Packers' Cobb: Broncos pose 'tough challenge'
Gannett Wisconsin Media’s Brett Christopherson caught up with Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb, who looked ahead to Sunday’s Week 8 matchup against the Denver Broncos in Denver. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.:
What do you know about the Denver Broncos as you focus on the big Sunday night showdown?
RC: They’re definitely one of the better defenses in the league. They have a lot of guys back, a lot of Pro Bowl players. Very, very good team that plays really well together. … It’s definitely going to be a tough challenge for us.
The Broncos are undefeated, boast the league’s top-rated defense and will have the strong support of their home crowd. And on top of that, it’s a primetime showdown. Mike McCarthy said those are the types of games he loves to play. Do you enjoy them just as much?
RC: Oh, yeah. Definitely. The bigger the stage, the more fun of a game it is. When you put everything into play — the undefeated teams, two great quarterbacks, two great defenses, a lot of playmakers all over the field offensively and defensively for both teams, on the big stage on “Sunday Night Football” in front of the whole world — it just kind of amplifies the game a little bit more. It’s a great feeling to be able to go and play in a game like this, and on the road. Because whenever you get a big win on the road like that, it feels a little better.
What do you do throughout the course of the day to stay ready as you await the 7:30 p.m. kickoff?
RC: (Laughing) It sucks having to wait all day for those games, sit around the hotel and lounge around. We’ll have meetings for a little bit during the day, and then we’ll have time to pretty much eat and just hang out. I just sit in my room and watch TV, try to watch some of the other football games and try to take my mind off of the game that I have to play.
What will the return of Davante Adams from his ankle injury mean for you and the offense?
RC: I’m really excited and hoping that Davante is able to go this week. His caliber — the respect that he gets from around the league — I think definitely will continue to open up things for all of us across the board. The more firepower we have, the harder we are to stop. So we’re definitely looking forward to having Davante back.
This will mark just the second time Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning have faced off, and Sunday’s game could be the final time they quarterback against each other. Both are league MVPs and Super Bowl champions. Even though you’ll be playing in the game, can you still appreciate the significance of that matchup and the level of excellence those two have achieved at that position?
RC: Yeah, they’re two great players that have been able to achieve a lot in their careers. Everybody always wants to put the quarterbacks up against each other, but it’s pretty much the teams that they play on. They’ve been able to lead their teams to many victories and gain a lot of personal accolades. But as the team goes, this is definitely, I think, two of the best teams both of those quarterbacks have played on, collectively, in their careers. So I’m really looking forward to the matchup and glad to be a part of it.
Brett Christopherson: 920-993-7117, or brett.christopherson@gannettwisconsin.com; on Twitter @PCBrettC