4) Cowboys CB stepping up and showing out
There has been nothing bland about Cowboys second-year cornerback DaRon Bland.
The Fresno State product has stepped up in Trevon Diggs‘ absence due to season-ending injury, leading all NFL players with three pick-sixes in 2023.
Bland has yet to allow a touchdown as the nearest defender in coverage this season, per Next Gen Stats,
That’s right, he has scored three touchdowns and allowed zero. That seems pretty good for a cornerback.
In fact, Bland is the first player in Cowboys history with three pick-sixes in a single season (reminder: Deion Sanders played for the Cowboys). Bland is one more interception return for a touchdown away from tying the single-season record of four (a record shared by Eagles corner Eric Allen in 1993, Chiefs safety Jim Kearney in 1972 and Hall of Fame safety Ken Houston in 1971).
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who threw his 30th career pick-six in this game, broke a tie with Hall of Famer Dan Marino for the second-most all-time. Only Hall of Famer Brett Favre (32) has had more passes intercepted and returned for touchdowns.
