Randall Cobb has career night amidst Packers' historic win

-- Randall Cobb wasn't surprised one bit by what he saw from Aaron Rodgers Sunday night at Lambeau Field.

The Green Bay Packers' most seasoned wide receiver has been catching passes from Rodgers for going on eight seasons now, so it's safe to assume virtually nothing Rodgers does is out of the ordinary at this point.

"That's who he is," Cobb said after the Packers' comeback win over the Chicago Bears. "I think it still surprises people outside the building sometimes, but we know what we have in him and when he gets going, look out."

Rodgers definitely did get going, completing 17 of his 23 pass attempts in the second half for 273 yards and three touchdowns -- one of them a 75-yarder to Cobb that eventually gave the Packers the lead and completed their comeback.

"I’ve never seen the field like that—catching the ball and it just being wide open like that, having nothing but green grass. I was just trying to get there as fast as I could."

Cobb led the team in catches (9) and receiving yards with 142, breaking his previous career high of 131 set against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2014. He also caught 90 percent of his targets, essentially picking up right where he left off each of the last few seasons as arguably Rodgers' most reliable target.

There was a heap of speculation over the offseason that Cobb, one of the Packers' most valuable offensive contributors, would either be traded or released for the sake of preserving cap room. If Sunday night's comeback was any indication, that would've been a massive mistake if it wasn't obvious already. 

The Packers' offense struggled collectively as a unit in the first half prior to Rodgers exiting the game with a knee injury. By the time he returned for the first offensive position of the third quarter, the Packers were in a 20-0 hole, but that's when they began to find their rhythm.

"Once you catch the ball, it’s just being a playmaker," Cobb said. "Going out and doing what you can, find a way to get into the end zone.

"I think it was just executing. Making the plays that were there. In the receiver room, we talk about it all the time; the team goes, we go. I feel like once we started to make some plays, things started to roll for us. We put all that pressure on ourselves in our room."

Cobb's big night was one of the Packers' many highlights on offense Sunday night. Davante Adams, Geronimo Allison and Cobb all combined for 15 catches, 252 yards and a trio of touchdowns.

All it took was Rodgers' remarkably high pain tolerance to return to the game and stay in for the final two quarters -- and basically, limit himself to being strictly a pocket passer on one leg -- to make it happen.

"I knew that he wouldn’t be out there if he couldn’t go. I’ve seen him hobble out. I feel like with worse things, he continues to fight, continues to push through whatever it is he has going on."

Cobb was on the right side of history, and also one of the major reasons as to why it was able to happen. Prior to Sunday night, the Packers have never won a game entering the fourth quarter trailing by 17 or more points, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

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Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].

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Comments (30)

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GBPDAN1's picture

September 10, 2018 at 06:40 am

Cobb, Allison and Adams all came through tonight. What a game!!

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RCPackerFan's picture

September 10, 2018 at 06:35 am

Can we finally put an end to the cutting Cobb or trading Cobb?
He showed exactly why they kept him.

Cobb was outstanding!

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

September 10, 2018 at 07:03 am

Based on Aaron's tone when referring to Cobb it seamed to me like those guys where well aware of the fan push to cut Cobb.

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RCPackerFan's picture

September 10, 2018 at 07:21 am

oh definitely!

Players hear that stuff! He is well liked and respected in the locker room.

Happy to see him have that kind of performance.

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Andrew Lloyd Peth's picture

September 10, 2018 at 07:17 am

Nothing has changed for me. I said I expected Cobb to have a big year, but that I was more concerned about 2019 than 2018 because I felt this team needed more than 1 offseason to overhaul its athleticism and contend for a title.

So spending about $10 mill on Cobb this year takes that much from what we can spend next year.

Did I enjoy Cobb's game? Absolutely. I love the guy and was thrilled to see him show great focus snatching that last pass just beyond the fingertips of a defender, then show good moves in the last 20 yards.

But since I still don't think this team is a serious contender this year, nothing has changed for me. It's just a cap thing.

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cuervo's picture

September 10, 2018 at 07:56 am

Agree ALP, Cobb is very good reciever, tough, good teamate, etc. I believe most of the issues people have had with him is that he's been overpaid since his his contract extension. If he was paid 5 million/year, I doubt you'd hear much from anyone about getting rid of him.

This is by far his best game since signing the contract BTW.

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WKUPackFan's picture

September 10, 2018 at 08:21 am

Revisionist history. You never said that you "loved Cobb". You never said that you expected him to have a "big year".

You were squarely in the camp of "Cobb's too old", "he's too slow", "he's injured too often", etc. Well, he didn't look too slow or unathletic last night, did he? Neither did Allison. You were wrong about both players, admit it.

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cuervo's picture

September 10, 2018 at 08:25 am

Revisionist comment....I've never said any of those things about Cobb. I've always said the things I mentioned above, including the fact he's been massively overpaid, which I stand by.

Whether he's resigned this next year will one of the more interesting off season storylines.

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Andrew Lloyd Peth's picture

September 10, 2018 at 08:44 am

I said I love Cobb in this post--I didn't refer to previous posts with that comment.

As for expecting a big year from Cobb, yes, I've written that.

There's nothing revisionist or dishonest whatsoever in my comment.

Now please satisfy yourself commenting on other people's posts. When you call someone a Klan member and snake handler, you've forfeited the right to bother him further.

I will continue showing the same courtesy by not commenting on your posts. I've tried endlessly to stop our battles for everyone's sakes, and it's time you do the same.

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egbertsouse's picture

September 10, 2018 at 08:10 am

I was on the renegotiate or cut Cobb bandwagon and it wasn’t because I didn’t know he could have big games like this. It was because we all know thatby game 5 he will get injured and miss a few games, then be relegated to spot duty for a few more. You can’t pay a guy $10mil for half a season.

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Spock's picture

September 10, 2018 at 09:19 am

IIR Cobb has missed very few games and played through injuries that less "tougher" WR's would be sitting out for. Your comment doesn't mesh with the facts to the best of my knowledge.

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egbertsouse's picture

September 10, 2018 at 09:56 am

That's because you need to lay off the green-and-gold Kool-Aid for a few days and get some perspective.

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Jonathan Spader's picture

September 10, 2018 at 11:35 am

Green and gold kool-aid got me through the game last night.

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I bleed green more's picture

September 10, 2018 at 08:32 am

I told my brother it will take a miracle to win this game. I believe we saw as close to it as you can. Actually Kizer caused at least 10 pt loss if not more.

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KnockTheSnotOutOfYou's picture

September 10, 2018 at 08:39 am

Dont forget Cobb's contributions on special teams last night either.

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Demon's picture

September 10, 2018 at 08:50 am

Last night ptoved that Davis is not needed. So long Trevor!

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croatpackfan's picture

September 11, 2018 at 02:14 am

Another player who is overpaid, to old, to slow etc... ?

Like Davante, Cobb, G-Mo, Lence Kendricks, D. Randall, Murphy, Mays and long, long lists of players who are "busts" by couch experts, while Jeff Janis is the best player ever?

I believe what Packers organization do. I can see that they are doing well and that players they are keeping are very good... So, if any of those players will be released, traded or cut, I will trust they will...

Oh, and Jordy Nelson had 3 catches for 23 yards in Oakland last evening. Do you understand now why he was left w/o contract?

And white_tornado, I hope "Florance" will make less damage to people than you are doing!

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Rcariveau's picture

September 10, 2018 at 08:51 am

Cobb just needs to have a contract year every year to play lights out. I hope he can continue it throughout the year. He was Rodgers safety net last night instead of Jordy.

Bless Jordy's sole in that dumpster fire down in Oakland this year.

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dobber's picture

September 10, 2018 at 09:10 am

Cobb has always had a pretty high target rate with #12 on the field. Unless they get another WR going, he's going to catch a lot of passes this year.

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Rcariveau's picture

September 10, 2018 at 09:31 am

So that is why he averaged 4 catches a game in 2017.

4 catches in 2016.

5 catches in 2015. (No Jordy this season)

6 catches in 2014 (contract year).

I like Cobb I wear his jersey every game. He just isn't worth 10 mil/per year. If he can get back to 6 catches a game, and you mix Adams and Graham in there the receivers have a chance to all have a great year. He is still only 28 years old, if he puts together a good year I could see GB signing him to 2 year deal for around 5-6 mill per year.

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croatpackfan's picture

September 11, 2018 at 02:15 am

Maybe because he is playing injured all 3 seasons?

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SpudRapids's picture

September 10, 2018 at 09:46 am

Cobb is something crazy like 2nd all time in catch % behind only Wes Welker... that's an underrated stat

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Qoojo's picture

September 10, 2018 at 09:27 am

For being declared slow, they (Adams, Cobb, Allison) sure looked plenty fast last night.

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Spock's picture

September 10, 2018 at 09:29 am

I've been on the keep Cobb bandwagon all off season (pats self on the back). I've also been on the CM3 is still a good player bandwagon (kicks self in "pasty white buttocks"). I still think Cobb is going to have a monster year. I'm hoping CM3's game was an early season aberration, but I'm having serious doubts about that now. This was the start of the Packers' 100th season and the quote from the above article, "Prior to Sunday night, the Packers have never won a game entering the fourth quarter trailing by 17 or more points, according to the Elias Sports Bureau." That is a mind-blowing fact. Rodgers was (to quote the final line in the latest "Magnificent Seven" redo movie) "...Simply magnificent".

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

September 10, 2018 at 10:00 am

Sadly CM3 has lost the explosiveness and quickness of the line that he used to get the best of Left Tackles. I think he's been robbed of the ability by multiple hamstring issues that are not his fault. That said, for someone who seams to pride hisself on being intelligent, that roughing penalty was inexcuseable.

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Jonathan Spader's picture

September 10, 2018 at 11:39 am

I think CM3 is being misused in Pettine's defense. Shift him inside and see if he can contribute from there. He was on the ground 3 times last night. He's not fast enough to reach the QB from the outside rushing in. Let him explode up the middle and see if he can be effective that way. If he can't then it's time to move on. In a prior article I said CM3 should be the 1st one to receive a contract extension. Not feeling that way today.

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Tundraboy's picture

September 10, 2018 at 07:19 pm

Misused,meaning at OLB exclusively. Needs to be moved around and inside . Overran the play to an extreme last night,and spent a lot of time on the ground or feebly grasping at air trying to get after the quarterback. Easily his worse game. That was before the bonehead hit.

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dobber's picture

September 10, 2018 at 09:46 am

I really like the lead photo above: Cobb punching into the endzone while Mack is punching sand (well, turf).

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Qoojo's picture

September 10, 2018 at 09:50 am

Cobb was pretty calm and relaxed as he half walked into the end zone. It was a pretty impressive run by him, some speed and a couple of moves.

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carusotrap's picture

September 10, 2018 at 09:54 am

"There was a heap of speculation over the offseason that Cobb, one of the Packers' most valuable offensive contributors, would either be traded or released for the sake of preserving cap room. If Sunday night's comeback was any indication, that would've been a massive mistake..."

You know, and I'm going to go out on a limb here...maybe...just maybe there might be something to this whole "Gutekunst Experiment™".

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