Game-Changing Play of the Week: Kevin King Pick Halts Would-Be Scoring Drive
Kevin King's interception kept a scoreless game and allowed the Packers to maintain control.
By TimBackes
Don't look now, but Kevin King is stringing together a group of nice performances in the secondary.
He may only have played 20-some snaps on Sunday afternoon, but he made arguably the biggest play of the game in his endzone interception that kept the Seahawks off the board.
KEVIN KING! pic.twitter.com/SOqAKhWZCC
— GBP Daily (@GBPdaily) November 14, 2021
Now, I'm still not entirely sure what makes this an interception when if it was an offensive player making this catch it would likely be ruled incomplete, but I'm not going to complain about it.
This was a critical play for King. The Seahawks had the momentum and were seriously threatening to score. The way the Packers' offense looked at the time, it was far from a sure thing they'd ever reach the endzone themselves. Were it not for this play, the Seahawks could have taken control over what was an ugly game to that point.
King does a nice job of tracking Wilson's movements and staying between the quarterback and receiver. This is a bad ball that Wilson never should have thrown, but King's alertness also played a role in making this possible.
At the very least, this play preserved a Packer shutout and continued the defensive momentum that kept up all the way through the end of the game.
Props to King for playing good football of late when he entered the season with such baggage (and poor play in the first couple games). King may never be a long-term starter for this Packers team, but he'd have to be considered one of the better relief corners in the league.
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Tim Backes is a lifelong Packer fan and a contributor to CheeseheadTV. Follow him on Twitter @timbackes for his Packer takes, random musings and Untappd beer check-ins.
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Comments (24)
Minniman
November 15, 2021 at 03:41 pm
Tim, I think that the fact that it took place in the end-zone is the major point of difference. King was in possession of the ball and got both feet down, after which it got punched out (as opposed to bobbling out of its own accord). Having seen TD’s awarded in this circumstance it makes sense that picks get the same judgement.
Anyway……. After the ‘fail Mary’ the refs still owe GB as far as line-ball decisions go.
Coldworld
November 15, 2021 at 05:25 pm
No additional football move required once controlled and both feet down in bounds, possession has changed and the play is dead as he went to ground (the football move). At least that is my understanding.
If the player making the interception catches the ball in the end zone, where he either takes a knee or is tackled, then his team is awarded a touchback and takes possession at their own 20-yard line. Since King secured the ball and (wisely) went to ground, he had completed the play at that point before the ball was knocked loose.
croatpackfan
November 15, 2021 at 03:50 pm
Tim, Kevin catch the ball, put his right leg on the ground, made football move (started running forwards, make 2 steps, when he was tackled from behind. His knees touched the ground while he still possesed the ball. While he was on the ground he got another hit when ball poped down to the ground. That was correct call, confirmed by New York.
So, it was not wrong call. He made interception. Not his first for the Packers.
I know many Packers fans would like Packers to cut Kevin, but I do believe that Kevin is not the only guilty, if guilty at all for the NFCCG loss against Tampa. It is Aaron Rodgers who saw nobody on the field but Davante. Stop searching for the any other.
WestCoastPackerBacker
November 16, 2021 at 10:53 am
Gosh it was fun to see Pete Carroll whining yesterday about how the refs played too big of a role in the game, citing this play and the Rodgers fumble. I think the league was correct on both. King had possession and came down with both feet before losing it on the ground. Rodgers had the ball along with the defender and if both players have possession, the offense keeps it. Carroll's team did not look good, they had an unsportsmanlike call and an ejection and that's on Carroll, if he can't keep his team disciplined. McCarthy never whined about the calls; neither does LaFleur.
Leatherhead
November 15, 2021 at 03:58 pm
I think it was the correct call according to the rules. I’m thankful King didn’t screw it up. The pass hit him in a very bad spot.
egbertsouse
November 15, 2021 at 04:40 pm
He did screw it up but somehow got away with it.
pacman
November 15, 2021 at 04:36 pm
How many has he dropped over the years that he should have caught? So we know why he is not a receiver but a CB can be expected to catch a ball that is throw literally right to him. I don't think he should get too many accolades for doing that. He does get credit for simply playing better D over the last couple games.
egbertsouse
November 15, 2021 at 04:43 pm
C'mon, you all bitch and moan when a questionable call goes against the Packers, you can surely admit when a bad call goes their way.
Coldworld
November 15, 2021 at 05:33 pm
That was a correct call per the rules. Possession had passed, the ball was caught and subsequently his knees were down. Play is complete, touchback.
The less obvious one is the fumbled snap with two players hands on it. The nearest parallel I can find covers a simultaneous pass, not a fumble;
“If a pass is caught simultaneously by two eligible opponents, and both players retain it, the ball belongs to the passers. It is not a simultaneous catch if a player gains control first and an opponent subsequently gains joint control.”
In this instance, the officials got two unusual calls right. There were the expected mistakes, but generally one of the better officiated games I’ve seen this season. The video official also made the right call on Wilson’s scramble.
jont
November 16, 2021 at 10:11 am
"The less obvious one is the fumbled snap with two players hands on it."
Pete Carroll is truly awful, and his disappearance would improve the NFL. That aside, he complained about the officiating publicly yesterday and pointed to this fumble. The ball came out and a Seahawk fell on it, Rodgers dove in and fought for it, and it ended up 50-50 so GB kept it.
The Seahawk couldn't cradle it, and the obnoxious old man who spends half the game on the field screaming like a lunatic said it was a clear recovery anyway.
IMO his argument is pointless because close calls are close. What matters is that the right team was sent home without a single point.
canadapacker
November 15, 2021 at 04:53 pm
I am glad that the call was what it was but Seattle has a beef - and it was a typical King interception - easy and dropped. Catch the ball and run away from the guys = out of bounds or whatever but catch the ball.
Coldworld
November 15, 2021 at 05:30 pm
Or “whatever” includes the move of going to ground, which he did, ending the play when, in this case, his knee grounded. King actually did the smartest thing he could have after catching it, immediately drop.
10ve 💚
November 15, 2021 at 06:28 pm
I always need someone to translate what you write. Maybe it's you using mobile phone and having difficulty typing... or "whatever".
canadapacker
November 15, 2021 at 08:23 pm
Hold onto the ball - put it into your stomach - roll onto your back and secure the catch. How hard is that ???- I am a die hard GB fan and believe that we have been jobbed in the past but I also believe that in most instances that this would be under review - ruled as not an interception. Stop drinking the coolaid - the game is over and so be honest King didnt really keep control and that he needs to do better next time.
WestCoastPackerBacker
November 16, 2021 at 10:54 am
Dropping it and having it punched out are two different things.
stockholder
November 15, 2021 at 05:28 pm
I'll say this.- I'm Sticking with him. This Defense is much better then last years. Come to terms with that first. 2nd. Injuries. And your mindset will change, Digest that you King haters. He's playing good.
Coldworld
November 15, 2021 at 05:44 pm
He is, and he’s playing more like he did in 2019. I think it may be partly being healthier, but watching, I think Barry has figured out how to use him to his strengths (or Gray always knew). Pettine made him play differently last year and that continued at the start of this one. In the last games he’s played he’s being used more like he used to be and he looks more like the good King as a result.
Credit to Barry, I think we are seeing the same with others, Clark, Lowry, Barnes, Douglas, Sullivan benefit from being used in ways that help them succeed not hinder them and, arguably, his usage of Campbell is a similar example. If anything, it’s that ability to find pieces and get them into the best fit for them and the team that is the most impressive aspect of what Barry has brought. So long we’ve watched players shoved into Ill fitting holes on D.
porupack
November 16, 2021 at 06:16 am
Excellent comment CW. When there is across the board improvement over multiple games, the credit has to go to the coaching staff. There can be single game blips either treat or bad outings, but stringing together multiple games of solid Defensive play makes pretty short conversation.
Lphill
November 15, 2021 at 08:29 pm
I don’t think it’s a matter of hating King I think when he muffs a play we are reminded of TJ Watt , I don’t dislike King but I have been disappointed in his play .
WestCoastPackerBacker
November 16, 2021 at 10:56 am
Zero reason to blame King for what Ted did in the draft.
Gman1976
November 15, 2021 at 10:46 pm
What's up with King? He's not injured! He's making plays! He's even tackling! What got into him? I was ready for the Pack to dump him & now he's making a name for himself. Well, good for him & the Pack! I don't care if it's for next year's paycheck or if the DB coach is breathing down his neck or he is finally listening to mother or whatever. Keep it up Kevin!
porupack
November 16, 2021 at 06:25 am
<<<< but Kevin King is stringing together a group of nice performances in the secondary.>>>>>
That's all we can hope or ask of any player, whether they were last's year's MVP QB or last year's goat. Just string together nice performances now.
It wasn't just "happening to be in the right spot", KKing and the safety were communicating, and they saw film and had experience with RWilson, and they were prepared to sandwich the receiver when Wilson rolled left.
Buen trabajo, KKing.
WestCoastPackerBacker
November 16, 2021 at 10:58 am
I can't decide my favorite moment of the game. When Dillon carried Bobby Wagner into the end zone; when Dillon gained 50 yards on a short toss, King stopping a score, or watching Pete Carroll throw his cell phone or medical alert or hand warmer or whatever it was on the ground . . . instead of the challenge flag.
Starrbrite
November 16, 2021 at 11:30 am
I believe the game changing play was Dillion’s catch and run—a 230-pound RB tiptoeing the sidelines—-bam!!