NFL Fans Up in Arms Over Costly Packers' Fumble Call in Wild Card vs. Eagles

Green Bay Packers vs. Philadelphia Eagles on Jan. 12, 2025. | NFL / Twitter / Screenshot

If you're a Green Bay Packers fan, Sunday's wild-card matchup vs. the Philadelphia Eagles did not get off to a great start.

After Green Bay's Keisean Nixon fumbled on the opening kickoff, the Birds recovered the ball and converted the turnover into a touchdown on the subsequent drive. Not even two minutes into the game, the Eagles were up 7–0.

PACKERS FUMBLE THE OPENING KICKOFF & EAGLES RECOVER! pic.twitter.com/lZIunVBj4Q
— NFL UK & Ireland (@NFLUKIRE) January 12, 2025

But not everyone is convinced Philadelphia did recover the ball.

Online, plenty of fans have cried foul, arguing Nixon clearly had regained control of the ball, and the officials just majorly gouged the Pack. Rewatching the play from above, you can certainly see why they're upset—from that angle, it seems totally plausible that Green Bay should have kept possession. Not only that, but fans are also claiming that the fumble was caused by a helmet-to-helmet tackle that refs also failed to flag.

Check that out below:

The Packers fumble the ball on the kickoff 👀 pic.twitter.com/M4ZAwWA5BA
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 12, 2025

Alas, the call is the call. And the only thing anyone can do at that point is complain on social media. Here are a few of those reactions:

Man IDK bout that one
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) January 12, 2025

The Packers recovered that fumble but only if you consider every available replay angle.
— Cousin Sal (@TheCousinSal) January 12, 2025

Do regular ball possession rules just go out the window during a fumble pile? Packers player is on his back. If he possesses it for even a split second that makes him down right? pic.twitter.com/xnTgFDvwJ5
— John Rich (@JohnRichTV) January 12, 2025

That was a clear recovery by Nixon for the #Packers.

The fix is already in from the opening kickoff.
— Bruce Irons (@BruceIronsNFL) January 12, 2025

How is this not a clear recovery?? Am I missing something? pic.twitter.com/SZguYv2TdQ
— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) January 12, 2025

First and foremost, Keisean literally gets the ball back with clear video evidence

Second, it’s a clear helmet to helmet tackle

Hard to believe @NFLOfficiating will call the exact opposite of what the eyes see

1984 vibes pic.twitter.com/TxsA2k7UuW
— IKE Packers Podcast (@IKE_Packers) January 12, 2025

Even Green Bay wideout Christian Watson's father, Tazin Wajid Wajed, joined in the chorus.

An illegal hit caused the fumble for sure!

But, the fact that they let the Eagles pile on and take it from Nixon after a clear recovery says THEY AREN’T CALLING THIS FOR THE PACKERS!

The players have the step up and play, and the coaches need to loosen their nuts and call the… https://t.co/c87CjimF5S
— Tazim Wajid Wajed (@NFLHitman33) January 12, 2025

We'll see if Green Bay can come back from this. If they don't, we'll definitely be hearing about this moment for a while.