Tag: one handed catch

Watch: Jared Cook makes must-see one-handed touchdown catch

New Orleans Saints tight end Jared Cook reeled in a highlight reel-worthy touchdown catch from Drew Brees against the Carolina Panthers.

The New Orleans Saints didn’t let off the gas against the Carolina Panthers, with quarterback Drew Brees finding ways to get everyone involved in what quickly turned into a rout. He connected with tight end Jared Cook on two significant plays, including a 37-yard gain down the seam and then a 23-yard touchdown grab.

That scoring play was as impressive as it gets in the NFL. Cook found a hole in the Panthers coverage between safeties Eric Reid and Ross Cockrell, and Brees put the ball where only his receiver could make a play on it — and Cook came through, corralling the pass with one hand before touching down for six points. It’s one of the veteran tight end’s best plays of the year, and increases his touchdown total to nine. That’s coming at the perfect time with the playoffs right around the corner.

[vertical-gallery id=25612]

Watch: Michael Thomas makes ridiculous one-handed catch vs. Colts

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas shredded the Indianapolis Colts secondary with a touchdown catch and a huge one-handed grab.

[jwplayer fC3ePoXO-ThvAeFxT]

The Indianapolis Colts did a solid job planning for the New Orleans Saints offense, snuffing out several run plays and pressuring Drew Brees in the pocket. But they forgot one important tenet of playing the Saints: you can’t guard Michael Thomas.

The All-Pro, Pro Bowl-quality wide receiver asserted himself early against the Colts with several big gains on vertical routes downfield. He’s done most of his damage running against underneath coverage throughout this year, lacking the top-end speed other athletes are gifted with to separate deep downfield. But what he lacks in speed he more than makes up for in clean routes and strong hands at the catch point.

In this case, Thomas only needed one hand to make a big play. The Colts defense allowed him to get behind them on a seam down the field, and Brees saw an opening to exploit. He fired the ball over, but Thomas was a little behind it — and it didn’t matter, because his outstretched hand corralled the ball in for a 24-yard gain. It was a thing of beauty, and well worth watching:

[vertical-gallery id=24630]