ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) 鈥� Buffalo’s James Cook reflected on his offseason contract dispute with pride, a sense of unfinished business and a nod to Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley.
Though the Bills’ fourth-year running back might already he signed in August following a week-long hold-in, the NFL鈥檚 rushing leader enters Week 17 feeling vindicated for banking on himself.
鈥淵ou got to do what you got to do. You need to take care of your family, and that鈥檚 what I did,鈥� Cook said Friday, referring to his contract dispute that included him skipping all of the team鈥檚 spring voluntary practices.
At the same time, Cook thinks he has more to prove.
鈥淭he job鈥檚 not even finished,” he said. “So just keep going.鈥�
With a career-best 1,532 yards rushing, Cook has a 43-yard lead over the Colts’ Jonathan Taylor in what stands as a two-way race for the rushing title.
What鈥檚 fitting for Cook this weekend as the Bills (11-4) prepare to host the Eagles (10-5) on Sunday is him owing his on- and off-field achievements to Barkley. If not for the Philadelphia running back for all players at his position, Cook figured he might still be spinning his wheels while seeking a pay raise.
鈥淗e set the standard. He set the mark,鈥� Cook said of Barkley turning his league-leading 2,005 yards rushing last year into a two-year contract $41.2 million extension that made him the NFL鈥檚 first running back to average more than $20 million a season.
鈥淟ast year, he set the rushing title,” Cook added. “And I鈥檓 just trying to replicate it.鈥�
Two of the NFL鈥檚 premier running backs will square off in expected sloppy conditions, with the forecast calling for a wintery mix of snow and rain Sunday.
In Buffalo, Cook has scored 12 touchdowns and topped 100 yards nine times while taking the load off quarterback Josh Allen and contributing to the Bills reaching the playoffs for a seventh consecutive season.
In Philadelphia, Barkley has found his footing and the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles appear to have rediscovered their balanced offensive identity.
Barkley has topped 100 yards twice in the past three games after doing so just once in the first 12. The Eagles have won two in a row and are coming off a 29-18 win over Washington during which they became since they did so over a four-year span from 2001-04.
Barkley said he 鈥渘ever lost faith鈥� in the offense or coordinator Kevin Patullo, .
鈥淚t鈥檚 always not going to be pretty. The stat line isn鈥檛 always going to be 100 rushing yards,鈥� he said. “When we get our running game going, we鈥檙e going to be a hard team to beat.鈥�
with Cook this week.
鈥淗e’s the leading rusher right now and I sent him a message, like, 鈥楪o finish,鈥� he said. “He鈥檚 a guy who鈥檚 had a heck of a year. … Super excited to go against him. Wish him the best, but not too well against our team.鈥�
Barkley has an opportunity to thrive against a Bills defense that has allowed 150 or more yards rushing seven times this season, and will be missing three defensive tackles to injury.
The Bills, however, can counter with Cook, whose 12 TDs rushing are tied for fourth in the NFL.
Bills coach Sean McDermott praised Cook for emerging as a team leader and for how he didn鈥檛 .
鈥淭he week to week intensity is different than last year,鈥� McDermott said. 鈥淗e had some big games last year, but the look in his eye each week, the intensity that he shows up with, it鈥檚 really been influential on our whole football team.鈥�
Kicking woes
Jake Elliott used to be so automatic on field goals he earned the nickname Jake the Make. He has been off so much this season that he鈥檚 now looking over his shoulder.
Elliott missed both field goal attempts 鈥� three, if you include a 57-yard miss nullified by a penalty 鈥� last weekend, and is 17 of 24 overall this season.
鈥淚鈥檝e got to figure some stuff out,鈥� Elliott said.
Sirianni continued to back Elliott by saying: 鈥淚 have a ton of confidence in him and that he鈥檒l rebound from whatever setbacks that he has.鈥�
Rooting interest
Sirianni might be from Jamestown, New York, some 75 miles south of Buffalo, but he grew up a fan of the Steelers rather than the Bills.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not any different for me,鈥� he said of the homecoming, while noting he’ll have plenty of friends and family in attendance.
As for who they’ll be rooting for, Sirianni smiled and said: 鈥淭hey better root for us. … If I see that they’re wearing Bills stuff, we’ll have words and they won’t be invited the next time.鈥�
Spring break?
Allen joked when asked what it would mean for Cook to win the NFL rushing title.
鈥淚t would mean a lot and then maybe no OTAs for anybody,鈥� Allen said, noting Cook skipped all of Buffalo’s voluntary spring sessions.
鈥淵ou know, just get everyone fresh legs. No, I’m kidding,” he added, before saying he believes his teammate is already underpaid. 鈥淧robably, yeah. But all he cares about is winning football games right now, and it’s pretty awesome.鈥�
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AP Sports Writer Dan Gelston, in Philadelphia, contributed to this report.
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