While it’s obviously too early to start talking about Defensive Player of the Year, the Dallas Cowboys’ second-year cornerback Trevon Diggs is already making his mark and racking up unbelievable statistics through October. Now, he’s got the first Defensive Player of the Month award of the season under his belt.
Among many bright spots on the Dallas defense, Diggs has been a shut-down corner through three games, logging an interception in each contest and creating match-up problems for some of the best offenses in the NFL.
Diggs recorded his first interception of the season against future Hall-of-Famer and maybe the G.O.A.T. QB Tom Brady in Week 1. This turnover led to a field goal and the first lead of the game for the Cowboys, who would eventually lose on a last-second kick.
Against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2, Diggs ended a promising drive by the second-year signal caller and last year’s Offensive Rookie of the Year Justin Herbert. While that interception didn’t result in points for the Cowboys, it set the pace for the game after Dallas had scored its first opening-drive touchdown in 20 games, then backed it up with the takeaway.
Diggs’ interception against the Philadelphia Eagles was one of the more spectacular plays on defense this season. He took an errant pass from QB Jalon Hurts to the house after a 59-yard scamper en route to a blow-out win over the division-rival Eagles.
Interceptions are only one category that showcases the level of dominance Diggs is playing at this season. He has already racked up six passes defended against and recorded nine tackles through the first three games. In 2020, Diggs defended only 14 passes through 12 games. He is on pace for around 27 pass defenses this season. His three interceptions this year matched his team-high total after 12 games last season.
While the award is meaningful for Diggs, it also shows the level that the Dallas defense is playing at this year. The 2020 season is widely regarded as one of the worst defensive performances of any Cowboys team in modern history. The fact that Diggs is collecting interceptions in each game says a lot about how the rest of the defense is playing.
If Diggs can continue to torment opposing quarterbacks at the level he has shown so far this season, he stands a good chance of getting himself into the Cowboys record books. The most interceptions recorded by a player in a single season is Cornell Green, who recorded seven INTs in 1963. Last season, the Cowboys managed only 13 interceptions.
The Cowboys’ next opponent is the Carolina Panthers. Quarterback Sam Darnold has thrown only one interception this year, coming in the team’s Week 2 match-up against the New Orleans Saints. The Cowboys’ defense will look to disrupt Darnold, who has the lowest pass completion from outside the pocket of any starting quarterback in the NFL.
