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*The Best Defensive/Special Teams Touchdowns of S23 - Modern_Duke - 06-14-2020 I think we all accept and appreciate a good defensive touchdown. They are given adequate consideration (actually maybe too much) in end of season awards. But are all defensive and special teams touchdowns created equal? Of course not. They can flip a game on their own, or be entirely meaningless. Think of a pick 6 to put a team up by 28 points, versus the Music City Miracle, a kickoff return as time expires to flip the score and win a playoff game, consequently making it one of the iconic plays in NFL history. So I wanted to take a look at all defensive and special teams touchdowns of this past season, and see how they stacked up, and which ones actually mattered. Side note: my original plan was to try to create some kind of formula to apply a score to each one based on time remaining, game situation, etc., similar to what Jon Bois (the person, not the KCC player named after him) did with his Surrender Punt video. But I was starting to get lost in the weeds on that so I'm just ranking them subjectively instead. Oh, and fun fact that I'll mention now: there were 0 fumble returns for touchdowns this season. I don't know if that's something with the sim? But I feel like I'm sure I've seen fumble returns for touchdowns before... 36. Player: Mervin Leonard Game: YKW at CHI Week 11 Play Type: Interception Game Situation: 3Q 0:00, 31-0 Opposing Player(s): LaFleur to O’Leary Return Length: 27 Yards Final Score: 41-0 Basically the clear definition of a pick six that didn't change anything. The game was well over by the end of the third quarter, and Leonard's interception of a 50 TPE quarterback only made this even more of a blowout. 35. Player: Ed Ball Game: LDN vs KC Week 1 Play Type: Interception Game Situation: 4Q 2:00, 24-10 Opposing Player(s): Covington III to Watson Return Length: 52 Yards Final Score: 31-10 Late in the game, this one was over anyway. 34. Player: Lucas Knight Game: SAR at COL Wild Card Game Play Type: Kick Return Game Situation: 4Q 14:18, 0-29 Return Length: 94 Yards Final Score: 14-36 Fourth quarter, game was out of hand. Not enough to turn the tide. 33. Player: Quinn Hughes Game: AZ at NOLA Week 3 Play Type: Interception Game Situation: 4Q 4:46, 7-26 Opposing Player(s): Francisco to McCormick Return Length: 23 Yards Final Score: 14-36 Made it a two score game, but too late in the game, and New Orleans responded with scores of their own anyway. 32. Player: Rotticus Scott Game: COL vs BAL Week 5 Play Type: Interception Game Situation: 4Q 13:41, 24-10 Opposing Player(s): Fujiwara to Quinn Return Length: 37 Yards Final Score: 34-10 Game wasn't out of hand quite yet, but this interception made it so. 31. Player: Xerxes Ridley Game: CHI vs SAR Week 13 Play Type: Interception Game Situation: 1Q 7:14, 0-7 Opposing Player(s): Jenkins to Gordon Return Length: 33 Yards Final Score: 10-38 Early in the game, and this play tied it up for the Butchers, but this one had no effect on the game result, which ended up a blowout anyway. 30. Player: Mason Blaylock Game: NO at OCO Week 10 Play Type: Interception Game Situation: 2Q 4:00, 0-17 Opposing Player(s): Armstrong to Phillips Return Length: 25 Yards Final Score: 16-33 Could have been the start of a big comeback, but the end of game point differential stayed the same. 29. Player: Buck Thornton Game: MINN vs KC Week 10 Play Type: Interception Game Situation: 2Q 0:32, 14-0 Opposing Player(s): Covington III to Nova Return Length: 17 Yards Final Score: 48-3 Was a pretty close game, but then things got out of hand, starting with this pick six. 28. Player: Logan Uchica Game: COL vs SAR Week Wild Card Game Play Type: Interception Game Situation: 3Q 9:29, 19-0 Opposing Player(s): Jenkins to Frost Return Length: 9 Yards Final Score: 36-14 Kind of a back breaker for Sarasota. Was a three-score game, but just like that, Uchica only had to go 9 yards to pretty much seal the game. 27. Player: Rayne Gordon Game: SAR at OCO Week 8 Play Type: Kick Return Game Situation: 4Q 0:00, 19-34 Return Length: 105 Yards Final Score: 26-34 Well, I guess he did all he could given the situation. Sarasota just literally ran out of time. Bonus points for being the league's longest play of the season. 26. Player: Brooks, D. Game: MINN vs POR Week 2 Play Type: Kick Return Game Situation: 4Q 9:24, 27-13 Return Length: 96 Yards Final Score: 34-13 25. Player: Thor Kirkby Game: COL at OCO Week 7 Play Type: Interception Game Situation: 2Q 3:44, 0-10 Opposing Player(s): Armstrong to Mongo Return Length: 29 Yards Final Score: 17-41 Another one that got away in the second half, but this one made it close for a bit. 24. Player: Zamir Kehla Game: AZ vs PHI Week 7 Play Type: Interception Game Situation: 2Q 12:33, 0-16 Opposing Player(s): Phoenix to Vuxta Return Length: 57 Yards Final Score: 13-22 The start of a comeback effort that fell short. Nice long return too. 23. Player: Jamar Lackson Game: MINN vs POR Week 2 Play Type: Punt Return Game Situation: 2Q 5:56, 13-3 Return Length: 50 Yards Final Score: 34-13 This one and the next two are all in the same boat. Close games early, but these plays lead to comfortable victories. 22. Player: Mac Griddle Game: POR vs LDN Week 4 Play Type: Interception Game Situation: 2Q 13:23, 6-0 Opposing Player(s): Jack to Cash Jr. Return Length: 9 Yards Final Score: 27-6 21. Player: Leeroy Jenkins Game: MB at KC Week 11 Play Type: Kick Return Game Situation: 1Q 5:44, 7-3 Return Length: 99 Yards Final Score: 31-13 20. Player: Howard Ryan Game: TIJ vs MINN Week 11 Play Type: Interception Game Situation: 1Q 13:01, 0-0 Opposing Player(s): Snowbow to Hood Return Length: 59 Yards Final Score: 21-24 These early plays were hard to rank. Hard to say it was a deciding factor at all, especially when they end up losing. 19. Player: Louisiana Purchase Game: COL vs YKW Week 1 Play Type: Interception Game Situation: 2Q 7:49, 7-9 Opposing Player(s): Bigsby to Swift Return Length: 59 Yards Final Score: 34-12 Maybe too high, but this guy is just too damn good. Have to give him props. 18. Player: Buck Thornton Game: MINN vs TIJ Week 4 Play Type: Interception Game Situation: 2Q 11:11, 0-3 Opposing Player(s): Slothlisberger to Kenobi Return Length: 29 Yards Final Score: 22-30 Another group of three similar plays here, down by 3 points early in the game. Not enough to swing the result. 17. Player: M. Mobley Game: POR vs DAL Week 10 Play Type: Interception Game Situation: 1Q 8:09, 0-3 Opposing Player(s): Jack to Lee Return Length: 50 Yards Final Score: 21-24 16. Player: Walt Green Game: BAL vs COL Week 13 Play Type: Kick Return Game Situation: 2Q 13:22, 0-3 Return Length: 94 Yards Final Score: 20-23 15. Player: Ryan Scott Game: NOR vs KC Week 9 Play Type: Interception Game Situation: 3Q 0:27, 21-13 Opposing Player(s): Glassley to Raccoon Return Length: 31 Yards Final Score: 28-23 I may have this one too low. Kansas City ended up with enough points to cover Norfolk's 21 before this play, meaning this was the deciding factor. 14. Player: Zamir Kehla Game: AZ at CHI Week 8 Play Type: Interception Game Situation: 1Q 8:32, 0-0 Opposing Player(s): Jenkins to Tirtawidjaja Return Length: 27 Yards Final Score: 26-16 Another one with an early, scoreless game, but this one ended in a victory. 13. Player: Thubba Bumper Game: NOR at MB Week 14 Play Type: Interception Game Situation: 1Q 3:23, 10-0 Opposing Player(s): Ramos to Despacito Jr. Return Length: 59 Yards Final Score: 27-24 This and the next one go together as, well, they happened in the same game, and within 3 minutes of each other. Myrtle Beach did a good job of keeping it close, considering. 12. Player: DB Jadakiss Game: NOR at MB Week 14 Play Type: Interception Game Situation: 1Q 6:03, 3-0 Opposing Player(s): Ramos to Boyd Return Length: 66 Yards Final Score: 27-24 11. Player: Wayne Howyanow Game: PHI vs COL Week 2 Play Type: Interception Game Situation: 4Q 8:25, 7-17 Opposing Player(s): McDummy to Vincent Return Length: 23 Yards Final Score: 14-17 Put the Liberty right back into position to go for the win, but they fall just short. Similar situation for the next two. 10. Player: Nick Kaepercolin Game: LDN vs NOR Week 10 Play Type: Punt Return Game Situation: 4Q 11:42, 3-17 Return Length: 65 Yards Final Score: 13-17 9. Player: Ke'oke'o Kane-Maika'i Game: HON at NOLA Week 13 Play Type: Punt Return Game Situation: 4Q 12:45, 10-21 Return Length: 72 Yards Final Score: 21-24 8. Player: Thubba Bumper Game: NOR vs POR Week 13 Play Type: Interception Game Situation: 2Q 0:43, 10-7 Opposing Player(s): O’Donnell to Okusi Return Length: 33 Yards Final Score: 23-20 Good season for Bumper, on here twice and both in the top half of the list. 7. Player: Jamie Nkiah Game: SAR at BAL Week 1 Play Type: Interception Game Situation: 2Q 6:09, 0-10 Opposing Player(s): Fujiwara to Kross Return Length: 41 Yards Final Score: 17-13 Started the momentum swing necessary to give Sarasota the victory. 6. Player: Kacey Dream Game: OCO at NOLA Week 2 Play Type: Interception Game Situation: 4Q 0:59, 13-9 Opposing Player(s): Francisco to Jones Return Length: 26 Yards Final Score: 20-9 Put a stop to the Second Line's attempt at a game winning drive. Quite literally sealed the game for OCO. 5. Player: Jon Bois Game: KC vs MINN Week 3 Play Type: Kick Return Game Situation: 3Q 14:44, 7-7 Return Length: 104 Yards Final Score: 17-13 Higher than the Dream play, as OCO had already been in position to win. This one broke the tie and proved to be the difference. 4. Player: Raphael d'Alcott Game: DAL at KC Week 14 Play Type: Interception Game Situation: 3Q 3:25, 14-20 Opposing Player(s): Glassley to Watson Return Length: 41 Yards Final Score: 31-23 Gave Dallas the lead and swung the game. 3. Player: Jack Banks Game: NOR at POR Week 6 Play Type: Interception Game Situation: 3Q 3:20, 7-10 Opposing Player(s): O’Donnell to George Return Length: 59 Yards Final Score: 21-20 Gave Norfolk the league and swung the game. Also one of the longest interceptions of the season. 2. Player: T. Staley Game: SJS at OCO Week 4 Play Type: Interception Game Situation: 4Q 8:07, 17-17 Opposing Player(s): Armstrong to Irving Return Length: 49 Yards Final Score: 24-17 Similar to the #5 play, but later in the game, on the road, and against one of the best quarterbacks in the league. 1. Player: LiterallyJust A. Hexagon Game: TIJ at MB Week 10 Play Type: Interception Game Situation: 4Q 6:44, 9-14 Opposing Player(s): Ramos to Boyd Return Length: 48 Yards Final Score: 17-14 While #3 and #4 swung the game in their teams' direction, this one was actually the deciding, final score of the game. Late game, long return, against a top quarterback. We have a clear #1 here. *The Best Defensive/Special Teams Touchdowns of S23 - Modern_Duke - 06-14-2020 I'm dumb. Last season was S22, not S23 *The Best Defensive/Special Teams Touchdowns of S23 - Faded - 06-14-2020 This just kinda makes me sad.