It's understandable that quarterbacks will dish up a Pick 6 once in a while. It happens. Brett Favre, Dan Marino and Joe Namath are the all-time leaders in this category. But Matt Schaub and Blaine Gabbert keep doing it over and over.
Schaub has had a decent year thus far. He's thrown 8 touchdowns, which ain't bad. But he's thrown interceptions returned for touchdowns in three straight games.
The season started for Schaub with him throwing an interception on his first attempt to set up a San Diego touchdown. That wasn't returned for a touchdown, but those have come in the last three games.
At home against Tennessee, he threw a Pick 6 that really should have sealed the Texans' fate. They were able to wiggle off the hook to win that one. (And it should be noted that on that interception, it really wasn't Schaub's fault; DeAndre Hopkins missed a route adjustment at the line of scrimmage). Schaub and Hopkins later hooked up for the game winner in overtime.
At Baltimore, Schaub threw a more costly Pick 6. This one came in the second quarter. It was more problematic. Houston was leading 6-3 at the time, seemingly in control of the game. They would have been up by a lot more if Schaub had been able to finish either of their two long field goal drives. They let that game slip away.
And he did it again on Sunday. Houston was leading Seattle 20-13 late, when Schaub inexplicably lofted a floater in the direction of Richard Sherman (one of the best cover corners in the game). Sherman took it to the house, sending Houston on its way down to a 2-2 record.
Throwing interceptions returned for touchdowns in three straight games might be an NFL record. It doesn't happen often. But note that there's another quarterback who's going wrong way at the same clip.
Blaine Gabbert threw an interception to Darius Butler that was returned for a touchdown today.
In his only other start this year, back on opening day, Gabbert had a pass grabbed by defensive end Tamba Hali returned for a score.
And in Gabbert's last full game last year -- also at home against the Colts -- Gabbert also had an interception returned for a touchdown (remarkably, also by Darius Butler).
Gabbert isn't actually on a three-game streak, however, because there's also one other start from 2012 in there. Gabbert was a hurt after completing his first two passes in the Houston game last November.
But Gabbert can claim to have thrown Pick 6 balls in his last three home starts. As with Schaub, that's not easy to do.
Houston plays Jacksonville twice this year (both late in the year). The defenses can hardly wait.
All-time leaders in throwing the Pick 6: Favre (32), Marino (30) and Namath (26).
-- Ian Allan