In American football, a Pass Break-Up (PBU) occurs when a defensive player deflects a forward pass, preventing the intended receiver from making a legal catch. The defender must make a play on the ball itself; simply being in the receiver’s vicinity or causing them to drop a catchable ball due to physical contact does not constitute this specific statistic. For example, a cornerback leaping to intercept a pass and instead knocking it harmlessly to the ground would be credited with this defensive play.
This action is a valuable defensive play, as it halts the offensive team’s progression down the field. A high number of these deflections by a single player or defensive unit often indicates strong pass coverage skills and an aggressive defensive strategy. Historically, tracking these events has provided valuable insight into defensive performance and effectiveness beyond simply recording interceptions.
