Brandin Cooks reacts to breakout performance: 'This one is sweet'

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks finally had the breakout performance he’s been working toward this season as his team took down the New York Giants in dominant fashion 49-17 on Sunday. Despite CeeDee Lamb also posting over 150 yards receiving, Cooks had nine catches for 174 yards and a touchdown for Dallas, one week after catching just one pass for seven yards against the Eagles.

“I think, at the end of the day, like I tell the other guys, just trust the process and, when your number is called, take advantage of your opportunities,” Cooks said, via DallasCowboys.com. “When the ball comes your way, just go out there and make plays. … It’s a blessing… It’s been a hard couple years but my faith and my work ethic, my family, my wife and my kids just continued to push me to keep going. 

“This one is sweet, for sure.” 

At the end of the day, Cooks was just 14 yards shy of setting a new career-high for most receiving yards in a single game. His record so far is 186 yards.

Quarterback Dak Prescott was more than happy to make Cooks the star of the show on Sunday. He told reporters after the game that he believes the veteran is the caliber of player (and man) that makes you want to get him more involved.

“That’s what it’s about. Get that guy the ball and let him go run. Multiple big plays,” Prescott said. “I didn’t [realize] he had 100 [yards] at halftime. For him to have that production is awesome. That guy deserves it more than anybody. Amazing teammate and friend. Amazing guy that does everything the right way.” 

Cooks stays the course despite minimal usage through Week 10

Coming into Sunday, Cooks had just 17 receptions for 165 yards and two scores. That was good enough for fifth on the team behind Lamb (57), tight end Jake Ferguson (32), running back Tony Pollard (29), and Michael Gallup (22).

Somewhat clairvoyantly, Cooks told reporters last week that he’d “be ready” to step up if defenses double-teamed Lamb.

“At the end of the day, if that happens, you best believe 3 will be ready,” Cooks told reporters on Thursday. “At the end of the day, I love seeing what he’s doing. However defenses want to guard him, if [double coverage] is going to be the case, I’d be ready.”

Despite having six seasons of 1,000+ yards under his belt, the former Texans star was adamant that he wasn’t frustrated with his usage going into Week 10. Instead of being frustrated, Cooks stayed focused.

“Being around the game long enough, you get in these moments,” he said last week. “And when I say I’m not frustrated, the competitor in me obviously wants to continue and help, no doubt. But getting frustrated, all that does is, it’s going to affect your mentals and go down a route you don’t want to go down.”

Cooks did more than help on Sunday. He posted more than 170 receiving yards for the first time since he did so with the Saints in the 2016 season, which was just his third year in the league.