Cowboys fans rejoice as Mike McCarthy finally cuts Brandin Cooks loose vs Giants
By Jerry Trotta
The Dallas Cowboys lead the New York Giants 28-0 at halftime, so they're well on their way to covering the -17.5 spread. A big win was expected, however, so Cowboys fans wanted to see everyone get in on the fun.
That includes wide receiver Brandin Cooks, who had been a big disappointment over the first eight games. CeeDee Lamb's scalding hot stretch is partly to blame, but the fanbase couldn't wrap its mind around Cooks' lack of usage.
After all, the Cowboys went out and traded for Cooks in the offseason. You'd think that would result in Cooks becoming a focal point, but he compiled just 17 catches for 165 and two touchdowns in seven games. He failed to top 50 yards and managed just one catch for seven yards in the Week 9 loss to the Eagles.
Sunday was a completley different story for Cooks. The veteran WR has torched the Giants secondary and fans are loving it.
Cowboys WR Brandin Cooks finally breaks out of slump vs Giants
Brandin Cooks is starting to become a viable thing 👀 pic.twitter.com/fs1yaDNFMT
— David Helman (@davidhelman_) November 12, 2023
OMG BRANDIN COOKS DEEP SHOT THAT WAS ALMOST A TOUCHDOWN I AM LEVITATING
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) November 12, 2023
So happy that Brandin Cooks is having a big game. He needed it.
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) November 12, 2023
Brandin Cooks aura strikes again
— Defy (@defytalkcowboys) November 12, 2023
Brandin "let me cook"s with the TD!
— Matt Owen (@ProfessorO_NFL) November 12, 2023
Let's goooooo pic.twitter.com/8YMo6Q5g9t
You think fans were hungry to see more of Cooks or what? There's a whole half of football to play and Cooks has set season-highs in catches and yards. He has seven catches for 104 yards and a touchdown. It's not out of the realm of possibility that Cooks exceeds his season yardage total (165) in this game alone.
Cooks nearly accomplished that in the first half. He and Dak Prescott connected for a 34-yard deep shot before halftime. It looked like Cooks had a chance to take it to the house, but he got tripped up at midfield.
Regardless, it's clear Mike McCarthy viewed this week against a lowly opponent as a prime chance to get Cooks into a rhythm.
The fact it took until November for it to happen is still maddening and borderline unforgivable given his body of work in the NFL (six 1,000-yard seasons and two Super Bowl appearances) and that Dallas traded for him in the offseason, but getting him going before a monster upcoming stretch of games is a huge win for the Cowboys in an otherwise uncompetitive fixture against the Giants.
The Cooks train has left the station. Let's hope it's here to stay.
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