Hail Rodgers: Why the Green Bay Packers beat the New York Giants
By Kenn Korb
Cobb’s Big Day
“We’re better with 18 on the field and he showed it tonight.”
That’s Rodgers talking about Cobb in a postgame interview immediately following the game. Those words definitely came to fruition in this contest.
With the offense struggling early and losing Nelson to a rib injury, Green Bay needed other guys to step up in major ways. Multiple players made important contributions, but no player had a more sterling effort than #18 for Green Bay.
Cobb returned after missing two straight games due to injury to put up perhaps the best performance of his entire career. On five catches, Cobb picked up 116 yards and three touchdowns — only the second time in his career he scored that many times in a single game.
This performance wasn’t due to cheap and easy catches with a single big play to boost the raw numbers, either. Every one of his five catches went for at least 13 yards. Four of those catches — including of course his three touchdown receptions — came on scoring drives, and all four of those went for at least 15 yards.
When everyone is healthy Nelson may be the #1 receiver for Rodgers, but Cobb provides the Green Bay offense a level of diversification and versatility which no other receiver can, and to go with it is the ability to seamlessly take on the mantle of top option when the situation dictates it.
His ability to do so made a massive difference for a Green Bay offense which needed a spark to get going, but then couldn’t be stopped.
Next: Controlling the clock and stopping the run will be key against Cowboys
With Nelson likely stuck to having either a lessened or nonexistent role versus the Cowboys due to his rib injury, this sort of performance from Cobb will not only be welcomed but likely necessary for Green Bay’s magical run to continue beyond the Divisional Round.