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Factoid

Pick-5 quarterbacks

Goff's 5-interception game

The Cowboys are sticking with Cooper Rush as their starting quarterback, and I’m disappointed. Had they switched to Trey Lance, it would have created the oddity of the Texans picking off Jared Goff 5 times, then playing their next game against the last quarterback to throw 5 interceptions in a game.

Sort of, anyway. Lance threw 5 interceptions against the Chargers in a preseason game in August. He kept throwing picks, and the Cowboys opted to leave him on the field, letting him gun away (with 49 pass attempts and 323 yards).

Jameis Winston, five years ago, was the last quarterback to throw 5 interceptions in a regular-season game. That was the season he led the league in both interceptions (30) and passing yards (319 per game). (He also tossed 33 TDs that year.)

Out of curiosity, I ran the numbers on this. Three other active quarterbacks have thrown 5 interceptions in a game: Matthew Stafford as a rookie, and Joe Flacco and Russell Wilson. (Nathan Peterson is currently on the practice squad of the Falcons; he would be another, depending on how one defines “active”.)

In the 32-team era, 34 quarterbacks have thrown 5 interceptions in a game. Only three of those guys managed to sneak away with wins – Goff on Sunday night, Matt Ryan at Arizona in 2012, and Tony Romo at Buffalo in 2007.

I don’t know that we’ll see another game in our lifetimes with a quarterback coming in completing 75 percent – a finalist for league MVP in the eyes of many – and then tossing 5 picks. Nobody saw that one coming.

QUARTERBACKS THROWING 5 INTERCEPTIONS
YearPlayerOppResultComAttYardsTDInt
2002Rich Gannon, Oak.v. T.B.L 21-48244427225
2003Chad Pennington, NYJN.E.L 16-21244322905
2004Chris Chandler, St.L.at Car.L 7-20162924616
2004A.J. Feeley, Mia.Buff.L 32-42255130335
2005Daunte Culpepper, Min.at Cin.L 8-37213723605
2005Joey Harrington, Det.at Chi.L 6-38193719615
2005Brett Favre, G.B.at Cin.L 14-21263927915
2005Ryan Fitzpatrick, St.L.at Min.L 13-27264523505
2005Kyle Orton, Chi.Cin.L 7-24173914905
2007• Tony Romo, Dall.at Buff.W 25-24295030925
2007Gus Frerotte, St.L.at Balt.L 3-22193620805
2007Peyton Manning, Ind.at S.D.L 21-23345632826
2007Kurt Warner, Ari.at Sea.L 21-42284633735
2007Jon Kitna, Det.at S.D.L 14-51264530225
2008Jake Delhomme, Car.Ari.L 13-33173420515
2009Matthew Stafford, Det.at Sea.L 20-32224220325
2009Jay Cutler, Chi.at S.F.L 6-10295230705
2009Josh Freeman, T.B.at Car.L 6-16234432105
2009Keith Null, St.L.at Ten.L 7-47284416515
2009Mark Sanchez, NYJBuff.L 13-16102911905
2009Kurt Warner, Ari.Car.L 21-34274624225
2012Drew Brees, N.O.at Atl.L 13-23285034105
2012Tony Romo, Dall.Chi.L 18-34314330715
2012• Matt Ryan, Atl.Ari.W 23-19284630105
2013Joe Flacco, Balt.at Buff.L 20-23255034725
2013Eli Manning, NYGSea.L 0-23183115605
2014Eli Manning, NYGS.F.L 10-16224528015
2016Ryan Fitzpatrick, NYJat K.C.L 3-24204418806
2016Russell Wilson, Sea.at G.B.L 10-38223924015
2016Matt Barkley, Chi.Was.L 21-41244032325
2017Nathan Peterman, Buff.at LACL 24-546146605
2017Ben Roethlisberger, Pitt.Jac.L 9-30335531205
2019Jameis Winston, T.B.Car.L 26-37305440015
2024Jared Goff, Det.at Hou.W 26-23153024025

Statistics compiled using search tools at Pro-Football-Reference.com

—Ian Allan

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