What's your take on this year? Is this year's team capable of being better than last year's team?

I think that's going to depend on one unit, and that one unit is the defense.

I think with Josh and James and adding DJ Moore, it seems like now Keon Coleman is back involved.

You got Shakira.

I mean, you got Kincaid.

I mean...

You got a lot of guys.

He's got a family.

Mm-hmm

...

the, the architecture of it and how everything...

But the thing that surprised me when we got out on the football field, and he's, was right there on the grass, and he was like, "You know, I'm a little bit faster when I'm on grass." I'm like, "Oh, really? Are you?" And I said, and I said, "Well, what type of year should I expect out of you?" And he said, "Even a better year than I had last year." So I'm like, [laughs] "Well, you led the league in rushing.

I mean, you had over 10-plus touchdown, 12-plus touchdowns, uh, and you said that you can get better?" And he said, "Yeah, I can get better.

I think I'm gonna catch the ball a little bit more this year." I'm saying, "Oh, well, that's something that we haven't seen out of James Cook, you know, over the past three or four years." We've seen him catch some passes downfield, but, you know, he's looking for more crossing patterns.

He's looking for more, you know, screens maybe.

What do you have for me?

How do they make the run game more effective this week?

Well, I think, first of all, I think we have to put Cook in a right position to be able to run the football.

Okay.

Would that be coming off a turnover? You're talking about a long drive because, as we saw, like, Ty didn't play.

So, I mean, I was looking at...

Frank Gore Jr. there, you know, and I'm like, okay.

It was just him.

Yeah.

can't, you're out.

Yeah, you're out.

But I think one of the things that I have heard about what's different in Jacksonville now is that Trevor Lawrence is believing that he doesn't have to do it all by himself.

I read this somewhere, like the locker room is different.

Just like the culture, like Sean McDermott and Brandon Bean built here.

It's becoming that in Jacksonville.

And I watch it because Fred Taylor is a good friend of mine, a running back, used to be for the Jacksonville.

So are you expecting a close game, Thurman, or do you think the Bills take care of business

right.

I mean, I'd seen, what, last year? He went in for one play against New England, I think it was, and came back out.

So these things are important, but, I mean, this is – I mean, this is huge.

I mean, I would love for him to get this Russian title.

And I know, you know, people were saying things early in the year about wearing him out or whatever.

I mean, the guy hasn't missed a beat.

He hasn't missed a beat.

How encouraged were you by the defensive performance this past week for the Bills?

He had 1,515 games.

He's been unbelievable, man.

I mean, it's...

Obviously, Josh is the guy, but he has held his own this year when stacking up against other running backs in the National Football League.

First, it was Jonathan Taylor.

He's passed him now.

Yeah, I thought he was going to run away with the rushing title.

Yeah.

Right.

We had the – I mean, at the beginning of the New England game, I mean, we were lining up already in two tight ends, right? I mean, that's how the game started off.

They ain't even going to mess with it.

And they weren't going to even mess with it.

It's going to work because they have that running game.

And I think this offensive line is really – I think their best job probably was against New England as far as pass blocking.

I mean, the one that he threw to Knox was – I mean, the whole front four was on the left side of the field.

Yeah,

Yep.

And so, yeah.

I think it'll be tough.

I think we can always look at it.

I mean, you look at New England's schedule.

Like, who are they playing? Can they handle the Bills and Denver back-to-back? You know, tough games back there.

They haven't did that, really.

When I say those things, what or who is the X factor aside from Josh Allen?

And

between the tackles.

Going downhill between the tackles.

None of that pitch stuff outside.

No, this guy is a little bowling ball.

Yeah.

He needs to be like going between the tackles every single play.

So I'm wondering what the approach is there because their front would say one thing, but the athleticism of their linebackers at the second level might say take a different approach.

to do it, right? I mean, if they slide guys to them, if they've got a double team on, they've got to get it done, even though.

And that's why I say don't make it complicated.

Yeah, right.

Don't make it complicated for these guys.

I mean, even if you want to, if you've got TJ in the tackle over here and in the tackle over here and you've got the middle linebacker, I mean, the easiest thing for that is to call five down.

Whoever the linebacker is in the middle, just make it as five down.

You've got that guy, you've got that guy, and everybody's got five.

But, hey,

What did you like about them being used in that? I

liked it all.

I mean, I loved it all.

I mean, this is kind of, I've always said, you know, if the running backs is in the mix some way, somehow, we're going to be explosive and we're going to be making plays down the field or whatever.

Like, so Ty and Reggie and James and those guys, those guys were a part of the game plan.

You know, they made a difference out on the football field.

And I think, you know, as long as they keep doing it.

Run defense.

It just seems like some of the answers aren't as easy to turn on when they need them.

No, they're not.

I mean, what, four or five weeks ago? I mean, the Bills were kind of a hands-on favor to go to the Super Bowl.

Right.

And that's how quickly it's falling off.

So, look, I – When have we seen Josh beat Josh? I mean, how many 300-yard games does he have this year? Week one, right? And last week.

Week one and last week.

And knowing how the Bills are still trying to fit their run defense together, if he plays, that could be an issue.

So when they have all those guys to roll out there with Kelsey, it's a problem because most secondaries don't go four deep To cover all the bases there.

Yeah.

And you can see it.

With quality people.

Yeah, with quality.

Yeah.

And you can see it too.

Yeah.

Like, he's a sharp player, and he usually has the protections buttoned up.

He usually does have the protections buttoned up, like you said.

And it was just something about the Atlanta front four, man, that they came after you.

And it just seemed like Josh didn't see, like, okay, you got – Three over here, but you got two of us guys.

So they might blitz.

And it just seemed like he didn't pick that up right away.

Yeah.

is really good.

what?

I've got nothing but presents and gifts for you here, sir.

I was looking at something the other day on television, and it was Sims.

Not Phil.

Matt Sims? Chris.

Chris Sims.

Chris Sims.

In the second quarter.