and 0 touchdowns) and handled quite a lot of decrease physique accidents earlier than occurring IR.
Shakir, who obtained a four-year contract extension within the offseason, is Allen’s safety blanket within the slot (catching all 12 of his targets within the wild-card win at Jacksonville) and a key yards-after-catch contributor. Elijah Moore, now on the Broncos’ apply squad, was waived on Nov. 26 after 9 catches in 9 video games. The ACL damage to Shavers (15 receptions, 245 yards and a landing), who performed properly when given alternatives and was a key blocker for the offense, leaves one other gap within the unit. Davis, a 2020 fourth-round decide, was elevated from the apply squad Nov. 11 and appeared in six regular-season video games previous to his ACL damage. Mecole Hardman Jr. (4 offensive snaps), who was elevated to the energetic roster for the sport, Stephen Gosnell and Kristian Wilkerson are on the apply squad.
Regardless of the Payments’ finest makes an attempt, buying and selling for a receiver on the deadline did not come to fruition. The Payments signed Cooks on Nov. 25 after the New Orleans Saints launched him. McDermott has emphasised the veteran presence Cooks brings. He additionally has playoff expertise working with a few of the league’s finest quarterbacks in Tom Brady and Drew Brees however has dropped three passes with the Payments, together with the postseason.
“I am used to that side of, like, ‘Hey, if [the quarterbacks] see a sure means and possibly I do not, properly, I obtained to come back up on the identical web page and determine it out,'” Cooks mentioned. “So undoubtedly nice to have the ability to have that have in my previous.”
The tight ends are a serious a part of the Payments’ passing offense, which was the intent once they used a first-round decide on Kincaid in 2023. Kincaid’s impression is most like that of the crew’s high receiver in that he shifts the offensive manufacturing considerably. The offense averages 30.2 factors and 384.8 yards per sport with Kincaid enjoying in contrast with 23 factors and 346.8 yards with out him.
The problem with Kincaid, whose fifth-year choice shall be determined this offseason, is his damage historical past. He has missed 5 video games this season due to accidents after lacking 4 in 2024.
“[Kincaid is a] key cog to our offense and well being and talent to be on the market, availability for us, it is enormous for us,” McDermott mentioned. “And I do not suppose it’s good to form of examine the numbers lengthy to be aware of that.”
Different tight ends with vital roles within the offense are Dawson Knox, who’s fourth on the crew in receptions (36), and rookie Jackson Hawes, who has a constant function as a blocker and three receiving touchdowns.
Leaning into the tight ends and operating backs may serve Buffalo properly in opposition to Denver as Allen is first within the league in yards per try (8.5) and first downs (88) and second in passing touchdowns (16) when concentrating on the positions, and the Broncos have given up 12 such touchdowns (tied for twenty third).
THE TERM “SUPERMAN” has been related to Allen for a good portion of his skilled profession, because of his ceaselessly bailing the Payments’ offense out of damaged performs or unhealthy conditions. This season, that tendency has contributed to Allen holding on to the ball for a very long time on sack performs as he searches for any signal of an open receiver downfield. It has additionally performed a job in his sack whole going up considerably in 2025 (40 from 14 in 2024).
Being a constant presence is vital to Allen, regardless of the numerous accidents he has suffered this season, as he has the longest energetic regular-season begin streak for a quarterback (122).
“I feel [the streak is] vital to me simply because, possibly some little illnesses or bumps and bruises that I’ve performed by means of,” Allen mentioned. “I take quite a lot of pleasure in being on the market for my teammates. I feel that is form of the primary factor is simply, I really feel like I’ve sacrificed lots to be on that soccer discipline simply because I find it irresistible a lot, and it is my favourite factor to do is play this sport.”
Though Allen undoubtedly led the way in which in Jacksonville, it was his offensive line and fullback, Reggie Gilliam, who fairly actually helped push him there, together with the receiving group displaying up and the protection holding its finish of the cut price.
With the accidents round him, along with his personal, that shall be harder versus the Broncos.
“Clearly, not a really perfect state of affairs,” Allen mentioned. “However I nonetheless belief that [wide receiver] room utterly. Whoever we convey up must step up. And we’ve got full confidence that they are going to. This week goes to be crucial all through the practices that we’ve got of creating certain we get on the identical web page with timing and simply understanding the place guys can go. Attempt to make the most of their strengths to the most effective of their skills.”
Allen has 14 profession playoff begins however hasn’t began a Tremendous Bowl sport, probably the most by any quarterback with no Tremendous Bowl begin within the Tremendous Bowl period. He has eight profession playoff wins, probably the most by any quarterback with out an look within the Tremendous Bowl or a convention championship.
Though Allen can do many issues, the assist from the crew round him shall be examined all through Buffalo’s playoff run.
“My guys come up, they go to work and so they maintain their enterprise and that is all we are able to do,” Henry mentioned. “Management what we management, after which simply put your finest foot ahead and attempt to win the day and hopefully we’ll stack days after which now we’re capable of win. You’ll be able to say quite a lot of issues, however we gained 13 video games.”
