Humphrey breaks Suggs' single-season forced fumble record originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
In his first season adopting the "Fruit Punch" or Charles Tillman's "Peanut Punch," Marlon Humphrey has quickly become the best fumble-producer in the NFL.
With two forced fumbles against the Browns in a 47-42 win on Monday Night Football, Humphrey increased his season total to eight, passing Terrell Suggs for the single-season franchise record for forced fumbles.
“That’s a big accomplishment for me," Humphrey said after the game. "When I was a rookie, before I had even played a game, [Suggs] had told me I was the future of this franchise. So, from pretty early on and to him really not being able to see me get to play in a game, it seemed like he had some respect for me. So, to be mentioned in his name with anything is definitely an honor.”
Suggs forced seven fumbles for the Ravens in 2011, his lone All-Pro season and the same year he won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. What makes Humphrey's record all the more impressive is that he's rarely forcing fumbles on a strip-sack of a quarterback. He's giving ball-carriers, whose job is to take care of the football when they have it, nightmares.
"That’s who Marlon [Humphrey] is, man," Matthew Judon said. "He covers. He blitzes. I think he has two sacks on the season. He has a couple [tackles for loss] out of the nickel [cornerback position]. Whatever you need Marlon to do, he does. And when he tackles you, he’s going for the ball. So, he does over and beyond his job. That’s why he got [his contract] extended. That’s why he got the payday that he got, and it’s well-deserved.”
With three games left in the regular season, Humphrey has a chance to break the all-time NFL record for forced fumbles in a season. Charles Tillman (2012) and Osi Umenyiora (2010) both forced 10 fumbles in a single season. Humphrey will have to average one-per game to put his name above the rest.
