Tag: Pick-six

Adonai Mitchell had a perfect response to Nik Bonitto’s fumble-6

“It was there pretty much until [No.] 15 turned into Ed Reed and just came through out of nowhere,” Adonai Mitchell said of Nik Bonitto.

Struggling to get anything going on offense, the Indianapolis Colts turned to a trick play while trailing the Denver Broncos by four points in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game.

Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson threw the ball backwards to wide receiver Adonai Mitchell. The receiver was then set to throw the ball back to Richardson, presumably for the QB to throw the ball downfield.

Mitchell’s backwards throw to Richardson was picked off by Broncos pass rusher Nik Bonitto and returned 51 yards for a touchdown. Technically, it was a fumble-six because the ball was not thrown forward.

After an eventual 31-13 win for Denver, Mitchell had a great quote on the game-changing play.

“If you look at it from my perspective, it was there pretty much until [No.] 15 turned into Ed Reed and just came through out of nowhere,” Mitchell said. “I mean, it was a great play by him. We just have to execute better.”

“I executed,” the receiver said. “I saw it, he was open, I threw it. Turns out he wasn’t open. I don’t know where [No.] 15 came from, but I didn’t see him.”

Bonitto quickly realized that it wasn’t a typical play.

“It was kind of a slow developing play, so I knew something was weird,” the pass rusher said. “The receiver usually doesn’t go catch screens like that. Once I saw Richardson drifting back a little bit, I decided to go try and break on it and ended up getting it.”

Bonitto reached a top speed of 20.19 mph on his return, which marked the fastest speed by a linebacker carrying the ball this season, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

“He is athletic,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said after the win. “That is two games in a row. It was a real good play, and the timing of it. There was like a 10-minute period in the game where it went from being close to not out of reach but certainly in our favor.”

In the team’s last game, Bonitto had a 71-yard pick-six on Monday Night Football against the Cleveland Browns. He became the second player in franchise history to post a defensive touchdown in back-to-back games, joining former defensive back Bill Thompson (1973).

With two scores and the third-most sacks (11.5) in the NFL, Bonitto is making a case to win Defensive Player of the Year. The pass rusher was asked if he’s thought about winning the award.

“Not really because it still doesn’t seem real to be mentioned in that type of light,” Bonitto said. “There are three games left, so we have to take it one game at a time. We just have to keep stacking these wins.”

Bonitto might not be thinking about it, but the stats are on his side. J.J. Watt was the NFL’s last player to total at least 10 sacks and score two defensive touchdowns in the same season (2014), and Watt took home DPOY honors that year. Bonitto is on pace to do the same in 2024.

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Nik Bonitto has matched an impressive Von Miller stat

Nik Bonitto and Von Miller are the only players in Broncos history to record 10+ sacks and grab a pick-six in the same season.

Denver Broncos pass rusher Nik Bonitto had another huge performance in a 41-32 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football in Week 13.

Bonitto recorded a sack and grabbed a 71-yard pick-six in the win. Following that impressive play, Bonitto became just the second player in franchise history to record at least ten sacks and a pick-six in the same season, joining Broncos legend Von Miller.

Nix’s 71-yard return was the third-longest by a linebacker in franchise history, only trailing Randy Gradishar (93 yards in 1980) and Tom Jackson (73 yards in 1977).

Bonitto reached a top speed of 19.88 mph on his return, the second-fastest among linebackers carrying the ball this season, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

Following the play, the father of Broncos star cornerback Pat Surtain called for Bonitto to win the Defensive Player of the Year award.

Surtain Sr. certainly isn’t alone in his stance.

Bonitto still has another year on his contract after this season, but after giving Jonathon Cooper a big extension, Bonitto’s deal should be the team’s next priority.

“I’ve been trying to tell people I used to play safety back in the day and people are surprised,” Bonitto said after the game. “Just trying to do my job. When I saw a chance to break on the ball, I kind of just went and did that.”

Bonitto’s 11 sacks this season rank second in the NFL, only trailing Trey Hendrickson (11.5). He’ll look to build on that total after the bye when the Broncos host the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15.

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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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Packers QB Aaron Rodgers throws rare pick-six to end first half vs. Patriots

Jack Jones intercepted Packers QB Aaron Rodgers and returned the pick 40 yards for a touchdown to give the Patriots a 10-7 lead at half time.

What appeared to be an opportunity to score before the half on Sunday at Lambeau Field quickly turned into an unexpected and shocking first-half lead for the New England Patriots over the heavily favored Green Bay Packers.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the back-to-back NFL MVP who is first in league history in both interception percentage and touchdown-to-interception ratio, tossed a pick-six to Patriots cornerback Jack Jones with 13 seconds left in the second quarter to give New England a 10-7 lead.

Rodgers was targeting receiver Allen Lazard on an out-breaking route. Lazard slipped down, Rodgers missed inside and Jones easily intercepted the pass and jogged into the end zone from 40 yards out for a touchdown.

It was Rodgers’ fourth career pick-six and his first since the 2020 season.

Through two quarters, Rodgers has completed 4-of-11 passes for 44 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception. He’s also been sacked once on third down. His passer rating is 11.2.

The pick-six play:

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The Packers get the ball to start the second half. Can Rodgers rebound and get the Packers back into the lead? Green Bay is in a fist fight with a 1-2 team playing a third-string quarterback.

Pat Surtain looked like Champ Bailey on his pick-six

We knew that play looked familiar!

In the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos rookie cornerback Pat Surtain intercepted a Justin Herbert pass and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown, sealing a win.

Surtain’s interception and his return brought back memories of Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Champ Bailey, who had a very a similar 70-yard pick-six against the San Francisco 49ers in 2006. It’s amazing how much these two plays are alike:

If Surtain continues playing like he did on Sunday, the comparisons to Bailey will continue, and Champ doesn’t seem to mind.

“People are like, ‘Oh, he reminds me of Champ!’ I’m like, ‘Hell, he reminds me of me, too,'” Bailey said during an interview with the team’s official website earlier this year.

Surtain’s speed reached 22.07 miles per hour on his return, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

“I had no idea [he was that fast],” safety Justin Simmons said after the game. “Are you sure that’s right? NextGen stats, they have all the good stuff apparently. I didn’t know that — that’s crazy. That’s a crazy stat. Sheesh, that’s fast.”

Surtain had a simple explanation for that speed.

“I used to run track,” he said, “so that track background helped me a lot.”

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WATCH: LSU CB Eli Ricks returns Florida QB Kyle Trask INT for go-ahead TD

LSU cornerback Eli Ricks stepped up in a big way for the LSU defense against the high-powered Florida Gators.

LSU may be a massive underdog on the road against the SEC Championship Game-bound Florida Gators, but freshman cornerback Eli Ricks just gave LSU a 14-7 lead in The Swamp with a 68-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Early in the second quarter, Ricks stepped in front of a pass from Florida quarterback Kyle Trask and took it 68-yards to the end zone for a go-ahead touchdown. the touchdown broke a 7-7 tie and gave LSU a 14-7 lead.

It was the first interception thrown by Kyle Trask since Florida’s meeting with Georgia on Nov. 7.

Ricks stepped up when LSU needed it the most. LSU was already without cornerbacks Derek Stingley Jr., who was ruled out before the game, and Cordale Flott was ejected for targeting.

Watch: J.J. Watt turns interception of Matthew Stafford into pick-6

J.J. Watt had a big start to Thanksgiving with a pick-6

Matthew Stafford was in a giving mood and J.J. Watt was the recipient.

Watch as the Houston Texans’ star defensive lineman picked off the Detroit Lions’ quarterback on Thursday.

It was the third pick of the year for Houston and Watt turned it into six points with the 19-yard return for a score.

The PAT was missed so Detroit led,  7-6.

Watt had a big game in 2012 on Thanksgiving against Detroit, too.

Watt registered football’s version of the hat trick with three sacks of Stafford.

Some Pittsburgh Steelers were happy.

And on the Lions’ next offensive play, the Texans forced a second turnover.

Watch: DK Metcalf chases Budda Baker down to save a pick-six

Seattle Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf is unusually fast for his size. How fast? Just ask Cardinals safety Budda Baker.

It’s highly unusual when Russell Wilson throws an interception. Coming into Sunday night’s game against the Cardinals, he’d only thrown three all season. But he threw one to Arizona safety Budda Baker — the reigning NFC Defensive Player of the Week — with 9:05 left in the first half, and it looked to all the world that Baker was on his way to a pick-six that would have traveled nearly 100 yards, .

And then, Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf, at 6-foot-4 and 229 pounds, chased Baker down out of nowhere, and tackled the 5-foot-10, 195-pound Baker at the Seattle eight-yard line.

Perhaps it shouldn’t be that much of a surprise — Metcalf blew up the 2019 scouting combine by running a 4.33 40-yard dash, while Baker ran a 4.45 at the 2017 combine.

This was more than just a splash play — it would have been an easy touchdown were it not for Metcalf’s effort, but the Seahawks’ defense stopped the Cardinals from scoring any points on the subsequent drive, and the score remained 13-7.

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Watch: Chiefs’ Daniel Sorenson with the pick-six of Broncos’ Drew Lock

Daniel Sorensen with the pick of Drew Lock.

It was in the teens in Denver. Snow was in the forecast and made an appearance. And the conditions were perfect for a pick-six of the Broncos’ Drew Lock.

Just ask the Chiefs’ Daniel Sorenson.

The safety in his seventh year from BYU had to have his eyes light up as he jumped the pattern and had nothing but snowflakes and turf in front of him on his way to the end zone.

It was good for 50 yards and after Harrison Butker’s PAT the Super Bowl champs led 17-6.

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers throws third pick-six of NFL career

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers threw the third pick-six of his NFL career on Sunday against the Bucs.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw the third pick-six of his NFL career on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Amazingly, two of his three pick-sixes have come in Tampa Bay.

In the second quarter on Sunday, Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean jumped a pass from Rodgers to Davante Adams and returned the interception 32 yards for a touchdown.

Rodgers’ last pick-six came during a win over the Cincinnati Bengals at Lambeau Field on Sept. 24, 2017. His first was during a loss in Tampa Bay on Nov. 8, 2009.

The number of days between Rodgers’ first and second pick-six: 2,877. The number between his second and third: 1,120.

The interception was the Packers’ first turnover of the season. The score cut the Packers’ lead to 10-7. A drive later, Rodgers threw his second interception, setting up the Buccaneers’ go-ahead touchdown.