Cowboys DC Dan Quinn gives warning to Eagles over DaRon Bland

DaRon Bland was the toast of the NFL on Thanksgiving. The Cowboys cornerback returned an interception for a touchdown for the fifth time this season, breaking an NFL record that stood for half a century.

You’d think Bland’s play would intimidate opposing quarterbacks to look elsewhere when throwing the ball. Yet the Seahawks, the Cowboys next opponent, attacked Bland at will in the first half, with Seattle receiver DK Metcalf scoring two first-half touchdowns.

Might the Eagles, who the Cowboys play Sunday night, employ the same strategy? Dallas defensive coordinator Dan Quinn says don’t do it, Philadelphia.

“If they do, they’d better be careful,” Quinn told reporters earlier this week as the Cowboys prepped for their biggest home game of the year.

Cowboys DBs must deal with Eagles talented duo of Smith, Brown

The Eagles, with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, boast one of the top receiving tandems in the NFL. Bland, more than likely, will focus on Brown. When the Cowboys and Eagles faced off in Philadelphia in week nine, Brown caught two passes, including a touchdown, as Jalen Hurts threw Brown’s way four times when Bland was shadowing him.

The Eagles know all about what happened when the Cowboys and Seahawks faced off at AT&T Stadium. It still jumps off the game film. The Cowboys allow their corners to play sides of the field rather than a specific receiver. However, by design, Seattle isolated Metcalf on Bland. And Metcalf, on the Seahawks third play from scrimmage, scored on a 73-yard touchdown. Metcalf’s top speed on the play was 22.23 miles per hour. That was the fastest speed registered by any ball carrier this season.

DK. METCALF. 73. YARDS. pic.twitter.com/3ztN3eSAIQ

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 1, 2023

The Bland harassment didn’t stop with that slant play. Smith threw to Bland’s side six times in the first half. The receivers he covered caught five of them for a collective 137 yards and two scores.

Quinn made a significant adjustment at halftime. He assigned veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore to shadow Metcalf on most every play. Bland stuck with Tyler Lockett. The old football adage is cornerbacks need a short memory. Bland didn’t dwell on what happened in the first half. Instead, he picked off a pass intended for Lockett. No, he didn’t return it for a touchdown. But his eighth interception of the season leads the NFL.

Reporters asked Bland what he saw on the play that allowed him to make the pick.

“Same thing I always see,” he said.

Hurts does throw interceptions. He has 10 this season and he’s among a group of eight NFL quarterbacks with double-digit picks. Hurt didn’t post gaudy stats against the Cowboys in their first game. He attempted only 23 passes, his second lowest total of the season, completing 17 of them for 207 yards and two touchdowns.