What the 30-year-old lacks in his career is postseason experience, and Cooper would not exchange his current run to the AFC Championship Game with the Buffalo Bills for anything.
“I am really satisfied. “I’ve never been this far in the playoffs,” Cooper said after practice Wednesday, as the Bills prepare to face the top-seeded and two-time reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs coming Sunday.
“Obviously, every receiver aspires to have ten to twenty receptions every game. However, this is not always the case,” he noted. “Winning is far more essential, and there are several methods to win. So no complaints from me, because that’s all I really wanted. I mean, I’ve had it every other way and haven’t quite achieved the top of this sport.”
Cooper’s altruistic style fits in well with a Bills squad that was founded on the “Everybody Eats” philosophy, which offensive coordinator Joe Brady initially instituted in May, despite the fact that he was new to Buffalo after being acquired from Cleveland in a mid-October deal. After Buffalo lost No. 2 pick Gabe Davis to free agency and moved its best wide receiver, Stefon Diggs, to Houston in April, the phrase became imperative.
In an offense where 13 guys caught touchdown passes but no one reached 900 yards, Cooper’s signing was first expected to help cover that hole, but it hasn’t worked out.
Both Cooper’s score in his Bills debut and his iconic lateral to set up quarterback Josh Allen diving for a touchdown in an AFC East-winning victory over San Francisco on December 1 were highlights of his career.
Cooper’s total output this season touched career lows with 44 receptions (only 20 in Buffalo) for 547 yards (297 in Buffalo) and four touchdowns, despite the fact that he has seven times eclipsed 1,000 yards and 70 catches.
