Inside The Play: Joe Haden Shows Incredible Awareness On Tip-Drill Interception

Joe Haden and Donte Whitner put on a tip-drill clinic in Week 9.

The Cleveland Browns had little to brag about during the 2014 season, but they certainly can boast about the fantastic interception that included Haden perfectly tipping the ball to Whitner for the pick against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back in November.

The combination of Haden’s awareness, timing and the teamwork that was on display was impressive enough for former NFL linebacker Matt Chatham to select it as No. 6 on the best plays of 2014 in his latest Football By Football column.

“The timing of Haden’s jump is perfect,” Chatham writes. “The tip is perfect. But most importantly, Haden’s read on the situation is perfect in a spot where a great play would have been to simply get the pass breakup against the much taller Evans. The execution here is of added significance because we’re not talking about a low or intermediate route where an error can be covered up by other pursuit tacklers. The “island” is real in the deep part of the field where any slight mistake means a sure long touchdown.”