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DaRon Bland is playing out of his mind right now. After another pick-six this weekend, he’s on the verge of doing something we haven’t seen since 1993.
The Dallas Cowboys returned from their Week 7 bye with a demolition job of the Los Angeles Rams. Dallas was up 33-9 at halftime, and cruised to a 43-20 victory in the second half. Dak Prescott finished 25 of 31 for 304 yards and four TD throws while CeeDee Lamb had 12 catches for 158 yards and two scores.
However, the undoubted start of the show was cornerback DaRon Bland. After his first quarter pick 6 on Matthew Stafford, Bland is now on the verge on NFL history.
He is on pick 6 away from tying NFL record
The Cowboys moved to 5-2 for the season on the back of yet another stellar defensive performance. DaRon Bland, a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, was once again at the center of it.
In Sunday’s game at AT&T Stadium, Bland recorded his third pick-six of the season, the most in the NFL. It came during the first quarter against when Rams QB Matthew Stafford threw a pass towards the left sideline.
However, it was far too short for intended receiver Cooper Kupp, as Bland easily intercepted it and ran it back for a 30-yard interception return touchdown.
With the pick-six, the second year cornerback now owns the Cowboys’ franchise record for most interception-return touchdowns (3) in a season.
Bland is also just one more pick-six away from tying the NFL single-season record of four, which was last accomplished by Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Eric Allen in 1993.
Jim Kearney and Ken Houston also had four in a single season, while Charles Woodson holds the all-time record for most interception returns for a touchdown in a season (12).
Bland has caught more passes for a TD than some of the NFL’s best receivers
Bland’s emergence this season couldn’t have been better timed. Pro Bowl cornerback Trevon Diggs suffered a season-ending ACL injury earlier this season and won’t be back until 2024.
However, Bland has stepped up big time in Diggs’ absence, and has masterfully transitioned from playing inside last season to outside cornerback this year.
The former Fresno State man has become the star of Dallas’ secondary and is looking nailed on to make the NFC Pro Bowl team this season.
The 24-year-old is playing like the best CB in football right now and the stats back it up. In fact, per PFF, he has caught more passes for a TD than some of the league’s best receivers, including DeVonta Smith, Tee Higgins, and Jaylen Waddle.
Fans on social media were lauding him after his performance against the Rams on Sunday.
‘Best corner in the league,’ one person said.
‘DaRon Bland is a god among men. He’s the ultimate pickpocket. He snatches souls and scores. He’s the GOAT of DBs’, another wrote.
Dak Prescott on Bland: ‘He’s that guy’
Bland is gaining new fans every week, and Dak Prescott may be No.1 among them.
“That’s why I said he’s that guy,” the Cowboys QB said. “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.”