Cobb: 'It’s kind of win or go home'
USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin’s Brett Christopherson caught up with Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb, who looked ahead to Sunday’s Week 15 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. This Q&A is presented by Tundraland:
You’re coming off a resounding victory against a quality Seahawks team. Are there any concerns about over-confidence as you prepare to face the 3-10 Bears? How do you guard against that?
Cobb: This is the playoffs for us. It’s kind of win or go home at this point. Yeah, it’s the regular season, but we lose a game, we probably aren’t going to make the playoffs. So there’s no way of overlooking this team.
Vic Fangio is the Bears’ defensive coordinator. You’ve faced his defenses a number of times over the years, dating back to his days as the 49ers’ coordinator. What are the challenges his schemes bring to an offense?
Cobb: I think the variety of play calls that he uses. I think the most recent time that we played him, he was able to change up the calls a little bit — not so much from a back-end standpoint. But we pretty much know what we’re going to get with the blitzes that he will bring and having the players to do so.
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In what ways is the Bears defense different today from the group you faced and beat in Week 7?
Cobb: They’ve had some injuries, which for them to come out and pretty much beat the Lions this past week (in a 20-17 Chicago loss) — they played really well. Detroit has been able to move the ball and put up some points pretty much any way they’ve wanted to this year, and to be able to go into Detroit and handle them and give them a run for their money was huge. But I think the guys have been able to step up with the injuries and be put in different roles. And you also have to look at (cornerback) Kyle Fuller coming back this week as a possibility off his knee injury. I don’t know if they’ll bring him back, but it’s a possibility.
A high of zero degrees and sub-zero wind chills are in Sunday’s forecast for Chicago. How do you mentally prepare to play in frigid conditions?
Cobb: Yeah, you just know that you’re playing in it, so there’s really not much you can do about it. You just go out there and you deal with the elements, whatever they may be. Cold, wind, rain, snow, sleet. You prepare your mind for it throughout the week. I don’t think it’s any advantage to either team. Both are playing in it. So it’s just being prepared for it and making sure you have the right footwear, making sure you wear the right gloves and protect yourself the best you can for the conditions.
But you’re wearing sleeves, right?
Cobb: (Laughing) No, no. I can’t do that. I don’t like the way the ball feels. I have on thick shirts on my chest. And I’ll wear a hood on my head to cover my neck and my ears. But the ball is the most important part of the game, and I want to make sure that I’m able to protect it.
Brett Christopherson: 920-993-7117, or bchristopherson@gannett.com; on Twitter @PCBrettC