Saints “Winners and Losers” From Win Over Arizona
By Bob Rose
Dec 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks (10) scores a second quarter touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
WINNER: BRANDIN COOKS, WIDE RECEIVER
After a tough 2 weeks that saw Cooks get criticized heavily by both fans and media alike (including us), he silenced his critics with a “monster performance” that everyone has been hoping he would be able to consistently produce since being drafted with the Saints’ #1 pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.
Cooks finished the game with seven catches for a career-high 186 yards and flashed the world-class sprinter’s speed that made him one of college football’s “elite” WR’s just a few short years ago.
Cooks had TD catches of 65 and 45 yards; and his YAC (yards after the catch) on a slant pattern for the 2nd TD showed that he’s more than simply just a “deep threat”.
Cooks now has 1,056 receiving yards this season, giving him 1,000-plus in back-to-back years after he posted 1,138 in 2015.