ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Daron Brand tied the NFL record for interception returns for touchdowns in a season, but apparently he wasn’t good enough.
His Dallas Cowboys teammates wanted to see more. So Fresno State’s unheralded 2022 fifth-round pick gave it to them while keeping the record all to himself.
Brand’s fifth pick of the season, the No. 6 pick, threw for 63 yards, breaking a three-player tie and en route to a 45-10 victory over the Washington Commanders on Thursday on Thanksgiving.
Twice on plays in the fourth quarter, it looked like the managers might tackle him in front of the end zone. However, quarterback Sam Howell was unable to bring him down, and receiver Terry McLaurin and running back Brian Robinson Jr. collided trying to do the same.
Brand cruised along for the final dozen yards, one in NFL history.
“Actually, I wanted to show my teammates my returning skills,” Brand said. “That’s what they said. ‘We’ve seen a lot of pick-sixes, but we had to see a player with return skills.’ Hopefully, I showed them.”
Consider his teammates impressed.
Quarterback Dak Prescott said of Brand’s move toward McLaurin and Robinson after he stepped in front of a pass to Jahan Dotson along the Dallas sideline, “In a Michael Vick style, they collided.” ” he said.
Brand played in an NFL record four games, tying Philadelphia’s Eric Allen (1993), Kansas City’s Jim Carney (1972) and Houston’s Ken Houston (1971).
Scoring is new, interceptions are not. Brand had five interceptions for the Cowboys as a rookie and has seven interceptions so far this season.
“From every opportunity that’s been given to him, he’s been very consistent, very professional,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “His playmaking ability is special.”
The scoring streak began in the opener, when a hit by Trevon Diggs sent the ball into the air and into Brand’s arm for a 22-yard score by New York Giants star running back Saquon Barkley.
Brand continued to score even after 2021 All-Pro Diggs suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice less than two weeks ago.
The next one was New England’s Mac Jones, who gained 54 yards in Week 4, followed by Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams, who gained 30 yards in Week 8.
The brand is currently on a winning streak. The fourth went for another 30 yards last Sunday against 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young of Carolina.
Teammates pointed out that all four of his previous attempts were straight shots into the open field after catching Young’s throws with a diving glove.
Howell appeared to be timing the tackle as Brand sprinted down the Dallas sideline. After he cut inside, it looked like there was too much traffic with McLoughlin and Robinson closing in.
Apparently not.
“I wasn’t going to be rejected on that one,” Brand said.
Because the game was on Thanksgiving Day, Bland said her family was at the stadium to watch the record.
Brand said he tried to get into one of the Salvation Army’s oversized cauldrons himself after scoring, but was picked up by a teammate and “made a mess.”
The game was so out of reach before Brand’s play that Prescott and right guard Zach Martin were already eating turkey legs on the sideline — with Prescott saying his team was comfortably ahead. It is said that this was planned.
What awaited the brand that made history was a turkey leg.
“I have mine,” he said. “That was good too.”
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