In the fourth quarter of the Green Bay Packers’ victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night, nickel cornerback Keisean Nixon of the Packers made a critical interception off Patrick Mahomes. Nixon gave credit for his ability to predict the play before the ball was snapped to the movie he and the defensive backs had seen earlier in the week.
Keisean Nixon explained why he came away with the interception, saying, “I had to.” “I’ve been trying to get one for the entire year, and it’s been a minute.” It is my first, even though it should have been my third. We accept it, Mahomes.
The Packers led 24-19 with 5:20 remaining in the fourth quarter, but the Chiefs were advancing the ball and had a first-and-10 from roughly midfield. With a running back to his right and two receivers spread out to his right, Mahomes was playing shotgun. Nixon saw Mahomes tap his knee prior to the snap, which gave him all the information he required.
Nixon stated in his locker, “Earlier in the week, we were watching mannerisms tape.” “They put two off the ball when he tapped his knee, and I thought, ‘Oh, I’ve seen this before.'” I had no doubt that he would run it, and he did.
The slot receiver, who Nixon was covering, ran a fade, while the outside receiver ran a curl. However, the purpose of that curl route was also to set a natural pick on Nixon, so he wouldn’t have a clear path to the slot receiver. But Nixon knowing the route and where the ball was going, went over the top of the boundary receiver and put himself in a better position than the slot receiver to make a play on the ball.
