Packers' Keeson Nixon takes issue with early fumble in wild-card round, thinks Eagles should have been punished
Sunday's wild-card game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers got off to a surprising start.
The referee ruled a fumble on Packers defensive back Keson Nixon's pass. The Eagles got the ball back and quickly took advantage of the short field. On Philadelphia's third possession of the game, quarterback Jalen Hurts threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jahan Dotson.
Philadelphia never trailed in the playoffs and beat Green Bay 22-10 to punch its ticket to the divisional round. After the game, Nixon argued that the game officials – not him – were the ones who conceded the ball.
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January 12, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Green Bay Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon (25) during the first quarter of the NFC Wild Card Game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field Started the game. (Bill Streicher-Iman Photo)
Nixon claimed he was the one who recovered the fumble during the pileup and was stripped of the pigskin on what should have been a dead ball play. The two-time All-Pro also claimed that the fumble should have been thrown away because an illegal hit by an Eagles player ultimately caused the fumble.
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“I did get the ball back and then it should have been aimed, helmet to helmet,” Nixon said. “I've never been hit so hard.”
January 12, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Oren Burks (42) leads a Green Bay Packer on a first half kickoff during the NFC Wild Card game at Lincoln Financial Field Workers cornerback Keson Nixon (25) fumbles. (Eric Hartline – Image)
Replay video appeared to show Nixon's initial recovery as players from opposing teams contacted him.
The league office can review the relevant play at a later date and issue disciplinary action, such as a fine, if it determines an illegal hit occurred.
A panoramic view of Lincoln Financial Field prior to the NFC wild card playoff game between the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles on January 12, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
On Monday, Nixon also expressed his lack of interest in returning the ball. The 27-year-old wants to focus on becoming a full-time cornerback.
“I want to be CB1,” Nixon said as players cleared their lockers for the offseason. “CB1 doesn't do punt returns. That's the nature of it.” Nixon has had a career-high number of pass breakups and forced fumbles this season.
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Packers quarterback Jordan Love was intercepted three times in Sunday's game. Hurts, meanwhile, ended the game with two touchdown passes.
Philadelphia awaits the winner of Monday night's game between the Los Angeles Rams. The wild card round is Relocating to Glendale, Arizonadue to the ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles area.
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