Rams cornerback Cobie Durant's pregame routine never changes. He sits in his locker, listens to music and cracks jokes with his teammates. Ahead of last Sunday's divisional round game against the Bears, Durant had Chief Keef blasting in his wired earbuds.
"It's just being myself, man, that's it," Durant said. "I ain't got to do nothing else, nothing less, man. Just be myself, be Cobie Durant."
Durant takes that same mindset with him onto the gridiron, no matter the stakes or the stage. Earlier this season, Durant said that whenever he has a chance to get his hands on the ball, he always goes for the interception. He certainly did that in last Sunday's divisional round win over the Bears.
Durant intercepted two passes last week following his one in the wild-card round, giving in four interceptions in five career playoff games. When the lights are brightest, that's when he seems to be at his best. So, it's fitting that he shares a name with two of the most clutch performers in NBA history, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant.
Durant has three interceptions in the 2025 playoffs, tied for the most in a single postseason in the last two decades. Head coach Sean McVay praised his ball skills and concept trigger, both of which aid his playmaking ability and were on display last weekend.
"The Landshark shows up when you need him the most," McVay said. "I just love his overall play energy and it certainly has ignited us."
On Durant's first interception, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams simply overthrew his target on fourth down, and Durant slid into an interception. The Rams drove down the field to score a touchdown on the ensuing possession, even though McVay said he was hoping Durant would drop that ball, which would have given the Rams better field position via a turnover on downs.
Then in the third quarter, Durant said his second interception was on more of a disguised coverage, where he started in the flat and then drove up field to undercut a corner route by tight end Colston Loveland.
"Really just trusting the guys next to me, trusting the play calling," Durant said. "Just see ball get ball, man. That's really all it is, man. It's just giving that disguise to make something look like something, and it's really not, and then executing when the opportunities come."
Durant was targeted eight times against the Bears and allowed just three catches for 30 yards, which included the game-tying touchdown, according to Pro Football Focus. Despite the disappointment of allowing a play that seemed impossible at certain points, Durant said he had to put that behind him and focus on getting the ball back for their offense in overtime. They did just that and won the game.
Durant will decide on this weekend's pregame tunes in the moment, as he always does. And his approach will be the same as it always is.
"I'm trying to get interceptions versus Seattle now," Durant said.
