Green Bay Packers Need Jared Cook to Dominate the Dallas Cowboys

Aaron Rodgers’ hot right hand ensures the Green Bay Packers have a chance against the Dallas Cowboys, but Jared Cook will need to be the key to victory.

There are many factors working against a Green Bay Packers‘ upset in the Divisional Round versus the Dallas Cowboys.

A full serving of tight end Jared Cook may be the recipe for success (I’ll see myself out). Just having him on the field is enough to tilt the field slightly in the visitors’ favor.

Cook is a six-foot, four-inch beast with good speed, and can present many problems for the opposition. Unfortunately, he and Rodgers haven’t quite fired on all cylinders this season, in part due to Cook’s early-season injury.

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Regardless, the numbers back up Cook’s impact and the potential for more. Let’s start with what we know.

When Cook has played, the Packers are 9-2 this season. One of the losses was the 42-24 defeat at the hands of the Washington Redskins.

That was Cook’s first game back in nearly two months, and despite the loss, he had six catches for 105 yards and his lone touchdown this season.

Rodgers has also been looking Cook’s way more often down the stretch. In the last four contests, the QB has targeted Cook 30 times, including at least eight times in three of those games.

He needs to throw to Cook even more. Maybe someone should convince Rodgers that number 89 is still James Jones, since he seemed to love throwing his way.

As the two continue to get in sync, those targets should result in some extra completions, yards and touchdowns. This week would be the ideal breakout game.

One reason is that the top-seeded Cowboys have struggled all season to shut down tight ends. While some rank their secondary among the best in football, the underneath stuff have given the linebackers and defensive backs trouble.

Through 16 regular season games, Dallas allowed the 2nd-most receptions to tight ends (113) and the 3rd-most yards (1,132). That’s an average of seven catches for 71 yards per game.

The Rodgers-to-Cook connection should be stressed all day in Dallas. Photo Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Think this doesn’t matter much?

Remember the Redskins’ game when Cook had his best game? Well, Washington ranked dead last against tight ends, giving up the most receptions (114) and yards (1,178).

In terms of touchdowns, the Cowboys actually gave up more to tight ends than the Redskins did. Dallas allowed eight (6th-most).

With Jordy Nelson officially out, Rodgers loses his security blanket. For many quarterbacks, the tight end often plays that role. Don’t be surprised to see Cook step up in that capacity.

Also keep in mind, Cook did not play in the meeting between these two clubs. In the Cowboys’ 30-16 win, they mostly played man coverage against the Packers.

Richard Rodgers got the start that day. He finished with just two catches for 15 yards.

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Cook is the far superior receiver and a matchup nightmare for most defenses. In man coverage, he can outrun linebackers or out-muscle defensive backs.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Packers spread the field with their receivers and let Cook work the middle of the field.

Expect Rodgers to look his way early to set the tone and draw some attention to Cook. This would later free up the deep portion of the field, giving the receivers a shot at some big plays down field.

Ultimately, if the Packers can get Cook heavily involved, they have a valuable weapon to attack the Cowboys’ weakness. It would be disappointing if Cook had fewer than six catches and 80 yards.

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While the Green Bay Packers normally focus on their wide receivers in offensive planning, this week should be different. Cook has the skills and opportunity to be the key producer offensively and lead them to victory.

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