Who’s Leading the NFL in Interceptions?

Who’s leading the NFL in interceptions this season? Here’s a look at the top five players so far.

NFL Interceptions Leaders

NFL players are constantly trying to improve their game and become the best at their position. One way to do this is by leading the league in interceptions. Here are the NFL’s current leaders in interceptions.

Jaire Alexander – Green Bay Packers

As of Week 12 of the 2020 NFL season, Jaire Alexander of the Green Bay Packers leads the league in interceptions with 5.

Alexander, a cornerback, was drafted in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Louisville. In his rookie season, he had 2 interceptions in 15 games. He upped his total to 4 in 2019, and now has 5 in 2020.

The 24-year-old Alexander has quickly established himself as one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL, and is a key part of a Green Bay Packers defense that is currently ranked #5 in the league.

Deion Jones – Atlanta Falcons

With 6 interceptions this season, Deion Jones of the Atlanta Falcons is leading the NFL in interceptions.

A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Jones was drafted by the Falcons in the 2nd round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He played college football at LSU, where he was a member of the LSU Tigers national championship team in 2007.

In his rookie season with the Falcons, Jones appeared in all 16 games and made a total of 73 tackles. He also had one interception and two sacks.

In 2017, Jones started all 16 games for the Falcons and had 138 tackles, four interceptions, and two sacks. He was named to the Pro Bowl and was named First-Team All-Pro.

2018 has been another great year for Jones, as he has racked up 6 interceptions (leading the NFL), 70 tackles, and one sack.

Darius Slay – Detroit Lions

Darius Slay of the Detroit Lions leads the NFL in interceptions with 8 so far this season.

How Interceptions are Made

In order to lead the NFL in interceptions, a player must have good awareness and anticipation of where the quarterback is going to throw the ball. They must also be able to read the quarterback’s eyes and make a break on the ball.

By Dropping Back into Coverage

Interceptions are one of the most exciting plays in football, and unfortunately for quarterbacks, they happen more often than we’d like to admit. How do they happen? Most of the time it’s simply a matter of a defender being in the right place at the right time, but there are a few specific ways that interceptions happen more often than others.

One common way is when a quarterback drops back to pass and there is a defender in coverage behind the receiver. The defender will usually be facing the quarterback, which gives them an opportunity to see the quarterback’s arm motion and release point. If they can time their jump correctly, they can intercept the ball before it even gets to the intended receiver.

Another way interceptions happen is when a pass is batted at the line of scrimmage by a defensive lineman. This usually happens on shorter passes where the defensive lineman is close enough to reach up and hit the ball before it gets past them. If they can direct the ball towards one of their teammates, they have a good chance of getting an interception.

Finally, interceptions can also occur on what are called “hail mary” passes. These are desperation passes thrown by a quarterback at the end of a game (or sometimes at the end of half) when their team is behind and needs to score quickly. Because these passes are thrown so far downfield, there is often only one receiver who has a chance to catch it. This gives defenders an opportunity to position themselves behind the receiver and wait for the ball to come down. If they can time their jump correctly, they have a good chance of catching the ball for an interception.

By Jumping the Route

In American football, an interception occurs when a forward pass is caught by a player of the opposing defensive team. This usually happens when the quarterback (QB) throws a pass intended for a receiver on his own team, but the pass is caught by a player on the other team instead. When this happens, the defending team gain possession of the ball, and the play is often referred to as a “turnover.”

There are a few different ways that interceptions can occur, but one of the most common is when a defensive player “jumps the route.” This means that the defender anticipates where the receiver is going to be, and he position himself in front of him in order to make the interception. This can be difficult to do, but it’s often successful because quarterbacks often have specific patterns that they follow when they’re throwing passes. If a defender can learn these patterns, he can often jump the route and make an interception.

By Being in the Right Place at the Right Time

More often than not, interceptions are made because the defensive player was in the right place at the right time. This could be due to a number of factors, such as the quarterback’s poor decision-making, or simply because the defensive player guessed correctly. In any case, being in the right place at the right time is often the key to making an interception.

Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. Some players have a knack for intercepting passes even when they’re not in the right place at the right time. This is usually due to their supreme athleticism or exceptional ball-handling skills. Either way, these players are few and far between.

What Does it Take to Be a Great Interceptor?

In order to be a great interceptor in the NFL, a player must have great vision, anticipation, and ball skills. These are the three main attributes that scouts look for when evaluating potential interception leaders.

Quickness

Interception leaders tend to share one common trait: quickness. While some may argue that intercepting a pass is more about being in the right place at the right time, it’s hard to deny that the quickest players in the league often find themselves with the most picks.

peed and quickness are two different traits, but they often go hand-in-hand. A player can be fast, but if they don’t have good quickness, they may not be able to make plays on the ball. Quickness is the ability to change directions quickly and efficiently. It’s what allows players to Mirror receivers and stay with them step-for-step down the field.

The best interceptors in the NFL are usually cornerbacks or safeties who have a combination of speed and quickness. They have the ability to keep up with receivers down the field and break on the ball when it’s thrown their way.

Instincts

The best interceptors have a sixth sense for the game. They can read the quarterback’s eyes and anticipate where he’s going to throw the ball. They have great timing and can position themselves perfectly to make a play on the ball.

Interceptors also need to be quick. They need to be able to react quickly to the quarterback’s release and get in position to make a play on the ball.

And finally, interceptors need to be good at catching the ball. This might seem like a no-brainer, but there are a lot of would-be interceptors who can’t hang on to the ball when they finally make a play on it.

Ball Skills

The best interceptors in the NFL usually have great ball skills. This means they have the ability to track the ball in the air and make a play on it. They also have the ability to high-point the ball, which means they can jump up and catch the ball at its highest point. This is important because it allows them to make plays on balls that other defenders can’t.

Some of the best interceptors in the NFL right now are Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib, and Xavier Rhodes. All three of these guys have great ball skills and are able to make plays on balls that most other defenders wouldn’t be able to.

Another thing that all great interceptors have is good hands. This seems like an obvious one, but it’s really important. You’d be surprised how many times a defender will get his hands on a ball but then drop it. This is unacceptable if you want to be a great interceptor.

The Importance of Interceptions

Interceptions are often seen as one of the most important aspects of the game of football. A team’s ability to intercept the ball can often be the difference between winning and losing. In the NFL, interceptions are often used to determine who the best teams are.

They Can Change the Momentum of a Game

In American football, an interception occurs when a forward pass thrown by the offensive team is caught by a player of the opposing defensive team. This usually happens when the quarterback throws a pass intended for a receiver, but the receiver is unable to catch it or is not expecting it, allowing a defensive player to catch the ball instead. Interceptions are important because they can change the momentum of a game.

The team that intercepts the ball gets possession of it, and can then either run it back for a touchdown or take it to another part of the field to score. Interceptions can also be turned into points if the opposing team fumbles the ball during their attempt to run it back. For this reason, players who are good at intercepting passes are highly valued by their teams.

The leading interceptor in the NFL (National Football League) as of 2019 is Tre’Davious White, with six interceptions. He plays for the Buffalo Bills and is in his second season in the NFL.

They Can Be Game-Clinching Plays

Interceptions are often seen as game-changing plays in the NFL. They can be immensely important in the outcome of a contest, and as such, teams are always looking for players who can make them.

Leading the league in interceptions is a significant achievement, and it is one that is highly coveted by both fans and analysts alike. It can be the difference between winning and losing a divisional title, or even making the playoffs.

For some defenses, interceptions are seen as the key to success. They put pressure on the opposing offense and help to create opportunities for their own team. If a team can consistently create turnovers, then it gives themselves a much better chance of winning.

Interceptions have been on the decline in recent years, but they remain an important part of the game. The team that can make them will always have an advantage over those who cannot.

The Greatest Interceptions in NFL History

In NFL history, there have been many great interceptions. Some of the most iconic picks have been made by Deion Sanders, Ronnie Lott, and Mel Blount. These interceptions helped their teams win big games and even championships.

The “Helmet Catch” by David Tyree

On February 3, 2008, the New York Giants faced off against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. The Patriots were undefeated that season, and seemed poised to win their fourth Lombardi Trophy in seven years. But the Giants had other plans.

late in the fourth quarter, with the score tied at 14, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady threw a pass to wide receiver David Givens. But Giants linebacker Chase Blackburn knocked the ball away, and it fell into the hands of safety David Tyree.

Tyree then did something that no one had ever seen before: he used his helmet to catch the ball, pinning it against his head as he fell to the ground. The catch was unbelievably acrobatic, and it kept alive a drive that would ultimately result in a game-winning touchdown for the Giants.

To this day, Tyree’s catch is considered one of the greatest plays in NFL history. And it’s certainly one of the most famous instances of a player using his helmet to make a catch.

The “Immaculate Reception” by Franco Harris

On December 23, 1972, in the AFC divisional playoff game between the Oakland Raiders and the Pittsburgh Steelers, Franco Harris made one of the most famous plays in NFL history. With 22 seconds left in the fourth quarter and his team trailing by a point, Harris caught a pass from Terry Bradshaw that was deflected by Oakland’s Jack Tatum before it reached him. The “Immaculate Reception” helped send the Steelers to their first of eight Super Bowl appearances.