OWINGS MILLS,Md. – Baltimore Ravens safety Haruki Nakamura turned in an acrobatic interception of an Eli Manning pass deflected by linebacker Dannell Ellerbe.
As the pass headed toward the ground Saturday night during a 24-10 win over the New York Giants at M&T Bank Stadium, Nakamura came down with the football by tumbling over Giants wide receiver Steve Smith.
“I was about as lucky as I could get right there,” Nakamura said. “The receiver had shook the heck out of me. He made me look so bad. It was just one of those things where I was trying to finish the play, the ball bobbles and I got lucky.”
The interception was upheld after an instant-replay review.
“How about that interception?” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “That’s as good a play as you’re ever going to see. I don’t know how he came up with the ball. He’s just a tremendous athlete. He’s a football player through and through. He’s a big part of our football team, no doubt.”
After ending last season on injured reserve with a broken ankle that required surgery, Nakamura has made it clear that he’s back with his work with the first-team defense in the Ravens’ nickel package.
“I’m about as close to 100 percent as I’m going to get right now,” Nakamura said. “I’ve been really working hard, trying to stay healthy and even trying to get more healthy.”
Nakamura also had a quarterback hit on Rhett Bomar and four pass deflections.
“I’m just out here having fun,” Nakamura said. “Through this injury, I’ve learned to appreciate this game for what it is. This is a privilege for us to be out here.”
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