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New England Patriots: Brandin Cooks to Face Former Team in Week 2

By Nick Ziegler

Dec 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks (10) carries the ball after a catch for a touchdown in the first half against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks (10) carries the ball after a catch for a touchdown in the first half against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New England Patriots will be playing the New Orleans Saints in Week 2. For wide receiver Brandin Cooks, it will be the first time playing his former team.

After NFL released the 2017 NFL schedule, the New England Patriots officially know where and when they will be facing their 2017 opponents. After winning Super Bowl 51, the Patriots don’t have an extremely difficult schedule, but there are some interesting games to watch.

One of those interesting games will be in Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints. Normally, a game against the Saints would be highlighted by the matchup between Tom Brady and Drew Brees. Both are two of the best quarterbacks of their generation, and that will surely be a storyline.

While the matchup between those two will be great, it will also be the first time that Brandin Cooks plays against his former team. In what came as a surprise to many, the Patriots traded their first round pick to the Saints in exchange for Cooks this offseason.

Even though the Patriots had a pretty solid wide receiver corps last season, it got a lot better with the addition of Cooks. In New Orleans, Cooks was emerging as a top wide receiver in the NFL, as he was able to total over 1,000 receiving yards the past two seasons. With Brees throwing him the ball, Cooks was an elite deep threat in the passing game. Now, the Saints will have to try and defend him.

One of the main reasons for trading Cooks was to get a draft pick to help the defense. The Saints might have one of the most explosive offenses in the league. However, their defense leaves a lot to be desired.

Next: Patriots 7-Round Mock Draft

With the game being in New Orleans, it will surely be a big game for Cooks. Even though Brees is a great quarterback, Cooks might become even better with Brady throwing him the ball next season. It should be interesting to see how Cooks does against his former team. We might not have to wait long to see Cooks’ breakout game as a member of the Patriots.

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