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Los Angeles Rams: Inside Brandon Cooks’ matchup against old team

By Hil Lopez

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 11: Wide receiver Brandin Cooks #12 of the Los Angeles Rams runs after his catch in the second quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 11, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 11: Wide receiver Brandin Cooks #12 of the Los Angeles Rams runs after his catch in the second quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 11, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Rams defeated Brandin Cooks’ first team in the NFC Championship and will square off with the team that traded him to LA.

Brandin Cooks makes his return to the Super Bowl next Sunday against his previous team, the New England Patriots. In his past two years, Cooks has been coached by two of the best in the game in Bill Belichick from New England and second-year coach Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams.

He has had the ball thrown to him by probably the best of all time Tom Brady, and this year by upcoming riser Jared Goff.

After three non-playoffs seasons with the New Orleans Saints, Cooks was traded to the Patriots last offseason and thrived under Tom Brady, as he had previously with Drew Brees.

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Cooks had 65 catches for 1,082 yards and seven touchdowns. He had a big role in helping the Patriots reach the Super Bowl last year. However, the outcome was not ideal for him and his Patriot teammates.

In the early parts of the second quarter, Cooks caught a 23-yard pass and was leveled on a hit by Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins. He walked off on his own power and was diagnosed with a concussion. Unfortunately, he would not return to the game and the Patriots would end up losing 41-33 to the Eagles that day.

Fast forward one year, Cooks is ready to redeem himself, but on the opposite end of his former team. Signed to a five-year, $80 million contract in the offseason by the Los Angeles Rams after being traded by New England, Cooks came up big again in the regular season and playoffs.

He ended the regular season with 80 catches for 1,204 yards and five touchdowns. The former Oregon State Beaver star formed a great tandem with USC alumn Robert Woods, and Cooper Kupp before Kupp went down with an ACL tear. Even with Josh Reynolds replacing Kupp, the Rams still ran their 11 personnel set of 3 wideouts over 93% of the time with McVay.

Cooks was vital in the Los Angeles Rams most recent game against the New Orleans Saints. The Rams eked out an overtime 26-23 win over the Saints with Cooks leading the way with seven catches for 107 yards. More will be needed of Cooks next week especially with Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore more than likely shadowing him.

Brandin will absolutely get the best of Gilmore as the two were former teammates last year in New England. Furthermore, according to Pro Football Focus, Gilmore was the highest rated cornerback in the regular season giving up only a 56.3 QB rating to opposing passers, and a 42% catch rate. He also had two interceptions, one sack, 40 tackles and 20 passes defended.

The parallels between the Rams and Patriots. dark. Next

This matchup will certainly be one to look forward to as it will be one of the key wide receiver/cornerback matchups of the Super Bowl. It Cooks is able to win his matchup with Gilmore, it will help the Los Angeles Rams and Cooks get the upper hand on the Patriots in the Super Bowl.

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