Few cornerbacks in the NFL have as much experience covering Amari Cooper as the two in Los Angeles’ secondary. Both Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters spent at least the last three years in the AFC West with the Broncos and Chiefs, respectively, with the same going for Cooper in Oakland.

Cooper has an extensive history against both cornerbacks, even as recently as Week 1 when the Raiders hosted the Rams.

He’s had different results against the Chiefs and Broncos in his career, but on Saturday night, none of that will matter. With the Cowboys, he’s seeking a second straight playoff win against a secondary that’s been shaky at various points in the season.

With Talib in the lineup, though, the Rams have thrived against the pass. From Weeks 4-12 when Talib was on IR with an ankle injury, the Rams allowed the third-highest passer rating in the league (111.6), according to Pro Football Focus, with the second-most yards per reception (13.2).

In that same span, Peters’ overall grade from PFF was 44.9, the fifth-lowest of any cornerback in football. That’s no coincidence as it’s abundantly clear Peters plays much better with Talib on the other side of the field. So does the entire secondary.

With Talib starting, the Rams allowed a passer rating of just 74.5, which is the third-best mark in the NFL. Their 10.4 yards per completion allowed also ranked seventh in the league, picking off 12 passes in the eight games Talib played. In the other eight games, they had half the number of interceptions.

Los Angeles needs that level of play against Cooper on Saturday night in order to take away Dallas’ best receiver and force Dak Prescott to go elsewhere with the football. Cooper knows exactly what he’s going to get from Talib and Peters, who he’s had a mixed bag of success against in the past.

“Obviously I know their tendencies, but at the same time, they know mine,” Cooper said, via the Dallas Morning News. “I think it definitely helps me. I played against those guys twice a year, both of them. I know them in and out, how they play. And I’m able to tell my teammates, my quarterback their tendencies.”

Wade Phillips has kept his cornerbacks on opposite sides this season, making Talib the left corner and Peters the right. It’s worked out well when both are on the field, and that’s likely to remain the approach on Saturday night.

Talib is less susceptible to big plays downfield, biting less frequently on double moves. That’s Peters’ Achilles’ heel, as evidenced in this clip.

Amari Cooper beats Marcus Peters on the double move. pic.twitter.com/Hl8Vc3zhxa — Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) January 9, 2019

And in this one against Davante Adams this season.

Talib isn’t immune to getting beat deep – Alshon Jeffery had his way in Week 15 – but he does have a history of blanketing Cooper. In 2015, the Broncos held the former Raiders receiver to zero catches on eight targets. Talib was in coverage on three of those incompletions, including this deep pass in the fourth quarter.

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And on this comeback route. Talib knows how to be physical with Cooper without getting called for holding the way Peters often does.

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In 2017 against the Broncos, Cooper was also held to two catches for 9 yards on eight targets. He was in coverage on two of those incompletions and only allowed one catch in coverage. Here’s Talib on Cooper at the bottom of the screen, recognizing the deep route, flipping his hips before breaking back on the comeback route.

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In Week 1, Cooper made this catch along the sideline with Talib in coverage, though it was called back for offensive holding. As you can see, Talib pays Cooper plenty of respect with a big cushion at the line of scrimmage, and when it seems the receiver is going deep, Talib flips his hips and runs with him.

Cooper runs a good route and comes back to make the grab, but Talib clearly wasn’t going to get beat over the top.

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Talib knows Cooper’s game. Cooper knows Talib’s game. There’s a mutual respect between them, with Talib paying the Cowboys wideout some high praise this week.

“He’s got the total package,” Talib said via the Rams’ official website. “They’re getting the ball in his hands more. A lot more quick passes, a lot more catch-and-run type situations. They’re doing a good job getting the ball in his hands.”

Phillips probably won’t have Talib shadow Cooper, but it’s at least worth exploring that possibility, especially if Peters struggles in coverage early on. This isn’t a matchup the Rams can let get away from them because big plays to Cooper could prove to be the difference.