The New England Patriots might have pulled off a monumental 29-25 upset of the rival Buffalo Bills Sunday, but it was cornerback J.C. Jackson who seemingly innovated the most.
As Buffalo receiver Stefon Diggs ran a deep route and improvised with quarterback Josh Allen, Jackson was tasked with slowing the playmaker down. Eventually, once Diggs just threw his hand up while trying to get Allen’s attention, Jackson matched him. Of course, he might have matched him too much when he just resorted to holding Diggs’ hand.
And he wouldn’t let go all the way through an eventual incompletion. That’s one unique way of defending, I suppose.
by my count Stefon Diggs and JC Jackson were holding hands for ~4 full seconds. a beautiful moment for friendship in Foxborough pic.twitter.com/6K3d2dvK5P
— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) October 22, 2023
Look, Diggs still ended up with six catches for 58 yards and a score, so it’s as not if Jackson shut him down. And it’s not as if this sort of defense is sustainable (was no one going to penalize this sequence for holding? It literally fits the definition).
But still, props to Jackson for giving us one of the funnier moments from Week 7.