‘Any Opportunity in This League Is a Great One’
Rookie QB Brady Cook, who will make his fourth consecutive start on Sunday, is set to face an AFC East rival and 2025 playoff team for the second week in a row.
“I’m grateful for it, because any opportunity in this league is a great one,” Cook said.
Buffalo’s defense has not made life easy on opposing quarterbacks this season. Ahead of Week 18, the unit ranks at the top of the league in passing yards allowed per game (163.4).
“We welcome the challenge,” Cook said. “We welcome that opportunity. This is a great opportunity for us to go against a great defense, and why not? This is our last game of the year. We have things we want to improve on, and we get to do it against some of the best players in the league. So, it’s definitely exciting.”
In his three starts this season, Cook has already faced two 2025 playoff teams in the Jaguars and the Patriots, as well as a Saints team that has showcased improvement and sustained a late season winning streak. The Jets have played from behind in each contest, including Cook’s first NFL game action in Week 14 against the Dolphins. Cook entered the game for Tyrod Taylor with the Jets trailing by 21-0.
“It’s been really good for him to go through these experiences,” OC Tanner Engstrand said. “Coming in, he was going to be in the role that he was in. And then, he’s kind of been thrust into this starter role the last month of the season, and how valuable those reps are for him. Just to get in there and be in the moment and be live in those games. Gather that experience that he may not have expected to get this year.”
Cook, who has thrown for 679 yards, 1 TD and 7 INTs in his four game appearances, said he looks forward to leading the Green & White again on Sunday.
“For him, he just has to take it really how it comes and learn from those experiences,” Engstrand said. “I don’t think his mentality has changed one bit. I don’t think his confidence has wavered. I think he has confidence in himself and it’s just a matter of going out there and performing to the best of his ability.”