All 3 of Saints tight end Jared Cook's catches came in critical situations

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It wasn’t a big statistical game for New Orleans Saints tight end Jared Cook, but three of the game’s most crucial plays ended with the ball in his hands.

In the first quarter, Cook converted a third and 13 by beating his man to the sideline on a deep out for a 13-yard catch, putting the Saints in position for Wil Lutz to give the team a 3-0 lead with a 47-yard field goal a few plays later.

Cook scored New Orleans’ only touchdown of the game with a little less than 12 minutes to go when he made a leaping snare of a high pass from Teddy Bridgewater on third and goal from the 4-yard line.

“We were trying to get the ball to (wide receiver Mike Thomas) and Jacksonville had a good coverage called to take Mike away,” Bridgewater said. “Jared won his matchup and that's what we expect from those guys. Get those matchups and try to take advantage of them.”

Finally, facing a third-and-1 while protecting a seven-point lead with a little more than three minutes to go in the fourth quarter, the Saints dialed Cook’s number again. Coach Sean Payton said it was a short yardage play call where the tight end sometimes gets lost in the blocking scheme.

As the Jaguars bore through the Saints offensive line, Bridgewater floated a lob pass to a wide open Cook, whom the defense completely lost track of.

“He did a good job sneaking out the backside,’ Payton said. “... It was a big play, just to get the first down and keep the drive moving.”

By converting, the Saints only needed to pick up one more first down on the drive in order to kneel out the remainder of the clock, which they did.

Those three catches made up all of Cook’s statistical impact Sunday -- three catches on three targets for 37 yards and a touchdown. Three catches is not especially impressive statistically, but the Saints may not have won the game if not for them.

“It was real big,” said wide receiver Ted Ginn. “For confidence, for the situation, for morale of the team. It shows it’s not always on one person. We’ve got weapons all the way around.”