In today's Rewarding Moments In Redskins History presented by Maryland Lottery My Lottery Rewards, we look back at one of the most memorable performances in DeAngelo Hall's Redskins' career.
Maybe it was because his family was in the stadium, or maybe because Bears quarterback Jay Cutler just enjoyed throwing his way. Whatever the case, cornerback DeAngelo Hall had a career game in Chicago, one of the greatest in NFL history.
Eight years ago at Soldier Field, Hall put on a show at cornerback, intercepting four passes in the second half, tying a league-high mark, and returning one of them 92 yards for a score en route to a Redskins 17-14 victory.
Hall could barely realize what he accomplished after the game.
"It's kind of mind blowing," Hall said. "I had my mom, my aunt, and my two cousins in the stands. The first ball went to my mom, the second ball went to my aunt and the next thing you knew everybody had a ball."
The highlight of the day, and the play that gave the Redskins a lead they would hold onto for good, came with Washington trailing 14-10 in the third quarter. The Bears were driving and had reached the Redskins' 13-yard line.
Forced under pressure, Cutler made a throw off his back foot to the right sideline where Hall jumped in front of receiver Johnny Knox to make a spectacular one-handed catch. But he wasn't done there, sprinting down the sideline into the end zone.
London Fletcher called it the "sickest" interception he had ever seen.
Hall's three other interceptions were also impressive. His first one was a diving stab in front of Devin Hester. His third came deep in Bears territory, where he nabbed an off-target pass. The fourth and final pick came with just more than two minutes left in the game, when Hall leaped for a deep ball that was overthrown.
"There's no reason to shy away from him," Cutler said afterward. "I mean that's hard for me to say throwing four picks to the guy, but I still think if we had to play him tomorrow, I'd go after him every time."
I'm sure Hall would have relished the opportunity.
