If people needed an education in why Eddie Jackson is one of the elite safeties in the NFL, just watch his tape against the New York Giants. He was all over the field for 60 minutes. In addition to leading the team with eight tackles on the afternoon, he also had a pick-six touchdown that was called back because of a questionable pass interference call.
Yet his best moment went a little less appreciated. With four seconds remaining in the game, the Giants had one last shot at the end zone. Quarterback Daniel Jones looked for wide receiver Golden Tate, a longtime Bears killer, at the goal line. It fell incomplete and was rendered moot when Tate was flagged for offensive pass interference.
What people overlooked about that play was Jackson. When Tate shoved Buster Skrine away, he was wide open. If the flag isn’t thrown, he scores for sure, right? That’s because the Bears safety read the play from the back of the end zone and covered the ground in enough time to knock it away.
A testament to his instincts and ability to read the quarterback’s eyes at such high speeds.
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Eddie Jackson called out the refs after the game
Almost as if he knew he wouldn’t get credit for that great play, Jackson didn’t waste time laying into the refs about their interference call on him for the pick-six. A play that should’ve iced the game. Upon review, he has a case. While he did arrive early, he collided with the side of the receiver and is seen playing the football all the way.
The NFL rule makes it clear and both players have equal rights to the ball so Jackson arriving a bit early shouldn’t have mattered. Thus the safety continues to wait for his first interception of the season. If nothing else this will keep that chip on his shoulder as he keeps being a terrific safety valve (no pun intended) for this defense.