Drew Mukuba gets praise and flak from teammates after huge INT originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Drew Mukuba’s teammates were happy for him after the 22-year-old rookie got his first NFL interception.
But they had to give him some crap too.
“I’ve very happy for him,” linebacker Jihaad Campbell said, “even though I wanted his behind to get in the end zone. It’s all good. We’re going to work on that.”
Mukuba’s first-career NFL interception was one to remember. The rookie from Texas picked off a future Hall of Famer in a one-score game in the fourth quarter of a Super Bowl rematch. The Eagles ended up beating the Chiefs 20-17 and Mukuba’s pick was the difference.
After intercepting the ball on the goal line, Mukuba returned it 41 yards before he was tackled by rookie offensive lineman Josh Simmons, who somehow caught up to him on the left sideline.
“It was a lot of them that was happy for me,” Mukuba said. “There was also a lot giving me crap for getting caught, especially by an O-lineman. That ain’t supposed to happen for a DB. Yeah, that’s crazy.”
Mukuba became the first Eagle to record an interception within their first two games since Rasul Douglas in 2017.
“I thought he was gone,” cornerback Quinyon Mitchell said. “It was crazy. I thought he was gone. He’s gotta score that. But he’s got a knack for the football. He’s going to make plays like that each and every week.”
Mukuba thought he was gone too.
“I really did. I really did,” he said. “I looked to my right, I couldn’t even cut back because the O-lineman was coming. But I tried to get as much as I can, tried to hit the gas at the last minute but he still got me.”
But the Eagles’ offense finished it off for him.
On the ensuing drive after the pick, the Eagles were able to score a touchdown to take a 10-point lead in their eventual 20-17 win. There’s no question that Mukuba’s play was the biggest of the afternoon.
In his second NFL regular season game, Mukuba is already showing off one of the major traits that got the Eagles to draft him in the second round: He’s just always around the football.
“When you see interceptions in the NFL, the quarterback’s not throwing the ball to that guy, obviously, right?” Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said. “It’s very rare that you get just this clean pick. They happen, but a lot of them happen off those types of plays right there with a bounce of the ball and then being in the right spot. It first starts with everyone being on the same page and being in the right spot.
“Then it’s being able to take advantage when you get your hands on the football. He has the ability to do that. He showed that in the preseason. He showed that all through training camp. He showed that at Clemson. He showed that at Texas, and he’s got an ability to do that. It’s a great quality to have.”
On this particular interception, the ball bounced off the hands of Travis Kelce and Mukuba was able to react in time to make the play. Every interception doesn’t have to be some spectacular diving catch.
Sometimes it just pays off to be in the right spot at the right time. There’s something to be said for that.
“That’s the name of the game,” Mukuba said. “You gotta get the ball. Whoever causes the most turnovers, I believe, has a high percentage chance of winning. Just thinking ball at all times. It’s just important. And I feel like that’s what helps me a lot, being in those positions and being able to make those plays.”
There were definitely some ups and downs for Mukuba in this game. In fact, he missed a couple of plays early that were on his mind on the sideline. He was run over by Patrick Mahomes for a first down and he was also in coverage when Kelce was able to catch a pass to convert on 4th-and-4.
Mukuba said it’s in his personality to let a bad play linger a little bit. But in this game, veteran safety Reed Blankenship was able to snap him out of it.
“It’s ball. I don’t want him to get down in the dumps,” Blankenship said. “The plays that he missed, it’s whatever. It’s football, it happens. You always need that encouragement and that positivity on the sideline and I just want to give it to him. I know everybody else gives it to him but I know he listens to me a lot, so I just want to be there for him.”
Plays like the one Mukuba made on that interception or the half sack he got on a blitz or the tackle on Hollywood Brown short of the sticks on 3rd-and-1 are the types of plays that should build confidence.
If Mukuba ever needs a boost, he’ll be able to get one by looking on the shelf at his home. That’s where his first NFL interception ball is going to reside.
“I feel like sooner or later,” Mukuba said, “I’m going to get really, really confident, then it’s going to be scary.”
from NFL News, Scores, Fantasy Games and Highlights 2020 | Yahoo Sports https://ift.tt/MzuCYwF
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