Tag: Pick-six

‘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.

WATCH: Texans CB Bradley Roby makes a house call versus the Buccaneers

Houston Texans cornerback Bradley Roby picked off Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston and returned it for a touchdown.

Houston Texans cornerback Bradley Roby may be on a one-year deal with the AFC South club, but he is giving them every reason to consider him for an extension.

The former Denver Broncos 2014 first-round pick intercepted Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston and returned the pick 17 yards for a touchdown to give the Texans an early 7-0 lead in the firs quarter of Saturday’s game at Raymond James Stadium.

For Roby, the interception return for a touchdown was the third of his career, and it was the first since Dec. 4, 2016, versus the Jacksonville Jaguars.

WATCH: Seahawks DB Quandre Diggs picks off Rams Jared Goff twice

Seattle Seahawks defensive back Quandre Diggs intercepted Rams quarterback Jared Goff twice Sunday night, once for a return for a touchdown.

The Seahawks are back in the ballgame Sunday night after defensive back Quandre Diggs picked off Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff and ran the interception back 55 yards for a touchdown – Seattle’s first of the night.

Before the score, the Seahawks had entered the half trailing the Rams 21-3. Despite Jason Myers missing the extra point attempt, Digg’s huge defensive play put Seattle right back in the action.

Equally as impressive, just a couple plays later, Diggs intercepted Goff again to give the Seahawks another much-needed takeaway. Diggs now has three picks on the year, after logging his first of the season – and first with Seattle – Week 10 against the 49ers.

The Seahawks acquired Diggs earlier this year in a trade with the Lions that has proved to be monumental for Seattle, who gave up very little in the deal.

As of this post, the Rams still lead the Seahawks 21-9 near the end of the third quarter.

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