Packers Get Six with Picks in Nashville

 By Eric Goska

Jaire Alexander recorded the first Pick-6
of his career Sunday.
(photos by Eric Goska)

Jaire Alexander high-stepping his way into the end zone has almost nothing in common with the kneel-down victory formation that often ends NFL games.

That said, the Packers veteran cornerback all but guaranteed his team would win when he reached paydirt with his first career pick-6.

Alexander’s first-quarter theft set the defensive tone for Green Bay as it sacked Tennessee 30-14 at Nissan Stadium. The steal was also the Packers’ sixth pick of 2024, a substantial haul rarely seen so early in a season.

Alexander has received his share of accolades since being selected 18th overall by Green Bay in the 2018 draft. A member of the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team that season, Alexander was named All-Pro following the 2020 and 2022 seasons. In August, Lombardi Avenue ranked him as the 9th-best cornerback in Packers’ history.

Unfortunately, Alexander’s career interception total has not matched the hype. Since 2018, 36 players across the league had come away with more than the 11 he had prior to Sunday according to Pro Football Reference.

Alexander grabbed the 12th of his regular-season career late in the first quarter. On the first play of Tennessee’s second possession, he jumped in front of a throw intended for DeAndre Hopkins and returned it 35 yards to put Green Bay in front 17-7.

Now, few 10-point leads are safe in today’s NFL. Especially those forged with three quarters remaining to be played.

But Alexander’s handiwork – a pick-6 – has history on its side. Ever since Bill DuMoe authored the first for Green Bay against the Evansville Crimson Giants in 1921, that type of score has almost always foreshadowed victory.

Alexander’s getaway was the 150th Pick-6 in team annals. The Packers’ record in regular-season games in which one or more occurs is 119-15-2 (.882).

The Packers’ defense tightened after Alexander’s pilferage. After having permitted Tennessee to march 70 yards (10 plays) to a touchdown on its first possession, Green Bay held the Titans to eight yards in the second quarter. The team sacked quarterback Will Levis seven times in the second half.

Nine of Tennessee’s first 10 offensive plays were run in Green Bay territory. Just 10 of its last 42 originated beyond the 50.

Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Halfley

Under first-year defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, interceptions have been more forthcoming in 2024 than in 2023 for Green Bay. Toss in Xavier McKinney’s steal near game's end, and the Packers have seven or as many as they had during all of last season.

The first six arrived in rapid order. In the opener, the Eagles had 11 possessions and were picked twice – by McKinney and Alexander. Nine days later at Lambeau Field, the Colts had 10 possessions and were intercepted thrice – by McKinney, Evan Williams and Eric Wilson. In Nashville, Alexander waylaid No. 6 on the Titan’s second offensive possession.

That’s 23 possessions with six ending in interceptions. Since 1941, only the Packers teams of 1996 (16 opponent possessions), 1962 (18), 2009 (18), 1957 (20), 1944 (21) and 1943 (23) matched or exceeded the speed with which the present-day Green and Gold helped themselves to their first six-pack.

So, amid this flurry of outright larceny, what’s Alexander to do for an encore? How about another pick-6?

Get a second and he would become the 30th Packer to reach the end zone two or more times in this manner. Get one against the Vikings this coming Sunday, and he would join Herb Adderley and Rasul Douglass as the only players in team history with Pick-6s in consecutive games.

Picks of the Litter
The possession on which Green Bay’s opponents threw their sixth interception of the season.
 
       Poss        Season        GB’s Record
                                                that Season
          16             1996                   13-3
          18             1962                   13-1
          18             2009                   11-5
          20             1957                    3-9
          21             1944                    8-2
          23             1943                  7-2-1
          23             2024                    ?-?