4th down interceptions

[John Grasso]

I DVR most games and watch some during the week.
I'm watching the Chiefs-Chargers game from last Saturday now and Philip Rivers passes on 4th down
from the Chargers 48 and it's picked off at their 35.
The defender should have knocked the ball down - as a result the Chiefs lost 13 yards on the play.

Why do football announcers get as excited when there is an interception on 4th down as they do on
other downs - don't they realize it cost the team yards?

[Todd Pence]

I've seen two games lost because players intercepted the ball on the fourth down: Marlon McCree in the Chargers' loss to the Patriots in that 2006 playoff game, and London Fletcher in a Redskins loss to Dallas in 2009.

Sometimes the announcers do notice. In a 1982 game, the Rams trailing by six late in the game were trying a desperation fourth down pass. Vince Ferragamo heaved the ball several yards downfield where the 49ers Eric Wright intercepted. Frank Gifford immediately called out "Terrible play by Eric Wright!"

[Citizen]

It makes me nuts when defenders intercept a 4th-down pass. I was taught not to do that in 7th grade. The Chargers cost themselves a playoff game against New England a few years ago when one of their guys intercepted Brady on 4th down and fumbled during the return.

Same thing with Hail Mary passes -- there's just no reason to do anything but prevent a catch.

[BD Sullivan]

Same thing with Hail Mary passes -- there's just no reason to do anything but prevent a catch.

You should have mentioned that to the Browns defenders in 1980 who let Ahmad Rashad score the game-winning TD.

[JeffreyMiller]

I think it was the Bills' Leodis McKelvin (correct me if I'm mistaken) who intercepted a ball on fourth down once inside his own 5-yard line and was defended by a teammate who said something like, "You don't make the Pro Bowl for batting down balls."

[SixtiesFan]

Same thing with Hail Mary passes -- there's just no reason to do anything but prevent a catch.

You should have mentioned that to the Browns defenders in 1980 who let Ahmad Rashad score the game-winning TD.

Yes, the Hail Mary works when the defenders try to catch the ball (and keep it in the air) rather than knock it to the ground.

[Todd Pence]

On November 22, 2009, the Dallas Cowboys elected to go for it on fourth and short at the Washington Redskin 39-yard line. London Fletcher intercepted Tony Romo's pass and returned it to the Redskin 35. Fletcher's pick cost the Redskins four yards of field position. On the ensuing drive, Shaun Suisham narrowly missed a 50-yard field goal - a kick that would probably have made it from just a few yards closer. The Skins went on to lose the game by one point.

[conace21]

Well, we've seen another one. Mike Adams intercepted Drew Brees on 4th and 2 in the final minutes of today's game. Adams actually did fumble, but the ball went out of bounds. He cost Carolina 16 yards of field position. Carolina actually drove down to the 21 yard line before an intentional grounding penalty moved them back.

Inexcusable. And Adams is 36 years old... He's not a novice.

[ChrisBabcock]

Well, we've seen another one. Mike Adams intercepted Drew Brees on 4th and 2 in the final minutes of today's game. Adams actually did fumble, but the ball went out of bounds. He cost Carolina 16 yards of field position. Carolina actually drove down to the 21 yard line before an intentional grounding penalty moved them back.

Inexcusable. And Adams is 36 years old... He's not a novice.

As soon as I saw that play I immediately thought of this thread. He was shown sitting on the bench soon after with a "what have I done?" ashamed look on his face.

[rhickok1109]

Well, we've seen another one. Mike Adams intercepted Drew Brees on 4th and 2 in the final minutes of today's game. Adams actually did fumble, but the ball went out of bounds. He cost Carolina 16 yards of field position. Carolina actually drove down to the 21 yard line before an intentional grounding penalty moved them back.

Inexcusable. And Adams is 36 years old... He's not a novice.

As soon as I saw that play I immediately thought of this thread. He was shown sitting on the bench soon after with a "what have I done?" ashamed look on his face.

Same here.