We continue our countdown to the New Orleans Saints kickoff against the Arizona Cardinals. We're commemorating being 95 days away with Malcolm Jenkins' game-changing tackle against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Malcolm Jenkins changes the game with an opportune tackle
Vincent Jackson beat a distracted Patrick Robinson off the line of scrimmage. Roman Harper took a terrible angle to break up the pass from Josh Freeman. Jackson caught the ball in stride, and it was nothing but green grass and Jackson in the screen, until Jenkins popped up.
Jenkins ran from out of camera shot and brought down Jackson near the goal line. It's the ultimate hustle play and one many players would have given up on. At the time, the Buccaneers were only down seven points. A touchdown would have tied the game.
After Jenkins stalled Jackson at the Saints four yard line, the Buccaneers turned to their powerful running back, LeGarrette Blount. Doug Martin was Tampa Bay's lead back, but Blount was the much bigger runner. Even with the extra size, the Buccaneers ran for a total of 0 yards on 3 attempts.
On the last play, Tampa Bay put the ball in the hands of their quarterback, but that didn't work either. It was in the third quarter, and the Buccaneers had plenty time to make a comeback. Jenkins' touchdown saving tackle, however, is the type of play that deflates a team.
Jackson had a monster game. He finished with 7 catches for 216 yards and one touchdown. Jackson would have walked away more satisfied with 220 yards and two touchdowns
This isn't the first time Malcolm Jenkins chased down a wide receiver
In 2010, Jenkins ran down Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams and stripped the ball away from him. This tackle by Jenkins was even more impactful than bringing down Jackson. Williams would have scored a touchdown if Jenkins didn't run him down.
That would have put the Saints in a 10-point deficit with three minutes left in the game. It would have been tough hole to climb out of. In addition to stopping a touchdown, Jenkins gave the Saints back the football with a chance to take the lead. That's exactly what the Saints did en route to a victory. The play was never over as long as Jenkins was on the field.
