DeAngelo Hall’s most dazzling day in a Washington uniform still stands out because of the sheer scale of it: four interceptions off Jay Cutler, all in the second half, in a 17-14 Redskins win over the Bears on Oct. 24, 2010.
Washington entered that game 3-3 and went to Chicago to face a 4-2 Bears team on a sunny fall afternoon. The kickoff temperature was 67 degrees.
The final score was memorable enough, but the details around it are the kind of thing fans can easily lose track of. Washington put the ball on the ground six times and only lost one fumble, and the defense finished with six takeaways overall while winning the turnover battle 6-3.
Hall’s afternoon began with Washington trailing 14-10 in the third quarter. “I just remember feeling like, man, we got to make a play,” recalls Hall.
He said, “Devin Hester was a great receiver, but I’m like, I can beat this dude out of his break. So at the Washington 47-yard line, Cutler looked to his right for Hester.
Cutler didn’t lead Hester far enough out, and Hall broke on the ball for the interception.
He struck again on the Bears’ next possession. With the ball at the Redskins' 13-yard line, Cutler floated a risky throw to his right, and Hall jumped it, took it the other way, and sprinted 92 yards down the left sideline for the go-ahead touchdown with 1:36 left in the third quarter.
Hall wasn’t done. At 10:10 of the fourth quarter, Chicago was backed up deep in its own end when Cutler looked right again, and Hall read the slant and came away with his third interception of the half. Then, with 2:23 left, the Bears were at their own 47 and Cutler tried to force a deep ball with Hall already waiting on the go route.
“The last pick, two minutes left, they actually had a chance; Jay just threw it up,” Hall said. “That was awesome. I felt like Michael Jordan in the zone... couldn’t miss a shot.”
Hall’s four-pick explosion came in a career that stretched 14 NFL seasons, with his final 9.5 years coming in burgundy and gold.
In Other News...
Adam Peters Framed Washingtons Coaching Response In A Telling Way
The Commanders used their bye week to take stock after the loss to the 49ers, and general manager Adam Peters radio appearance offered a clearer picture of how the organization is handling the uneven stretch. Peters addressed the teams recent performance and the coaching side of things, while also confirming a move on defense that had been expected behind the scenes for some time.
What stood out most was the lack of drama around the staff during the break. There were no sweeping changes, and Dan Quinn is still expected to remain as head coach through the end of the season, which keeps the structure intact for now. The real question for Washington is how much the recent adjustment on defense can help steady things as the schedule resumes. [Read more 🡒]
Terry McLaurin Is Already Showing Commanders What Comes Next
Terry McLaurins season ended with a knee injury that will send him into a long rehabilitation, but the Commanders are already seeing the part of his value that goes beyond Sundays. General manager Adam Peters spoke about McLaurins leadership and the way he has handled the setback, noting the receivers steady presence and positive approach even as the injury changed the shape of Washingtons season.
Peters also made clear that McLaurin intends to remain a resource for the locker room while he recovers, which matters for a young team still sorting out its next steps at receiver. The on-field production is now on hold, but the mentoring piece may become a bigger part of McLaurins role in the months ahead, giving Washington a veteran voice it can lean on while the roster keeps evolving around him. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders May Have Found A Defensive Cornerstone At The Perfect Time
Sonny Styles has already given Washington plenty to like in the opening stretch of his rookie season, and the praise has started to come from outside the building. ESPN analyst Domonique Foxworth singled out the linebacker for his mental acumen and the way he has performed through the first six weeks, a notable endorsement for a player the Commanders are counting on to grow into a central piece of the defense.
What makes that kind of attention matter is the way Styles has filled up the stat sheet while learning on the fly, showing impact in coverage, around the line of scrimmage and as a disruptive presence. Foxworth even drew a comparison to four-time All-Pro Fred Warner, which is the kind of company that usually comes with expectations as much as praise, and it leaves Washington with a promising question: how high can Styles climb once his rookie season settles in? [Read more 🡒]