By The Numbers – Part Four

Dan Sandifer had 13 interceptions in the 1948 season, which set the NFL record. It was not long lived because it broken by Dick “Night Train” Lane in 1952 with 14 interceptions which still stands today. Another Washington rookie, Paul Krause, is tied for third with 12 interceptions along with Woodley Lewis of the Los Angeles Rams.

Normally, I’ve only been listing season or career level stats, but I included this game level stat because it is interesting. Three players are tied with 4 interceptions in a single game.

Sammy Baugh set the record originally on November 14, 1943, against Detroit Lions. More importantly he set a record that will likely never be broken, being the only player in NFL history to throw 4 touchdowns and intercept 4 passes in a single game.

Sandifer only played two seasons with the Redskins (1948-49) but he did record 4 interceptions and 2 pick 6’s in a single game on October 31, 1948, against the Boston Yanks.

DeAngelo Hall tied the record on October 24, 2010, with 4 interceptions of Jay Cutler of the Chicago Bears. One of interceptions was a game winning 92-yard interception return for a touchdown.

The top three players are Dan Sandifer with 13 in 1948, Paul Krause with 12 in 1964, Sammy Baugh with 11 in 1943.

Most die-hard fans will get this one correct. Darrell Green had 54 interceptions in his 20-year career with Washington. The next two players are Brig Owens with 36 and Sammy Baugh with 31.

Not surprisingly, it is Sandifer with 2 pick sixes in 1948.

There are seven players tied with 2: Pug Rentner 1936 (DB), Sandifer 1948 (CB), Dale Hackbart 1961 (S), Vernon Dean 1984 (CB), Andre Collins 1994 (LB), DeAngelo Hall 2013 (CB), Kendall Fuller 2022 (CB).

Interestingly, Darrell Green had six interceptions returned for touchdowns for the team record but never had more than one in a season.

Six players are tied for second with 3 interceptions returned for touchdowns. Ryan Kerrigan, Monte Coleman, Andre Collins, Brig Owens, DeAngelo Hall, and Mike Bass.

Brian Orakpo had 11 sacks in his 2009 rookie season which was also his highest season total in his career. He finished 4^th in the AP Defensive Rookie Player of the Year voting, behind winner Brian Cushing, Jairus Byrd and Clay Matthews.

Dexter Manley had his best season in 1986 with 18.5 sacks which is still the team record. The Redskins went 12-4 that season but finished behind the 14-2 Giants. Washington won two playoff games and then faced the Giants in the NFC Conference Championship. The Giants won 17-0 and then dominated the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXI. Jay Schroeder had a poor game, going 20 of 50 for 195 yards, no touchdowns, one interception and four sacks.

Ryan Kerrigan had 95.5 sacks in career with Washington, but he fell short of Dexter Manley and his 97 sacks. Charles Mann is in third place with 82 sacks.

London Fletcher broke the record with 109 tackles in 2011, breaking the record set by Jeremiah Trotter in 2003. Fun fact is that Fletcher holds 5 of the top 10 spots for most solo tackles in a season including spots (2), (3), (4) and (8). Besides Trotter, the rest of the top 1- are Mason Foster (6), Sean Taylor (7), Antonio Pierce (9) and Marcus Washington (10).

Darrell Green set the record with 1,162 tackles and the late Monte Coleman is second with 999 tackles.