Packers McKinney eyes record that has stood for more than six decades
By GERY WOELFEL
Xavier McKinney has probably never heard of Tommy Morrow.
That’s understandable.
Morrow ha a brief but incredible career while playing for the Oakland Raiders in the early 1960s. McKinney wasn’t even born until 1998.
But McKinney will most likely learn about Morrow if he keeps intercepting passes. McKinney enters today’s game against the Arizona Cardinals at Lambeau Field with the distinction of having an interception in five straight games.
The pro football record is eight consecutive games set by the aforementioned Mr. Morrow, who just might be the greatest player nobody has heard of.
Morrow’s career was brief – he played just three seasons with the Raiders – but sensational. After being overlooked in the 1962 draft, Morrow recorded 10 interceptions in his rookie season. He then had nine interceptions in his second year and four interceptions in his third season.
Unfortunately, Morrow’s amazing career came to an instant halt when he suffered a career-ending knee injury.
“Had he not been injured, Morrow might have become one of the all-time great safeties in pro football,’’ the legendary Raiders coach and executive Al Davis said of Morrow, who died at the age of 89 in 2018.
Morrow finished his three-year career with 23 interceptions.
If McKinney hopes to stay within striking distance of Morrow’s record, which has now held up for more than six decades, he’ll have to get an interception against the Cardinals.
And that won’t be easy.
The Cardinals quarterback is Kyler Murray, and he’s done an outstanding job of protecting the ball so far this season.
Murray has had only two passes picked off in five games. A total of 22 other quarterbacks have had more passes picked off this season than Murray.
Whether McKinney can intercept one of Murray’s passes, he and his defensive teammates will still have to bring their “A’’ game, which they haven’t done much this season.
Murray has completed 68 percent of his passes this season and has the capabilities of hurting opponents with his legs. He’s rushed for 247 yards this season, 83 of which came in the Cardinals’ 24-23 victory over the San Francisco 49ers last Sunday.
If the Packers can keep Murray in check – and McKinney can pick off yet another pass and inch closer to Morrow’s record – there’s no reason they can’t improve their record to 4-2.
Prediction: Packers 31, Cardinals 24.
