Footballs can't fly, but this one did.
Or at least, it floated. Levitated. Hung suspended in midair at NRG Stadium in Houston, slowly arching up to the open roof of the dome before plummeting back to Earth. It was the final play of the Panthers' 16-10 victory over the Texans in Week 4, and quarterback Deshaun Watson sailed a Hail Mary as far as he could.
Now, when a ball sits like that, a defender's eyes grow wide. The chance of a pick is salivating _ and in that situation, an interception preserves a win while also boosting personal stats. If you can just go up and make the catch ...
Only Eric Reid never considered that possibility. Never even entertained the thought.
Fundamental football says to swat the ball to the ground, ignore statistics and ensure no bobbled ball gets caught for a game-winner. And that's what Reid did, rising up over everyone and emphatically slamming the ball down with his left hand. It's only one example, but in the crucial dying embers of a must-win game, Reid's intelligence won out.
"He's just a smart guy overall, and football is no different," linebacker Luke Kuechly said of Reid. "He just does everything the right way."
