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Arizona Cardinals special teams player Kylie Fitts found a unique, effective, and questionably legal way to force a fumble against the New York Giants and Dion Lewis.
In the second quarter of the Cardinals Week 14 contest at MetLife Stadium, Fitts went into full Liu Kang mode and jump-kicked Giants running back Dion Lewis during a kick return.
The linebacker’s foot made direct contact with pigskin, knocking the ball out of Lewis’ hands. The Cardinals recovered.
#Cardinals LB Kylie Fitts literally kicked that ball out of Dion Lewis’ hands. #Cardinals recovered.
You can't intentionally kick the ball out, so this was likely determined unintentional.pic.twitter.com/jV5NjMEEMt
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 13, 2020
The Cardinals recovered, setting up a short drive that ended in a Kyler Murray touchdown pass to TE Dan Arnold.
If you’ve never seen the flying-kick tackle before — or are wondering why you don’t see it more — it’s because it’s likely against the rules. As FOX’s Dean Blandino pointed out on the Cardinals-Giants broadcast, there is, in fact, a stipulation in the NFL’s official rulebook that outlaws intentionally using your feet to dislodge the football from a ball-carrier.
In this case, Blandino believed Fitts’ use of the kick to cause a fumble was intentional, and therefore the turnover should not have counted for the Cardinals. Upon review, the officials seemingly felt uncertain enough about Fitts’ intentions as to not overturn the call on the field, which awarded the ball to Arizona.
Crazy play on that Dion Lewis fumble. Cardinals' Kylie Fitts KICKED the ball out of Lewis' hands. Dean Blandino actually says he thought it looked intentional but once the ruling came down, they can't review it.
— Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) December 13, 2020
It was the second costly fumble of the half for New York against the Cardinals, after QB Daniel Jones was swallowed whole by Markus Golden.
Sometimes you just gotta do it to 'em 😤@markusgolden comes up with the sack and the fumble recovery against his former team! #RedSea
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/2LHdUkZwXn
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) December 13, 2020
The Cardinals (6-6) entered Week 14 looking to right the ship amid a three-game losing streak. They began Sunday as the no. 6 seed in the NFC playoffs.
New York (5-7), led by its strong defense, has put together a surprising run of success in recent weeks, and opened the week in first place in the NFC East. The Giants need at least two touchdowns in the second half versus the Cardinals.