However, he saw limited playing time and threw two interceptions and no touchdowns, completing just 51.4% of his passes.
Adam Bogdan kept them afloat in the opening half-hour, conjuring a flurry of superb interceptions and saves to thwart Callum Wilson and Matt Ritchie, but the visitors had still caved in by the time the contest has stretched to the interval.
The enemy was known and the purpose of the interceptions clear – to seize the initiative in a global war between countries who threatened each other's existence.
In fairness, they were put off their stride by a Preston side that displayed ravenous hunger all over the pitch, and in particular in midfield where Neil Kilkenny, John Welsh and Daniel Johnson made numerous interceptions and tackles whenever their opponents in red did advance.
The Australians were taking more risks and making more mistakes but winning more interceptions as a result.
According to our analysis, it is his not his ability to score from afar that sets him apart from his peers, but the number of successful interceptions and successful passes that he makes in his own third of the field.
Interceptions from Mexico are at a 40-year low.
There are fewer interceptions because fewer people are crossing the border.
Moreover, offences have the opportunity to recover fumbles but not interceptions, and do so about 38% of the time.
He fared poorly in his first few seasons, throwing more interceptions than touchdown passes and missing games because of injuries.
He retired from professional football after the 1993 season with career totals of 132.5 sacks (not including sacks from his rookie year), 1,088 tackles, 33 forced fumbles, and 9 interceptions.
