Notebook: Cobb and Nelson join Carroll Dale and Boyd Dowler in Packers history
CHICAGO -- Carroll Dale and Boyd Dowler owned part of Green Bay Packers history for nearly 45 years. Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb changed that Sunday in their 38-17 win over the Chicago Bears.
Nelson and Cobb became the first Packers receiver duo with 100-plus receiving yards and two-plus receiving touchdowns in the same game since Dec. 21, 1969. It was in that 1969 game that Dale and Dowler led Green Bay to a 45-28 win over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Against the Bears, Cobb had 113 receiving yards and two touchdowns, while Nelson finished with 108 yards and two touchdowns.
A big game has been nothing new for Nelson this season. He had a 209-yard receiving game in Week 2 and accounted for more than 50 percent of the Packers' receiving yards through three games.
Cobb, however, had been struggling a bit this season. He told reporters after a Week 3 loss in Detroit that his three-catch, 29-yard performance against a collection of backup nickelbacks was "embarrassing." But Cobb was definitely on top of his game in Green Bay's blowout victory in Chicago.
"I think he had his best week," Aaron Rodgers said of Cobb. "I think he was dialed in."
Added Nelson, "It's enjoyable when everyone is scoring. We had a good time."
If it had counted, it would've ranked among Rodgers' best-ever plays. Even though it didn't count, it still might have to be fairly high.
On a third-down play on the Packers' first drive of the third quarter, Rodgers faced heavy pressure after dropping back to pass. He escaped a couple near-sacks, scrambled right and launched a deep pass without having his feet properly set. But, with nearly unmatched arm strength (even by NFL quarterback standards), Rodgers got the ball 34 yards downfield to Davante Adams for a touchdown.
But wait. Holding was called on center Corey Linsley and the touchdown was nullified. Still, it was easy to marvel at the physical feat that Rodgers had just pulled off.
For Rodgers, who otherwise had tremendous pass protection all game, it was the one hit he took all game. So he saw the play in a bit of a negative light.
"Well, it was one of the poorer decisions of my career," Rodgers said. "I heard the sideline; it was kind of one of those 'No, no, no, no . . . yes! Argh, penalty.'"
Asked, if not for the penalty, if it would've been among Rodgers' favorite throws, he wasn't letting himself think of it that way.
"Well, it's a non-play now, so it's not going to be very memorable," Rodgers said.
While mentioning great feats of athleticism, Cobb had one of his own. In the fourth quarter, he hauled in a pass from Rodgers at the 33-yard line and, with Kyle Fuller nearby, Cobb made the star rookie cornerback look foolish. With a hard, planted step of the left foot, Cobb then went right. Fuller was quickly left in the distance.
That move turned what otherwise would've been a 15-yard gain into a 46-yard near-touchdown.
"Very impressive," Nelson said of Cobb's play. "It's very nice to see some people that can do that."
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