Robert Nkemdiche rumbles in for the score against Giants
Dec 24, 2017, 5:18 PM | Updated: 8:18 pm
Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche (90) runs back a fumble recovery for a touchdown against the New York Giants during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Arizona Cardinals were already rolling as they headed into the fourth quarter against the New York Giants Sunday.
Then Deone Bucannon and Robert Nkemdiche happened.
Robert Nkemdiche fumble recovery for a touchdown pic.twitter.com/5KoRUy83xB
— Ben Garrett (@SpiritBen) December 24, 2017
On the opening play of the fourth quarter, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning stepped back to pass. As he finished his dropback, Bucannon was right there to greet him, jarring the ball loose. That’s where Nkemdiche comes into the equation.
The 6-foot-4, 296-pound defensive tackle showed he could move down the field, taking the fumble recovery 28 yards for the score.
“He looked like a running back running to the end zone,” Bucannon said. “He made a great play.”
The touchdown pushed the Cardinals even further toward the win column in Week 16 as they led 23-0 early into the fourth quarter.
“It felt like a breakthrough,” Nkemdiche said. “I appreciate that I have dudes like (Corey Peters) I can actually look up to and keep growing with. It’s only the beginning.
“We’re a brotherhood and a defense. We all know the work that we put in since training camp all the way to this point. That brings you together and gives you a cohesiveness.”
