Bills' James Cook Draws Major Praise From Texans Coach Ahead of Week 1

One of the best games from the opening weekend in the NFL comes with the Buffalo Bills heading on the road to take on the Houston Texans.

This is a matchup of two of the top teams in the AFC coming into the new season, giving each a chance to test themselves against one another. For the Bills, they want to get off to a solid start to the year under new head coach Joe Brady.

Buffalo is seen by many as the favorite to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl this year, but they will have to earn their keep on the field. The Bills still have star quarterback Josh Allen under center, giving them a shot to win each time out.

But it is the complimentary players around Allen that really make that Bills team dangerous. One of those is running back James Cook, who is as electric as any player in the NFL in the open field.

Ahead of the game, Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke had some major praise for the Bills running back. Burke understands that if Cook gets going in this game, it could be a long day for the Texans.

"Biggest thing with him is his ability to cut. Got to be where you're supposed to be. One of best cutters in league," Burke said.

Last season, Cook played in 17 games for Buffalo, posting 1,621 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground. The running back became one of the focal points to the Bills offense, giving them a well-rounded approach.

But he can also catch the ball out of the backfield too, with Cook catching 33 passes for 291 yards and two touchdowns. Cook can do a little bit of everything on the field, helping to make the Bills offense so dynamic.

Against a tough defense like the Texans, Cook will have to rely on the guys upfront to give him strong running lanes. Buffalo has one of the better offensive lines in the game, but even strong lines can have a tough time against Houston.

The Texans were one of the best defenses in the league a year ago, and they have the tools to give the Bills some real trouble in this contest. The two sides played last season, with the Texans coming away with a 23-19 win.

Buffalo will be trying to get some revenge for that game, hoping to start the new NFL season on a high note. Kickoff between the two teams is set for 10:00 a.m. PT/1:00 p.m. ET from Reliant Stadium in Houston.