New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed handed Atlanta a touchdown when he muffed a punt inside his own 5-yard line that was recovered by the Falcons in the end zone during Sunday's NFL game at Mercedez-Benz Stadium.
It happened just a few minutes into the first quarter with the game still scoreless. With 4th and 12 on their own 46-yard line, the Saints decided to punt. Bradley Pinion punted towards the left sideline and Shaheed called for a fair catch at the 5-yard line. However, the ball was a bit over his head, leading Shaheed to turn around and try to catch the punt over his shoulder.
Shaheed muffed the punt and the ball rolled into the end zone. Shaheed fell to the ground and tried to crawl after it, but the Falcons coverage team beat him to it, and KhaDarel Hodge pounced on it for the touchdown.
Muffed punt! Touchdown!
— NFL (@NFL) September 29, 2024
The @AtlantaFalcons recover the loose ball for SIX!
📺: #NOvsATL on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/DIgHsXa0vp
Being so close to the end zone, it made no sense for Shaheed to try to field that punt. There is an excellent chance that the ball would have rolled into the end zone, giving the Falcons the ball at the 25-yard line. Instead, the Falcons received a gift and took a 7-0 lead.
Given the competitiveness of the NFC South division, this rivalry between the Falcons and Saints has been fiesty at times. At halftime, the Falcons hold a 17-14 lead, so this play looms large as the difference in the game so far.
[@NFL]
Moonlighting as a blogger to pursue my interest and enjoyment of sports. Former high school and Division I athlete (now a "retired" family man) that loves watching and discussing all sports. Follow me on Twitter (@HoldoutSports) and like Holdout Sports on Facebook.
