DeAngelo Hall tied an NFL record with four interceptions, running one back 92 yards for a touchdown, in Washington’s 17-14 victory over Chicago on Sunday.
The Redskins sacked Jay Cutler four times while forcing five turnovers.
Hall tied a record held by 18 others — including former Redskin and Hall of Famer Sammy Baugh — and became the first to pick off four passes since Deltha O’Neal with Denver in 2001. His one-handed interception and TD return late in the third quarter were made for the highlight reel and put the Redskins ahead for good, sending Chicago (4-3) to its third loss in four games.
Washington (4-3), meanwhile, equaled its win total from last season and joined a growing line of teams that has pounded Cutler. He has been sacked 19 times in his last three games, and when he wasn’t on his back, he seemed to be playing catch with Hall.
The TD return after his second interception was particularly impressive and stopped a Bears drive at the 13. The Redskins were trailing 14-10 at the time, when Hall made that one-handed grab. Cutler, throwing off his back foot, was trying to hit Johnny Knox along the right sideline. Instead, Hall ran it back for the score to give Washington the winning points with 1:36 left in the third period.
He also picked off Cutler early in the fourth quarter after Ryan Torain lost a fumble for Washington. That led to a missed 37-yard field goal by Graham Gano, and Hall had one more pick in him. It came in the closing minutes on a deep pass intended for Knox at the Washington 13.
In the first game after the NFL decided to crack down, there were at least a few instances where players appeared to pull up rather than go for the big hit. One example came on the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter.
The Redskins’ Reed Doughty could have blasted Knox on an incomplete pass near the left sideline but grabbed his legs rather than go high.
But the turnovers and sacks took the spotlight in this one.
