Cooper makes an immediate 'impact' in Bill's win

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Early in the fourth quarter of the Buffalo Bills' Week 7 game against the Tennessee Titans, the Bills' offense was driving downfield, looking to take a three-score lead.

On second-and-8 from the Tennessee 47-yard line, quarterback Josh Allen took a few steps back in the shotgun but was quickly pressured. Allen looked to his left as wide receiver Amari Cooper turned and got open in tight coverage and threw the ball to Cooper, who had to return to get the football and a first down.

“Coooooop” echoed around the stadium in response.

The play was one of four catches (on five targets) that resulted in 66 yards and a score for Cooper in his first game with the Bills, including his first reception in the end zone, on 18 snaps in a non-penalty game. Buffalo won 34-10 to score 34 unanswered points and improve to 5-2 on the season.

“It was just another day at the office at the wide receiver position,” Cooper said of his ease in the game.

What was notable about the catch amid the team's second-half offensive success was that the 10-year veteran ran a slant route differently than some other receivers, describing it as “atypical.”

So, after being traded to the Cleveland Browns five days before Sunday's game, Cooper — who was informed he would play on the same call he learned he was being traded on Tuesday — had to explain to Allen the specific ways he could run routes. Can't even run reps in practice.

“We talked about it, but he was kind of in his face, and I don't think he kind of, he really knew where I was going to be because we didn't really get reps on it,” Cooper said later. Game “We just talked about it. So, I think it's good to move forward.”

Cooper still came down with the crucial catch, a play that Allen mentioned after the game.

“I think being in the league for seven years now, the guys understand [Cooper’s] Caliber, they don't need a lot,” Allen said. “They go in there, give him a clear mind, let him go play. He did that a few times out there, just finding the zone, finding the window. He made a really good catch on that slant. But, again, the professionalism that he has, the ability that he has, trusting what I see with him and things will turn out pretty well.”

Cooper, 30, said he felt 100% comfortable with the plays he had in store after going through them. Multiple guys, including Allen, offensive quality control coach DJ Mangus and wide receivers coach Adam Henry cited the task of making sure Cooper was ready to go on gameday.

“It's good to have [Cooper] Here he's made an impact in just four days, really, four teachable, learnable days,” coach Sean McDermott said. “And then to come here on day five and perform like that was impressive.”

Cooper's first reception that went for a touchdown in the third quarter made him the second player in NFL history to record a receiving touchdown with multiple teams in his first game after switching teams (Cowboys), joining Chris Chambers (Chiefs, Chargers).

“I have [an] Impressive memories, I think, but in these playbooks, sometimes there are hundreds of plays,” Cooper said. So, I knew I couldn't learn them all, so I tried to learn as much as I could and you just try to be there for the team.”

That scoring drive was the first of five straight scoring drives in the second half for the Bills that Cooper's performance helped open up opportunities for other players.

Rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman, who Cooper was contacting to confirm the play call on his TD pass before he actually took the ball, had his best game in the NFL, recording four catches for 125 yards. It was the most yards by a Bills rookie in a game since Sammy Watkins in 2014, and he became the fourth Bills rookie with 125 receiving yards in a game in the Super Bowl era (Sammy Watkins, Chris Burkett and Jerry Butler). Two other Bills players – Khalil Shakir and Dalton Kincaid – had more than 50 yards.

Allen went 1-of-5 passing for 5 yards for his 100th regular-season start in the first quarter, led by a second-half offensive performance. He finished 21-33 for 323 yards and two touchdowns. He was fired once.

Allen became the fourth quarterback in NFL history with 12 passing touchdowns and zero interceptions in weeks 7 or more.

“It was very impressive. He's a great player,” Cooper said of Allen. “… I believe today is his 100th start, it feels like he's had an amazing 100th performance. So, I guess it was no different. He went out there, he did his job like he usually does, but he's a tremendous player, because Sure.”

It remains to be seen what awaits the Bills' offense once Cooper settles in more, but the early glimpses paid off nicely as the Bills' offense continued its trend of scoring 30-plus points in the second half. All three home games this season, the Bills' longest streak to start a season since 2016.

“[Cooper’s] He's such an incredible threat in the passing game that he's going to get the attention of DBs all over the place,” tight end Dawson Knox said. “So, that naturally opens up other guys, when he's in there, he's made some big plays. It's going to be a fun rest of the year for us with him.”