Sunday's wild card game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers got off to a surprising start.
The referees ruled that Packers defensive back Keyshawn Nixon committed a fumble on the first kickoff. The Eagles recovered the ball and immediately took advantage of a short field. On Philadelphia's third attempt of the game, quarterback Jalen Hurts threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jahan Dotson.
Philadelphia never trailed in a playoff game, ultimately defeating Green Bay 22-10 to earn a ticket to the regional round. After the game, Nixon claimed that it was a game official, not him, who dropped the figurative ball.
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January 12, 2025. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Green Bay Packers cornerback Keyshawn Nixon, 25, returns a kickoff during the first quarter of the NFC Wild Card Game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. (Bill Streicher Iman Images)
Nixon claimed he was the one who recovered the fumble in the pileup, which should have been considered a dead ball, but he was then pigskinned. The two-time All-Pro argued that the fumble should have been ruled out because Eagles players committed an illegal hit that ultimately caused the fumble.
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“We definitely got the ball back and should have been going helmet to helmet,” Nixon said. “I've never been hit so hard.”
January 12, 2025. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Oren Burks, 42, hits Green Bay Packers cornerback Keyshawn Nixon during the opening kickoff of the first half during the NFC Wild Card Game at Lincoln Financial Field. The player (25 years old) caused a fumble. (Eric Hartline-Imagine Images)
Replay video showed Nixon appearing to make an initial recovery during contact with opposing team players.
The league secretariat will closely examine the play in question, and if it determines that there was an illegal hit, it may impose fines or other punishment at a later date.
A panoramic view of Lincoln Financial Field before the NFC Wild Card Playoffs between the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles on January 12, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Mitchell Lev/Getty Images)
On Monday, Nixon also announced that he has no interest in returning kicks in the future. The 27-year-old instead wants to focus on playing cornerback full-time.
“I want to be CB1,” Nixon said as players emptied their lockers for the offseason. “CB1 isn't doing kick returns. That's just the way it is.” Nixon set career highs in pass breakups and forced fumbles this season.
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Packers quarterback Jordan Love threw three interceptions during Sunday's loss. Hurts, on the other hand, finished the game with two touchdown passes.
Philadelphia awaits the winner of Monday night's game against the Los Angeles Rams. The wild card round matchups are Moved to Glendale, ArizonaAs wildfires continue in the Los Angeles area.
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