Andrew Buller-Russ
Second-year Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland has been a sensational story all season long. The 2022 fifth-round pick has been excellent since taking over for Trevon Diggs after the All-Pro suffered an ACL tear during practice just two games into the year.
Bland has started all nine games since the Diggs injury, and during Week 12’s big win over the Washington Commanders, he set a new NFL record by recording five interceptions returned for a touchdown in the same season. Earlier on Thursday, before the game kicked off, Bland had earned NFC Defensive Player of the Month honors for his excellent performance thus far.
Yet, on Thursday, Bland had to face the monstrous Seattle Seahawks Pro Bowl receiver D.K. Metcalf for the first time in his young career. Let’s just say Bland’s first test didn’t go well.
On the Seahawks’ third play from scrimmage while facing 3rd-and-8, Geno Smith found Metcalf on a quick slant, where the 6-foot-4 wideout did most of the work.
Metcalf used his game-breaking speed to burn Bland and the rest of the Cowboys’ defense, in what was the fastest ball carrier this season, at 22.23 mph. Miami’s Tyreek Hill held the previous mark at 22.01 mph, set in Week 5.
Of course, Al Michaels, who’s providing the commentary for Amazon Prime during Thursday Night Football, couldn’t help but point out how voters must not factor in the final day of the month when voting for awards.
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DaRon Bland’s long night continues in Dallas
It would be understandable if Bland just had a bad moment or in the case of Metcalf’s touchdown, a bad snap. But unfortunately, Bland’s long night wasn’t done in the first quarter.
The Seahawks must have recognized a weakness in Bland’s game because they’ve continued to target the 24-year-old all night long.
Later, just before halftime, Bland allowed another touchdown, although this one was much shorter.
In all, he’s been targeted six times. Bland has allowed five receptions for 137 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. According to Kirk Herbstreit, the 137 yards Bland allowed are more than any other player has allowed in one half of play this season.
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Bland bounces back with clutch interception
While Bland may have been getting roasted earlier, the Cowboys cornerback didn’t give up the fight.
In the third quarter with the Cowboys trailing 28-27, Bland intercepted his eighth pass of the season, picking off Geno Smith.
We’ll see if the Seahawks keep targeting Bland after seeing him make such a heads-up play on third down.
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