Tag: Interceptions

Packers need just 3 weeks to match interception total from 2023

The Packers intercepted seven passes over 17 regular season games in 2023. Under Jeff Hafley, they have seven picks in three games to start 2024.

The Green Bay Packers intercepted only seven passes during a disappointing 2023 season, so coach Matt LaFleur set out to find a new defensive coordinator who could immediately increase the number of takeaways generated on defense.

The early results of the Jeff Hafley era couldn’t be more encouraging in the turnover department.

The Packers needed only three games under Hafley in 2024 to match the defense’s interception total from the last year of Joe Barry’s leadership in 2023.

And the Packers have now generated three takeaways in three consecutive games to start 2024.

On Sunday in Tennessee, the Packers intercepted two more passes — a pick-six from Jaire Alexander in the first quarter and a win-sealing pick from Xavier McKinney late in the fourth quarter. Alexander jumped a short route intended for DeAndre Hopkins — using vision on the quarterback to get a read — and then high-stepped into the end zone. With the Titans down 13 late, McKinney ranged to his right from a single-high alignment and made a leaping interception of Will Levis’ desperate heave on third down with just over two minutes to go.

Alexander now has an interception in two of his first three games. McKinney, the team’s prized free agent acquisition, has one in all three games. Together, the cornerback-safety pair have five of the team’s seven picks. Alexander, a two-time All-Pro, is getting more opportunities to read the quarterback, while McKinney proved himself as an elite, do-it-all player in New York and has looked every bit the part in Green Bay.

Linebacker Eric Wilson and rookie safety Evan Williams also intercepted passes during the second half of the Packers’ win over Anthony Richardson and the Indianapolis Colts last week. Wilson’s pick halted a potential scoring drive in Packers territory; Williams’ ended the game on a Hail Mary attempt.

Alexander’s Week 1 pick came in the end zone and took points off the board in the fourth quarter. He drifted off coverage in the scramble drill and surprised Jalen Hurts. McKinney had one in the first quarter of both Week 1 and 2 — the first ranging to the middle of the field on a throw up the seam from Hurts, and the second snagging an overthrow on a pressured dropback from Richardson.

As of the conclusion of Sunday’s late afternoon games, the Packers lead the NFL in takeaways (nine) and interceptions (seven).

Last season, the Packers defense didn’t produce its ninth takeaway until Week 11. The team’s seventh interception didn’t arrive until Dec. 31, or Week 17.

The last time the Packers started a season with nine takeaways in the first three weeks? The first year of Dom Capers’ run as defensive coordinator in 2009. That team took the ball away 40 times in 16 games.

Less than a month into 2024, Hafley has the Packers enjoying the takeaway party once again. His defense is eyeing the quarterback, making plays on the football and changing games with turnovers.

Bills’ Rasul Douglas on Christian Benford: ‘He’s got that nasty attitude’

Bills’ Rasul Douglas on Christian Benford: ‘He’s got that nasty attitude’

Buffalo Bills’ third-year cornerback Christian Benford has been impressive since getting his first opportunity in the league as a rookie in 2022, but this year he looks like one of the best all-around corners in the NFL.

The national outlets are starting to catch on, but the Bills’ locker room has always known what they had. Fellow Bills cornerback Rasul Douglas was the latest to praise the up-and-comer:

“He went to a basketball school… Villanova… so I don’t think they were looking for football players,” Douglas said after practice Wednesday. “Whenever he gets around a play he’s gonna make sure you know he’s around. He’s disciplined… he’s got good technique… he just likes playing football and likes competing. That’s the attribute you gotta have if you wanna get out there and get better, and he has that.”

After putting his name on the map in 2023, Benford looked elite in the first two weeks of 2024. According to PFF, he has allowed just a 40% catch rate and has posted the seventh-highest defense grade among all cornerbacks. He’s a big part of the reason why the Bills have three interceptions through two games (T-4 in the NFL), He has an interception of his own and also was closest in coverage as Ja’Marcus Ingram reeled in a deflection for his first-career INT.

Douglas has had his fair share of success in the NFL, too, so his words aren’t something to glance over. He has 19 interceptions in his 8-year career. Douglas is tied with Daron Bland and Justin Simmons for the most interceptions in the NFL since 2021.

The pair of cornerbacks is exactly what Sean McDermott looks for to play on the boundary of his defense: rangy, smart players who can read a QB’s eyes and also come up and tackle when needed.

Speaking of the coach, while complimenting Benford’s successes, he credits Douglas for them too–Both on and off the gridiron.

“It seems like they’ve formed a nice little bond off the field, as well,” McDermott said via video conference. “I think that’s important. Rasul’s been in the league a little bit longer than CB, and he can share some of his wisdom with CB and how things work, and the journey, right, of an NFL corner. That’s been interesting and fun to watch. I think it’s helped CB, as well, and maybe in some ways helped Rasul.”

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Commanders DC Joe Whitt Jr. gives his early impressions of cornerback Emmanuel Forbes

Whitt says he’s pleased with Forbes’ work throughout this offseason.

Washington Commanders cornerback Emmanuel Forbes has been a popular player to discuss this offseason. Some fans have already determined last year’s first-round draft pick is a bust.

Forbes had a miserable rookie year for Washington under the previous coaching staff. He was benched multiple times, and it looked like that former head coach Ron Rivera had given up on him.

When he was introduced as the new defensive coordinator in February, Joe Whitt. Jr said he liked Forbes coming out of Mississippi State. Head coach Dan Quinn loves Forbes’ skill set, saying his ability to create turnovers is his “superpower.”

The biggest knock on Forbes is his size. Some believe he’s too skinny to succeed in the NFL. Quinn said Forbes worked hard to add size in the offseason.

What has Whitt thought of Forbes thus far?

“I’ve seen a young man every day getting better, getting used to my hard coaching,” Whitt said. He’s a kid that has a really good skill set, just like the rest of the young guys, he’s out there working his butt off, and I’ve been pleased with him.”

Quinn and Whitt have a history of getting the most out of cornerbacks. Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland thrived under their coaching in Dallas, each leading the interceptions once. Forbes is known for his ability to force turnovers from his time at Mississippi State.

Forbes has worked with the return team this spring. Relax. So have several others. Forbes working with the return team doesn’t mean he’s not in Quinn’s plans. It’s all about finding what each guy does best. If Forbes doesn’t begin the season as a starter at cornerback, it doesn’t mean he can’t eventually get there.

Forbes is at a crossroads in the 2024 season. He appears up to the challenge. The next step is translating it to the field this fall.

Denver Broncos’ top-10 all-time leaders in interceptions

Steve Foley ranks No. 1 on the Broncos’ all-time interceptions list with 44. Justin Simmons (30) ranks seventh.

Unless he one day returns to the team, former Denver Broncos safety Justin Simmons will end up locked in at seventh place on the team’s all-time interceptions list. Simmons has recorded double-digit interceptions in each of his first eight seasons in the NFL.

Simmons would have needed four interceptions in 2024 to move into sixth place and five interceptions to pass Champ Bailey to rank fourth. He was ten interceptions away from tying Bill Thompson’s third-place total (40 INTs). Steve Foley (44) ranks No. 1 in franchise history, followed by Goose Gonsoulin (43).

At his current pace of 0.25 interceptions per game, Simmons could have passed Foley to rank No. 1 on the team’s all-time list within 60 games. That would have been three and a half seasons from now midway through the 2027 campaign. If he played that long, Simmons would be 34 years old and in his 12th season.

Hall of Fame safety John Lynch was 37 years old when he retired, so playing until 34 certainly seems to be within reach for Simmons if he stays healthy, but the safety no longer players in Denver.

Here’s a quick list of the top ten players on the Broncos’ all-time interceptions list.

Broncos’ interception leaders from 2023 season

Justin Simmons led the Broncos with 3 interceptions this season and he now ranks seventh on the team’s all-time INTs list with 30.

We continue our look at the Denver Broncos’ statistical leaders from the 2023 season today with a quick list of the team’s interceptions leaders.

It’s no surprise that safety Justin Simmons (three) led the team in 2023. Simmons has now recorded double-digit INTs in each of his eight seasons in the NFL. The veteran safety has had at least three INTs every year from 2018-2023 and he ranks seventh on the team’s all-time INTs list with 30.

Behind Simmons this year was cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian (two) and safety Kareem Jackson (two). Cornerback Pat Surtain, safety P.J. Locke, cornerback Fabian Moreau and pass rusher Jonathon Cooper each grabbed one interception.

The team’s 11 total interceptions this season ranked 19th in the league, so there’s definitely room for improvement going into 2024. Almost half the league (15 teams) totaled at least 15 INTs in 2023 and two teams recorded 22 INTs.

Check out previous lists of the team’s passing and rushing leaders. Here’s a quick look at their interception leaders in 2023.

Derek Carr looking to get his first career win (and TD pass) against the Rams

Derek Carr is looking for his first career win against the Rams. He’s 0-3 against them without throwing a single touchdown pass, getting outscored 102-29:

Derek Carr has a lot to prove on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Rams — he’s 0-3 against them in his long NFL career, having never beaten the Rams during his time with the Raiders. Getting a win would be a big achievement for the New Orleans Saints quarterback.

And it’s been ugly. Carr has thrown seven interceptions to the Rams defense without scoring a single touchdown in three previous meetings. Here are his final stat lines:

  • 2014 (lost 52-0): 24 of 39 (61.5%) for 173 yards, 2 interceptions, 3 sacks
  • 2018: (lost 33-13): 29 of 40 (72.5%) for 303 yards, 3 interceptions, 1 sack
  • 2022: (lost 17-16): 11 of 20 (55%) for 137 yards, 2 interceptions, 0 sacks

So Carr’s Raiders teams were outscored 102-29 in three meetings (including a pick-six thrown by Carr in 2018) with the Rams, which isn’t great. He’ll obviously need to play better for the Saints on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. With both teams’ playoff odds shrinking in a loss, Carr and his Saints teammates have a very narrow margin for error. Let’s hope their recent success translates.

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3 of the NFL’s active pick-6 leaders have started at QB for Dennis Allen

Dennis Allen might have a type. Three of the NFL’s top-five leaders in interceptions returned for touchdowns have started for him at quarterback:

Does Dennis Allen have a type? Of the top five active quarterbacks in career pick-sixes (interceptions returned for touchdowns), three of them have started games for the New Orleans Saints at quarterback since Allen took over as head coach.

As noted by Nola.com’s Jeff Duncan, Andy Dalton ranks second among active passers with 18 pick-sixes in 169 games. Derek Carr is right behind him with 16 of them in 153 games. Jameis Winston rounds out the top-five with a dozen in 90 games.

Of course they aren’t alone; Kirk Cousins is also in the mix (14 in 150 games) and Matthew Stafford leads everyone with 30 of them in 201 games.

But it’s concerning that so many Saints quarterbacks rank high in this stat since Allen was promoted to head coach. He made the decision to sign Dalton in free agency last year and followed up by starting him for most of the season after Jameis Winston was injured and benched. It was Allen’s choice to recruit Carr to New Orleans this offseason, too.

Defenders typically don’t return an interception all the way to the end zone for a score, so this is more a ball security problem than anything. Carr has a career interceptions rate of 2%, but he’s whittled it down to 1.3% with the Saints this season. That doesn’t excuse his horrible ball placement on an interception against the Atlanta Falcons last week that was returned for a win-sealing touchdown. But we’ve got to acknowledge how critical his turnovers have been when they have occurred. Carr has thrown two pick-sixes this season against Atlanta and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

How does that compare to Dalton and Winston? Last year, Dalton threw an interception on 2.4% of his passes, which is near his career average (2.6%). And like Carr, his mistakes happened at critical times — just look at his two pick-sixes thrown against the Arizona Cardinals in the last two minutes before halftime.

As for Winston: his issues protecting the ball are well-documented, and his performance with the Saints the last two years speaks for itself. His career interceptions rate is 3.4% and he’s been picked off on 4.3% and a staggering 7.1% of his passes in the years since Sean Payton left the team. He’s only attempted 42 throws this year but he’s thrown more interceptions (3) than touchdowns (2) when asked to step in for Carr. He threw a pick-six against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season, too.

Allen’s choices of quarterbacks haven’t exactly meshed with the philosophy of a head coach who wants to run a conservative, run-first offense that can protect the ball and settle for field goals while trusting its defense to win games. Whether they’re not clutch or just unlucky, the Saints quarterbacks — especially Carr, the current unquestioned starter — must play better.

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Opportunistic Saints defense can take advantage of Jared Goff’s mistakes

An opportunistic Saints defense can take advantage of Jared Goff’s mistakes. The Lions quarterback has committed six turnovers in his last two games:

An opportunistic New Orleans Saints defense must take advantage of Jared Goff’s mistakes. The Detroit Lions quarterback has committed six turnovers in his last two games, losing three fumbles to the Green Bay Packers last week after throwing three interceptions to the Chicago Bears a week earlier. Goff is in a bit of a rut, and the Saints need to capitalize on it. He’s thrown eight interceptions and fumbled five times this season.

That’s easier said than done for most teams, but New Orleans is known for its ballhawks. The Saints defense has intercepted the second-most passes in the NFL this season (14 in 11 games) while doing an admirable job of recovering fumbled balls from the offense — nine different defenders have recovered a fumble this season, and cornerback Paulson Adebo has two of them.

Adebo also has four interceptions in just nine games, leading the team. Strong safety Tyrann Mathieu is second with three picks, and his tag-team partner Marcus Maye has two of his own (though the free safety may not play this week due to a shoulder injury). Five other Saints defenders have intercepted passes this season, too.

Taking the ball away becomes even more important when you consider all the struggles the Saints have experienced offensively. The more opportunities the defense can create for Derek Carr and company, the better. Shorter fields and swings of momentum are going to be critical against a talented and well-coached Lions team. If Goff does a better job protecting the football, Saints fans may be in for a long afternoon.

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Cowboys CB DaRon Bland’s INT numbers already put him in rare historical air

From @ToddBrock24f7: After just 28 regular-season games, Bland is alongside Hall of Famers and Ring of Honor members when it comes to his interception totals.

What DaRon Bland did in the final quarter versus Washington was unprecedented, and his 63-yard pick-six was a most satisfying dessert to top off a 45-10 holiday feast in sweet style. But now that the Cowboys cornerback has made NFL history by becoming the first player ever to notch five interception-return touchdowns in a single season, what’s next?

The easy answer is that he still has six more games to play, and anything else he does post-Thanksgiving is gravy. He’s the current league leader in interceptions (with one more than Ravens safety Geno Stone), and he’s in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year consideration.

Even if he never ever picks off another pass, that all makes for an incredible story for a fifth-round draft pick out of tiny Fresno State who- as recently as the COVID season of 2020- was at even tinier Sacramento State.

But Bland will undoubtedly add more interceptions to his resume, and he’ll likely take some of them to the end zone.

“I’m sure it’s not going to stop,” Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb said this week. “They keep trying him, he’ll get another one.”

And with every one Bland grabs, he inches further and further up some awfully star-studded leaderboards.

In terms of career house calls, Bland already has just 31 names ahead of him. Hall of Famer Rod Woodson is the all-time pick-six king, with 12. But it took him 238 outings with four different teams to do it; Bland is over 40% of the way there, after just 28 regular-season games.

With his very next interception-return score, Bland will move into a tie with the likes of Asante Samuel, Derrick Brooks, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and Darrell Green, who terrorized quarterbacks for a jaw-dropping 20 seasons. Bland is in his second season; no one above him on the all-time pick-six list played for fewer than nine seasons. Current free agent Marcus Peters, with six total, is in his ninth season now, the only active player ahead of Bland. Deion Jones, in his eighth year, also has five; he’s the only active player tied with Bland.

Bland is already the Cowboys’ all-time franchise leader in pick-sixes, a fact that’s a little hard to believe. But it’s true: he passed Dennis Thurman and Dexter Coakley (four apiece) with his Thanksgiving score. Even legends Mel Renfro and Lee Roy Jordan had just three each over their Ring of Honor careers. Same with Terence Newman. Chuck Howley, Charlie Waters, Darren Woodson, and current teammate Trevon Diggs? Two. And before you ask, Deion Sanders totaled nine as a pro, but just two while wearing the star.

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As far as regular old interceptions go, Bland’s 12 career picks already have him in 26th place in the annals of Cowboys history. With two more- well within reach, given his astonishing current pace of one every 2.33 games- he’ll be in the top 20.

True, he’s got a long way to go to catch Renfro’s club mark of 52 (amassed over 14 seasons), but anyone who thinks that’s beyond the 24-year-old Bland’s grasp clearly hasn’t watched him jump a route.

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‘Just makes another goal’: Cowboys’ Bland will get ample chances at record

From @ToddBrock24f7: The 2nd-year CB is already tied for the all-time record, with 7 games- all against interception-prone passers- remaining on the schedule.

DaRon Bland is garnering a reputation for two things. One is the low-key businesslike demeanor with which he conducts himself, on and off the football field. Even after a record-tying effort against Carolina, the Cowboys’ second-year cornerback shrugged it off as- literally- just another day at the office.

“Just doing my job, the kind of stuff I feel like I’ve kind of been doing,” Bland said following the team’s 33-10 win. “I always felt it myself, so it never really hit me because it felt like just another day.”

But there’s a very small handful of guys who have ever had a day quite like Bland did on Sunday, which brings us to the second thing he’s become known for.

His fourth-quarter interception return for a touchdown was his fourth of the season. Only three other players in NFL history have had that many pick-sixes in a single campaign: the Eagles’ Eric Allen in 1993, the Chiefs’ Jim Kearney in 1972, and the Oilers’ Ken Houston in 1971.

But none of them did it in 10 games.

Houston needed two return scores in the 1971 season finale- the team’s 14th game- to set the record. A year later, Kearney scored his fourth in Week 12. And in 1993, Allen had just two pick-sixes heading into the 15th game of the 16-game season.

Amazingly, Bland has seven more games to do it again and have the record for himself.

“It just makes another goal,” he admitted Sunday, “just to break it.”

As it is, the cornerback is tied for second place- trailing only CeeDee Lamb, no less- for the Cowboys lead in touchdowns thus far this season.

“He’s scoring touchdowns. At that point, he’s a part of the offense when he’s getting in the end zone as much as he is,” quarterback Dak Prescott noted in his postgame press conference.

Bland’s latest score came after making an incredible catch, using just his fingertips to snatch out of midair a pass intended for Panthers receiver Jonathan Mingo. Bland admitted that Mingo originally had him beat on the route.

“I’d seen him running under, and he kind of had a step on me at first,” he explained. “So I had to catch up, and then once I caught up and I turned, I saw the ball, and I was like, ‘Yes. I’ve got to go get this one,’ because I only had about three targets, so I had to make the most of my opportunities.”

Bland laid out and completed a rather-acrobatic somersault as he completed the catch, joking later, “There were some cheerleaders in my family.”

But then once he realized he hadn’t been touched, muscle memory kicked in from the former high school wide receiver.

“When I got that ball, when I got up, I was like, ‘I’ve got to go. I’ve got to just find the end zone again,” he said. “Having to actually run the ball and having to actually make some moves. Getting up like that, you don’t really get a return like that.”

Except Bland does, with startling regularity.

In fact, he told Erin Andrews of FOX Sports after the game went final that he had even called his shot prior to kickoff.

“He said, ‘I told you I was going to get one,'” Prescott confirmed for media members. “I said, ‘I didn’t know you were going to score.’ His expectations, his standards, he said, ‘That comes with it.’ That’s just great to hear. That’s what he believes in. Ball guy. You put it near him, inaccurate with a throw- trust me, I’ve known it from the time he showed up, just practicing against the guy- he’s a big-time playmaker. He’s doing a hell of a job.”

The fifth-round draft pick out of Fresno State even has Micah Parsons- arguably the most dominant defender in the game since entering the league three seasons ago- campaigning for the 24-year-old to win some hefty postseason awards.

“Seeing him come into his own is truly special. Remarkable. He’s having a Defensive Player of the Year year. He should be a lock for All-Pro; it shouldn’t be a question,” Parsons told reporters. “It’ll be fun to see how he finishes this year.”

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Bland is currently tied for the 2023 league lead in interceptions (six, along with Baltimore safety Geno Stone) and already has more interceptions since the beginning of last season than anyone.

And come Thursday, he’ll square off against Washington quarterback Sam Howell, who has thrown an NFL-most 12 interceptions this season. That’s tied with Buffalo’s Josh Allen, who the Cowboys will face in Week 15. Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa, Detroit’s Jared Goff, Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts, and Seattle’s Geno Smith all have more than seven picks this season, too; those teams just happen to be the Cowboys’ remaining opponents.

So Bland should certainly get his chances at a few more really good days at the office.

Asked if pick-sixes have become “his thing,” Bland, just 27 regular-season game appearances into his career, gave an embarrassed smile and a typically aw-shucks response.

“I guess so.”

And then he went back to work.

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