Cook had been playing more. There had been 19 snaps the week before in the divisional, and with vets going down left and right on this championship Sunday, he'd be in on 27 plays.
One of those snaps gives you insight on why the Bengals went after Cook as a level-headed, savvy field general who can cover unafraid with the short memory that makes DBs tall in big moments.
It's also the snap, Cook says, that got his career on the right track.
"I was getting mad. I was getting beat. On fourth down" said Cook of that third-and-three from the Bengals 36 with 7:02 left in a 20-20 game.
Moments earlier, on the first play of the fourth quarter from the Chiefs 41, Burrow and head coach Zac Taylor went for it all on fourth-and-six, and they were rewarded with more magic from the Bayou voodoo of Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase. Chase beat Cook, allowing him to split Cook and rookie cornerback Jaylen Watson on Burrow's 35-yard bomb that set up the tying touchdown.
So, seven minutes later and still 20-20, this Cincy Kid was determined not to give up third-and-three as Burrow, Chase, and Tee Higgins leered at another Super Bowl.
"Our defense was in quarters. I'm watching No. 1 (Chase)," said Cook, still able to walk you through it three years later. "At that point, Tee Higgins ran a slow-go … a slant. As a quarter safety in that down and distance, that's my job. So I went down to the slant."
But Cook had enough presence of mind to see if Burrow had let it go. When he saw Burrow still had the ball in the pocket, he knew something was up.
"To my knowledge and what I was seeing, he kept dropping back. That was an indicator it's a double move," Cook said. "Once he did that, I go to Tee Higgins and matched the route as best as I could, and there I was able to be in position to make a play."
A play? Try a gem. In KC, an heirloom. In Cincy, coal.