Post Snap With Malcolm Jenkins: 'Green Bay Thought They Had Seattle'
Malcolm Jenkins is a Super Bowl champion and veteran NFL safety. He sits down with CBS Philly's Joe Santoliquito every week. All of Jenkins' Post Snap interviews are archived at CBSPhilly.com/Jenkins.
PHILADELPHIA, PA (CBS) — Pro football players see things much differently on a football field than the normal fan, or anyone in the media. There is a keen eye to attention and nuance that can tip a player watching what could happen.
Eagles' safety Malcolm Jenkins knew something didn't seem right, after Morgan Burnett came away with Green Bay's fourth intercepted pass against Seattle on Sunday with 5:09 left to play in the NFC championship. Morgan slid down at the Green Bay 43, securing what he thought was Green Bay's safe lead, thanks to Russell Wilson's deflected pass intended for Jermaine Kearse.
The Packers may have reached a comfort zone that became their undoing, in a climatic 28-22 Seattle comeback victory in overtime.
"When Burnett slid right away, I thought Seattle was going to win, even though there was only five minutes left to play," Jenkins said. "Burnett had room to return the ball, and Seattle has the kind of team that can come back. Burnett seemed content on going down, instead of taking it up field and trying to get in field goal range. Green Bay kicks a field goal there and the game is done. They got nothing from that turnover. Seattle scored quick, got the onside kick and it led to a bizarre last few minutes.
"Wilson started to hit the throws he struggled with early in the game, when his receivers began getting separation. Wilson made a great throw and Kearse made a great catch and Seattle is going back to the Super Bowl. Now I don't know if Green Bay relaxed. But they certainly thought they had the game won. Anytime a defender gets an interception, they're always looking to score, unless they're in a situation where you don't want to turn the ball back over with no chance the other team has a chance to come back. When Burnett slid, that said Green Bay thought they had them. Seattle scored quickly, which is something that they normally don't do. The onside kick happened, and Seattle scored again. But Green Bay could have used that field position on the interception—and it went for nothing."
As for New England's 45-7 dominance over Indianapolis, it didn't surprise Jenkins. New England's LeGarrette Blount's 148 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 30 carries was the difference.
"The Colts talked all week how they had to stop the run, and Blount ran all over the place," Jenkins said. "That opened everything up. There was one play where New England had a play-action pass and not only did the linebackers slide up, but you had safeties and DBs coming, too, and that leaves someone like Tom Brady, one of the greatest to ever play, all kinds of throwing lanes. New England had a field day. It sets up a great Super Bowl between New England and what I think is one of the best defenses that ever played in the NFL in Seattle."
Malcolm Jenkins will continue to add his insight during Super Bowl week.
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