Our collection rolls on in the present day as we’re only one play away from revealing the Finest Play of 2022 as voted on by APC contributors. As we speak, we’re looking at our second-ranked play and returning to the particular groups effectively.

In the event you had instructed me earlier than the 2022 season that two kickoff returns made it onto any high 10 checklist in addition to an inventory of blunders, I’d name you insane and ask if it was 1996 once more. As we speak’s play got here in a blowout victory that offered a glimmer of sunshine in an in any other case darkish season: an NFC North battle that delivered to thoughts tables being run and leisure.

#2: Keisean Nixon stiff-arms his method to glory

For a breath of recent air and false hope, the Packers got here into their week 17 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings driving a 3-game successful streak. On no account, form, or type had the tide turned, however the squad was firmly in wild card rivalry at 7-8. Standing in the way in which was a 12-3 Vikings squad nonetheless pushing for the primary seed within the NFC. After a blocked punt on the Packers’ first possession, the Vikings acquired the scoring underway with a discipline objective.

The following kickoff return is the place the magic occurred. Keisean Nixon caught the kickoff about 5 yards deep in his personal finish zone and virtually instantly had a lane. Due to Jonathan Garvin’s block on Josh Metellus and the mixed efforts of Kingsley Enagbare, Josiah Deguara, and Tyler Davis, Nixon burst via a gap match for an 18-wheeler. From there, the Vikings had no shot. Kicker Greg Joseph was the final line of protection and acquired hit with a depraved stiff arm, and Nixon was off to the races.

This etched Nixon’s title not simply into Packers historical past, however your entire league’s as he grew to become the sixth participant ever to tally 95-plus return yards in seven straight video games. The Packers would go on to win this one 41-17 after the spark from their blazing-fast return man. I suppose that’s the result if you, as Nixon put it postgame, “awoke feeling like a Ferrari.”

Nixon is primed for extra huge moments in 2023, as he humbly put it in a latest interview with Wes Hodkiewicz. Throughout OTAs in Might, Nixon put out a warning to the league, saying “I don’t actually really feel like I achieved a lot,” and that “I used to be simply getting my ft moist, actually. That’s why this 12 months goes to be actually particular.”

That’s all for our 2nd finest play of 2022! Test again tomorrow for the highest play of the 12 months: an explosive effort from the Packers’ stud rookie receiver and the start of a brand new period within the Frozen Tundra.