Brandon Cisse officially logged his first NFL interception against the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday night, a huge moment for any rookie, but the Packers’ cornerback’s run after the catch was so baffling, it might have one of the worst ratios of distance covered to yardage gained in football history. Seriously, where was he going? This wasn’t just inefficient; we are talking 40 yards covered for a measly three yards gained. Even MarShawn Lloyd would call that inefficient.
The “Run” That Defied Logic
Cisse snagged the ball on the numbers at the twenty-yard line, which for those keeping score, is roughly forty yards from the opposite sideline. What should have been a glorious moment quickly turned into a head-scratcher when he ended up returning the ball all the way to the twenty-three-yard line. Yep, a three-yard gain after covering forty yards of turf. When Cisse first looked up after securing the catch, the picture showed two opposing receivers immediately ready to tackle him. The intended receiver, CeeDee Lamb, was already blocked and about to get double-teamed with Zaire Franklin closing in. Logic, at that point, screams to run away from the pursuing receiver across the middle of the field, following a potential lead blocker, and challenging the Cowboys’ offensive line and Dak Prescott. What happened next? Pure chaos.
A Split-Second Decision Goes Horribly Wrong
Instead of pressing his physical advantage toward the near sideline where his lead blockers and defensive line could’ve created a path, Cisse immediately decided to go against the grain and cut behind the pursuing player. This, folks, was the worst possible choice. It’s a split-second decision, sure, but Cisse picked an angle that gave the greatest number of Cowboys the advantage. The entire Dallas offensive line was more medial to the field than he was, and multiple receivers with speed were ready to chase him down on that side. On his original side of the field, the only real threat, Lamb, was about to be double-teamed. It was an open lane to challenge the very same offensive linemen and quarterbacks who, as we saw earlier in the game with Dallas’s almost-pick-six, are notoriously terrible tacklers. You have to make them stop you!
From Bad Choice to Advantageous Position
Somehow, after dispatching with the pursuing Jake Ferguson, Cisse actually found himself in a momentarily advantageous position. The offensive line had committed to the near sideline, and a chance opened up to press the angle towards the far sideline and start picking up some real yardage. With Keisean Nixon needing to be careful about a blindside or “airplane” block, and Xavier McKinney also in position, there were blockers available to help Cisse out. But the initial decision had already turned a potential game-changing play into an unforgettable, albeit for all the wrong reasons, rookie moment.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Acme Packing Company.
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