Cowboys CB DaRon Bland ties NFL single-season pick-six record with fourth of 2023 after predicting INT pregame

Losing Pro Bowl cornerback Trevon Diggs, whose 18 occupation interceptions since 2020 are tied for the second-most within the NFL, used to be a large blow for the Dallas Cowboys’ protection, however second-year cornerback DaRon Bland, a fifth-round select within the 2022 NFL Draft, has seamlessly transitioned to enjoying outdoor nook in 2023. Bland recorded his fourth pick-six of the season, tied for essentially the most in a season in NFL historical past, on Sunday. Bland were given a 30-yard interception go back landing off Panthers rookie Bryce Young’s go that used to be supposed forJonathan Mingo. The pick-six put the Cowboys up by way of 20 — a large momentum swing within the Week 11 contest.

“I told my teammates I was going to go get one today,” Bland said to Fox Sports’ Erin Andrews postgame on Sunday. “Actually ending up in the end zone, I didn’t know what to do. I had no celebration at that point. It was good. I felt all my teammates bum rush me.”  

Young had time to throw, and Bland used to be looking ahead to him to try a go to the outdoor flat towards Mingo. Bland is the fourth participant in NFL historical past to have 4 in a season, however Bland nonetheless has seven video games left after Sunday’s contest.

“I have to go back to my high school days playing wide receiver and just having that mindset to go get the ball,” Bland mentioned. “Seeing the ball once a receiver hits his break, and I see the ball in the air, I just go get it.”

Most interceptions returned for TDs in a season in NFL History

“It means a lot,” Bland mentioned after his 3rd interception go back landing of the season in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 8. “You know [Trevon] Diggs, he was always wanting to get the ball. Just being able to step in, it feels good.”

Bland used to be by no means assured playtime since he used to be a fifth-round pick of Sacramento State, however his emergence now has Cowboys proprietor and normal supervisor Jerry Jones taking a victory lap on his variety throughout the center of Bland’s moment season. 

“You’ve got to really check that box, you don’t have them right a lot of times when you are picking them in the draft, so he has been in a good situation here but he showed quick,” Jones mentioned postgame in Week 8. “He has had a lot of work, but he deserves it. He’s just what we see. He’s made big plays for us so far this year. He’ll make big plays in my mind the rest of his career.” 

The 24-year-old started his occupation as a fill-in at nickel cornerback for an injured Jourdan Lewis remaining season, and he hauled in 5 interceptions as a rookie in 2022, tied for the fifth-most in all the NFL. Despite switching positions in 2023 to outdoor cornerback, Bland has performed even higher. He is in truth enjoying like the most productive cornerback within the NFL at this time. His 17.5 passer ranking allowed getting into Week 11 used to be the bottom within the NFL amongst gamers with 25 or extra go makes an attempt thrown their means this season. The subsequent closest participant used to be New Orleans Saints cornerback Paulson Adebo whose 22.8 passer ranking is solely over 5 issues issues upper. 

“That’s why I said he’s that guy,” Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott mentioned postgame in Week 8 when requested about Bland’s good fortune transferring from being a nickel [inside] nook as a rookie in 2022 to being a boundary [outside] nook in 2023. “Not a lot of guys are able to move positions like that and make the impact that he’s been able to make. Obviously when you lose a guy like Trevon [Diggs], people wonder. When a guy like that steps in and says ‘I’m here and I’m here to play’,  that’s important. That’s huge. He’s a mature man that prepares the right way. He does everything throughout the week. 

“He’s now not a large rah rah [guy] and does not even in point of fact communicate a lot to be fair with you. He does it inside his play at the box, does it in follow. He made some performs on me from Day 1 when he confirmed up that mentioned this man is aware of what he’s taking a look at, is aware of what he’s doing and is assured in himself. He trusts breaking on the proper time and making the precise performs. He is most effective going to recover as a result of he is younger and approaches the sport the precise means. He is most effective going to look extra issues that he’s assured in leaping. He has every other man at the different facet like Stephon to show him. He has been spectacular. This is most effective the start.”

Bland has more pick-sixes this season than Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders had in his five seasons (1995-1999) with the Cowboys (two). During Sanders’ lone NFL Defensive Player of the Year campaign in 1994 with the San Francisco 49ers, he totaled three interception-return touchdowns in 14 games played. Bland’s 11 interceptions lead the NFL since his debut in 2022, six of which have come in 2023. His six interceptions are a career-high and tied for the most in the league this season with Ravens defensive back Geno Stone’s six. 

“He’s tremendous instinctive and has nice ball talents,” Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said postgame in Week 8. “He’s so constant for a tender participant. Not most effective what he is carried out this 12 months but in addition remaining 12 months. He’s going to play a very long time.”