Turnovers from the 1-yard line

[ewg_gestalt]

With all the commenting about Butler's INT was the only 1-yard line interception in the NFL this season, I was curious how common getting a turnover at the 1-yard line was in the NFL actually was.

Pro Football Reference's play index goes back to 1998, so I did a quick search of fumbles and interceptions from the 1-yard line. There were a total of 119 such turnovers: 45 interceptions, compared to 74 fumbles. In addition, there were another 67 fumbles that were recovered by the team on offense. However, teams passed just 1555 times versus 4173 rushes. So 2.9% of passes resulted in interceptions, while just 1.8% of rushes resulted on a turnover by fumble. (Although the total fumble rate was slightly higher than the INT rate, at 3.3%).

Much more interesting, however, is that since 1998, there have been just three such plays in the playoffs. One, as we all know, is the Butler INT. The other INT that occurred was also in the Super Bowl, when James Harrison intercepted a Kurt Warner pass to Anquan Boldin and returned it 100 yards just as time expired in the first half.

Even more fascinating is the one fumble: Marshawn Lynch coughed up the ball at the 1-yard line in the Seahawks' 2012 Wild Card game against the Redskins. So maybe there was some extra method to Carroll's madness. . . .

 

[Tunescribe]

With all the commenting about Butler's INT was the only 1-yard line interception in the NFL this season, I was curious how common getting a turnover at the 1-yard line was in the NFL actually was.

Pro Football Reference's play index goes back to 1998, so I did a quick search of fumbles and interceptions from the 1-yard line. There were a total of 119 such turnovers: 45 interceptions, compared to 74 fumbles. In addition, there were another 67 fumbles that were recovered by the team on offense. However, teams passed just 1555 times versus 4173 rushes. So 2.9% of passes resulted in interceptions, while just 1.8% of rushes resulted on a turnover by fumble. (Although the total fumble rate was slightly higher than the INT rate, at 3.3%).

Much more interesting, however, is that since 1998, there have been just three such plays in the playoffs. One, as we all know, is the Butler INT. The other INT that occurred was also in the Super Bowl, when James Harrison intercepted a Kurt Warner pass to Anquan Boldin and returned it 100 yards just as time expired in the first half.

Even more fascinating is the one fumble: Marshawn Lynch coughed up the ball at the 1-yard line in the Seahawks' 2012 Wild Card game against the Redskins. So maybe there was some extra method to Carroll's madness. . . .