Defense and turnovers

[jazzcat22]

How many game ending or drive killing interceptions and fumbles has this defense created this year. On a teams last possession. Either the game ended, or we were then able to run out the clock.
Seems like quite a few.

I believe 4 INT's, and 2 or 3 forced fumble recoveries. But I'm not sure the exact numbers.

 

[NorTex]

We get an impressive amount of 4th quarter takeaways. I wonder how we measure up to the rest of the league.

 

[Eskimo]

This defense has been very opportunistic late in games when other teams are pressing.

Major turnovers late in close-ish games that stick out in my mind:

Seattle INT (RoMac)
Giants game 1 - fumble
Rams pick 6 (Carter)
Bears INT (OScan)
Eagles INT (Carter)

Something remarkable just occurred to me. The defense has not surrendered a late lead that ended in a loss yet this year. There were a couple of times that teams came close this year with important late scores to either tie or take a lead but none of them ended in a loss. Romo has always marched us down the field for the win and the other team was never able to respond in kind.

It's hard for me to attribute exactly why this has been the case. Has it been better conditioning? Has it been more rotation of players on defense? Has it been less fatigued defenses due to our TOP? Has it been the other team wilting from the pounding we give them with our physical running game? Has it been mental toughness of the players and coaches? I suspect all these things plus a bit of luck have played a role but it is a stark departure from what I have seen from 2008-13.

 

[jazzcat22]

Claiborne had INT against Rams on their last drive too.

 

[CF74]

Hmmm, good topic..

 

[CF74]

If my memory serves me correct the one in my avatar was a momentum shift pick against the Titans...