Green Bay Packers: Why they win, why they lose vs. NY Giants
Presence could be the difference
The Book on Montgomery and Cook: The enigma that is Jared Cook often leaves you wanting more. No, consistency isn’t his strong suit, but his presence alone makes the Packers more difficult to defend.
The Packers are averaging 28.4 points per game with the 6-foot-5, 254-pound tight end on the field and 24.6 points in the six games he missed from Sept 25 to Nov 20. A difference of about a field goal may hardly seem worthy of mention, but it could be the difference between a win or loss down the road.
What’s most relevant in this game is that the Giants rank 26th leaguewide in defending the tight end and are only one of seven NFL teams that have allowed 1,000 yards or more to the position.
Cook’s ability to stretch the seams has opened up the underneath passing lanes for his teammates, including fellow tight end Richard Rodgers, who actually made a defender miss after the catch in last week’s win over Detroit.
Mike McCarthy has been adamant about his theory that the fastest way to the end zone is achieved by throwing the ball over the middle and Cook is allowing the 11th-year coach to make good on his plan by outrunning safeties down the field—something the Packers couldn’t do without him.
The emergence of RB/WR hybrid Ty Montgomery has also thrown defenses a curveball. Prior to Green Bay’s Week-15 victory over Chicago, every opponent treated No. 88 like a receiver by opting not to stack the box.
Montgomery has thrived in those types of scenarios since he’s proven to be not only quick, fast and agile, but also a physical runner that can use his stiff arm and gain yards after contact.
The Giants are more than welcome to add an eighth defender at the line of scrimmage, but with Green Bay’s plethora of weapons to contend with, they will do so at their own risk.