A Career Built on Stats, But Playoff Success is the Goal
Amari Cooper has accomplished a lot over his 10 years in the NFL, with enough catches, yards, and touchdowns to feel good about his career. However, the 30-year-old wide receiver hasn’t had much success in the playoffs, which is what he’s now focused on. Playing with the Buffalo Bills, Cooper is enjoying his first deep playoff run, heading to the AFC Championship game.
“I’m very satisfied. I’ve never been this far in the playoffs,” Cooper said after practice on Wednesday. The Bills are preparing for a big game against the top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs, who are the defending Super Bowl champions.
Cooper acknowledged that every receiver wants to have many catches each game, but he emphasized that winning is what really matters. “Winning is way more important and there’s many ways to win. So absolutely no complaints from me, because that’s all I truly wanted,” he explained. “I’ve had it every other way and haven’t really reached the pinnacle of this sport.”
Cooper’s Selfless Approach with the Bills
Cooper joined the Bills in mid-October, following a trade from the Cleveland Browns. His selfless attitude fits well with the team’s mindset, which emphasizes a “Everybody Eats” philosophy introduced by offensive coordinator Joe Brady. This phrase was born after the Bills traded their star wide receiver Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans and lost their second receiver, Gabe Davis, to free agency.
Though Cooper was expected to help fill the gap left by Diggs and Davis, the offense has been spread out, with 13 different players catching a touchdown pass but no one topping 900 receiving yards. Despite this, Cooper has had some highlight moments, including a touchdown in his debut and a key play where he passed the ball to quarterback Josh Allen for a touchdown in a win over San Francisco.
Lower Production Doesn’t Bother Cooper
This season, Cooper’s production has been much lower than usual. He finished the regular season with only 44 catches for 547 yards and four touchdowns, numbers far below his usual output of over 1,000 yards and 70 catches. Despite this, he’s content.
“You have so many players that are doing their job that they can get the job done without you,” Cooper said. “So that’s kind of where my ego dies and the pride is put aside for the sake of the team.”
Cooper’s Impact and Team Focus
Brady praised Cooper for his laid-back attitude and noted that his mere presence on the field helps the team by drawing attention from opposing defenses. “He’s part of our group that makes our group kind of who they are, and he’s leading it,” Brady said. “He doesn’t care about the stats right now, and he knows that him being on the field helps our offense.”
Success at Alabama, But Playoff Glory Still Elusive in the NFL
Cooper had a strong start to his career, contributing to Alabama’s national championship win in 2012 with 59 catches for 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns. In the NFL, however, team success has been harder to come by. Drafted fourth overall in 2015, Cooper has had four previous playoff appearances, but only one win. In those games, he has 25 catches, 304 yards, and two touchdowns.
Now, with Buffalo, Cooper has already won two playoff games, but his individual stats have been low, with just two catches for 8 yards.
Focusing on the Ultimate Goal: Winning the Super Bowl
Despite the lack of playoff success so far, Cooper remains focused on the big picture. “I’ve had tremendous years in the league, Pro Bowls and all those things. But none of them will amount to winning that last game,” Cooper said, understanding that he’s just two wins away from a championship.
“You keep preparing, and then you know one day everything will fall in place. That’s how it feels. It feels like I’ve prepared for this moment all my life.”
