Jessie Bates’ forced touchback is one of NFL’s best defensive plays this year in Falcons-Bucs
Jessie Bates is widely considered one of the best safeties in the NFL. The Atlanta Falcons star is particularly good at forcing takeaways, and he just proved it again during one of the wildest plays of the season so far in his team’s Week 8 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bucs QB Baker Mayfield […]
During the Week 8 matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, one of the wildest plays of the season unfolded. Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield fumbled the snap, grabbed the ball, and began to run before lateraling it to running back Bucky Irving. It initially appeared to be an option play common in college football.
Running back Bucky Irving was approaching the end zone when Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates arrived, employing his well-known Peanut Punch technique. His swift action forced the ball loose from Irving inside the one-yard line and pushed it out of the end zone for a touchdown. This game-changing play proved to be one of the best defensive plays of the NFL season to date.
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