We revisit the pass breakup in the end zone at the end of the Cardinals’ win in Week 1.
Nine seconds were remaining in regulation last Sunday with the New Orleans Saints on the Arizona Cardinals‘ 18-yard line and facing third-and-10.
Quarterback Spencer Rattler tossed his 45th pass of the game into the end zone, where 6-foot-4 tight end Juwan Johnson went up in the air and wrapped his hands around the ball.
There was a slight bobble, at which point safety Jalen Thompson came in from the front and fellow safety Budda Baker crashed in from the side and the ball landed on the turf. After one more incompletion, Rattler’s 19th of the afternoon, the Cardinals came away with a 20-13 victory.
The TV broadcasters, as well as the official NFL gamebook, credited Baker with the pass defensed, but it was unclear which one was instrumental in breaking up the play. In the immediate aftermath, Baker and Thompson weren’t quite sure.
After the team watched tape the next day, defensive lineman Calais Campbell credited Thomspon with pulling the ball out on what he called a “good throw and catch.”
On Tuesday, defensive coordinator Nick Rallis explained it more: “It was a combination of both those guys. JT did a great job of what we call playing through the triangle and going all the way through the catch and helping rake it out. And then Budda came in with what we would call a saw-off hit, where he really gave the guy a good shot and helped jar it loose.
“So I mean both those guys all the way up until the last play played with their hair on fire. Not surprised.”
The duo has many games together since Thompson arrived in Arizona in 2019, two years after Baker.
Baker said Thursday, “The whole game doesn’t amount to that one play, but great job with JT being in coverage and taking him to the ground and then me hitting him trying to lodge the ball out, JT putting his hand in there, taking him to the ground. Kudos to us. Our coach did a great job throughout the week of what we were going to get in certain scenarios.”
As for the time on task and playing together, Baker said, “I’ve been playing with him for so many years. I always like to say, know your personnel, know who your teammates are, know what they like to do versus what they don’t really like to do. So just understanding him.
“He knows me, I know him. We’re able to communicate while not looking at each other, but we always look at each other. That’s a big thing we always talk about is being able to be on the same page because if we are, the corners will be as well as nickel Garrett (Williams).”
Echoed Thompson, who told the team website, “It’s a chemistry thing. Budda and I have been playing together for seven years. It’s natural now.”
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