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Chargers' Samuel Jr. had a record-setting first half vs. Jaguars
Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. (26) celebrates with safety Derwin James Jr. (3) after an interception during the second quarter of a wild card game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field. Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Chargers' Asante Samuel Jr. had a wild, record-setting first half vs. Jaguars

Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. may haunt the nightmares of Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence for eternity after posting an interception hat-trick in the first half of Saturday's AFC wild-card matchup.

According to ESPN Stats and Info, Samuel is the first player to intercept three passes in the first half of a playoff game. 

Samuel's historic performance began with 10:02 left in the first quarter when he picked off Lawrence to deny the Jaguars a critical early fourth down conversion. 

Samuel picked off Lawrence again with 2:08 left in the opening quarter, helping the Chargers make a key third-down stop. 

Samuel came up big again when it mattered most, recording his third interception of the half on another third down with 6:55 remaining in the second quarter. 

After registering three picks in the first playoff outing of his career, Samuel is only four interceptions away from equaling his poppa, Asante Samuel Sr., who had seven in 21 postseason games, per Pro Football Focus.  

Samuel and the Chargers made Lawrence wish he was back in college during Saturday's first half. Before leading a touchdown drive late, Lawrence had thrown four picks and was only 5-of-18 passing for 35 yards.

The Chargers forced five turnovers in total before halftime. According to the NFL media and research department, the Chargers are only the third team since 1991 to record five or more turnovers in a single half of a postseason game. They join the 1992 Dallas Cowboys and 2001 St. Louis Rams. 

Mike Santa Barbara

Mike Santa Barbara is a Wilmington, Delaware native (Yes, it's a real place) with over a decade of sports writing experience. A diehard Philadelphia sports fan, he has two dogs named after Flyers and cried real tears when the Eagles won Super Bowl LII. You can follow him on Twitter at @mike__sb

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