DaRon Bland's puts some offensive stars to shame with pick-six record

Dallas Cowboys CB DaRon Bland returns yet another interception for a touchdown Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

DaRon Bland's pick-six record puts many of the league's offensive stars to shame

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 11/23/23

Dallas Cowboys stud defensive back DaRon Bland made history on Thanksgiving Day, returning his fifth interception for a touchdown on the year to set the NFL mark. While Bland etched his name into the record books, he's also put several of the league's offensive stars to shame.

When comparing Bland's five touchdowns this season to the output of the league's best producers on offense, the results are surprising.

With only a few weeks remaining in the regular season, Bland has more touchdowns than wideouts Davante Adams, Brandon Aiyuk, DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley, Tyler Lockett and DeVonta Smith, who have all scored four. Running backs Saquon Barkley, Breece Hall and Derrick Henry also trail Bland by a touchdown.

BLAND DID IT AGAIN!!! HISTORY!!!

: #WASvsDAL on CBS
: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/N5H8Nc0xKc pic.twitter.com/tImqViPSlg
— NFL (@NFL) November 24, 2023

While Bland has outclassed some of the game's most electric playmakers, he's also dwarfed his competition on defense. Entering Week 12, only one other player, Indianapolis Colts CB Kenny Moore (2), had more than one pick-six this season.

Furthermore, Bland has toppled almost every defense that's taken an NFL field. Per Stathead, only 14 team defenses have recorded more pick-sixes than Bland over a single season – and there are still six regular-season games remaining on the Cowboys schedule. As unbelievable as it might sound, Bland is within striking distance of the single-season mark by a team (nine), set by the then-San Diego Chargers in 1961.

Bland's historic tally – paired with his NFL-best six interceptions – has the second-year corner slowly emerging as a darkhorse candidate for Defensive Player of the Year. While there's no denying Bland's impact on the Cowboys defense, history isn't on his side. Since 1971, only 11 defensive backs have earned the award. It's only happened once over the last 12 seasons (Stephon Gilmore, 2019).

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