Second-year cornerback Quinyon Mitchell has enjoyed a meteoric rise to the pinnacle of his profession, earning All-Pro honors along with the nickname "Quinyonamo Bay" amid his ironclad lockdown skills.
However, in the initial stages of the 23-19 NFC Wild Card defeat to the visiting San Francisco 49ers, a jailbreak on the once impervious island was fast unfolding.
On San Francisco's opening drive, Mitchell found himself chasing wideouts in vain. Demarcus Robinson dusted Mitchell for a 61-yard gain on just the second play from scrimmage. Moments later, a quick-strike drive led by quarterback Brock Purdy had resulted in Mitchell surrendering three receptions on as many targets, culminating in a two-yard touchdown grab by Robinson.
It was the ultimate outlier in what has otherwise been a fantastic first two seasons for the former first-rounder out of Toledo: Three catches on three targets for 74 yards and one touchdown.
Back to the bay they went
Such an ominous start would spell doom for many a cornerback, a position where the margin for error is so minuscule. Mitchell, however, exhibited why he's one of the very best in the business, locking down the opposition the rest of the way to the tune of zero receptions allowed and a pair of interceptions on three targets.
Mitchell not only rebounded brilliantly, but he also handed the struggling Eagles' offense prime real estate in the process. Each of his interceptions left Philadelphia in great field position but resulted in just 3 points on the ensuing possessions, further fueling calls for major changes on that side of the ball.
For Mitchell, the pair of picks marks four interceptions in the first five career playoff games of his burgeoning career.
Per StatMuse, all-time icons Ronnie Lott, Ed Reed, Bill Simpson, and Charlie Waters sit atop the leaderboard for most postseason interceptions with nine.
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And while that quartet enjoyed long and storied tenures in the NFL, Mitchell's already-illustrious career is only truly beginning to take flight.