Hawkeyes in the NFL: Week 15 Top Performers
We are back for another week of ‘Hawkeyes in the NFL’ and teams are making beginning to make their final push before the playoffs. As of right now, 20 former Hawkeyes would make the playoffs if the season ended today. There’s plenty to talk about from this past weekend, including a defensive touchdown that earned play of the week honors. Let’s get into it.
Honorable Mention Top Performers
DB Geno Stone – 5 tkls, 1 INT vs Tennessee
DE Chauncey Golston – 4 tkls, 1 sk vs Carolina
Ben Niemann – 5 tkls, 1 PD vs Buffalo
1. Detroit TE Sam LaPorta
The Lions did not come out on the right end of Sunday’s 90-point shootout against Buffalo, but tight end Sam LaPorta had a big offensive day. He caught a season-high seven passes for 111 yards, including a 31-yard reception early in the fourth quarter as Detroit attempted to mount a comeback. The comeback fell short, but that doesn’t take away from LaPorta’s performance. On the season, LaPorta has caught 43 receptions for 556 yards, five touchdowns and 30 first downs.
2. New York Giants DB Dane Belton
His snaps numbers have been up and down throughout the season, but Dane Belton played 67 snaps on Sunday against Baltimore and had a big game. Belton totaled a career-high 15 tackles and notched his second career sack. It’s (unofficially) the most tackles in a single-game by a former Hawkeye defensive player I began doing the ‘Hawkeyes in the NFL’ weekly articles. On the season, Belton has 38 tackles and three passes defended.
3. Tampa Bay OT Tristan Wirfs
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers picked up a big win over the Los Angeles Chargers moving them one step closer to securing a playoff spot. Offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs was key on the Bucs line, allowing Baker Mayfield to drop back and pass for 288 yards and four touchdowns. Per Pro Football Focus, Wirfs 79.5 game grade ranks as the tenth-best performance by an offensive lineman during week nine, while his 90.7 pass blocking grade ranked second-best. Wirfs did not allow a single quarterback pressure over 35 pass blocking snaps.
On the season, Tristan’s 86.3 overall grade ranks 9th in the NFL, while his 93.6 pass blocking grade is better than any other offensive lineman. He has allowed just nine pressures on 507 pass blocking snaps and has not given up a single sack.
4. San Francisco TE George Kittle and Minnesota TE TJ Hockenson
Shocking that this article would have more appearances from tight ends. Neither of these guys were able to reach triple digit receiving yards like LaPorta, but both had decent performances.
It was a defensive struggle on Thursday between San Francisco and Los Angeles, but George Kittle still managed to catch four passes for 61 yards, including a 33-yard first quarter reception. On the season, Kittle has caught 60 passes for 861 yards, eight touchdowns and 40 first downs.
Top 10
- 1Breaking
Coach Michael Vick
Former NFL star is college HC
- 2Hot
Zachariah Branch
USC 5-Star hits the portal
- 3
Jaylen Mbakwe
5-Star Alabama freshman staying in Tuscaloosa
- 4
Dan Mullen
Contract details released
- 5
Updated National Title odds
Latest odds on the CFP title chase
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As for TJ Hockenson, he caught five receptions for 52 yards in the Vikings 27-12 win over the Bears. Since his return from injury in week nine, Hockenson has caught 32 passes for 351 yards, but has not yet recorded a touchdown reception.
5. Detroit LB Jack Campbell and Carolina LB Josey Jewell
A couple of tackling machines, Jack Campbell and Josey Jewell made it three former Hawkeyes with double digit tackles on Sunday.
In Detroit’s loss to Buffalo, Campbell totaled 11 tackles, and one pass defended. It’s the third time this season and the fifth time in his career that he has recorded double digit tackles. On the season, Jack has a team-high 109 tackles, five tackles for loss, and four passes defended.
As for Josey Jewell, he finished with ten tackles and one pass defended in the Panthers loss to Dallas, giving him three consecutive games with double digit tackles. He has totaled five such games this season and 19 in his career. On the season Jewell has 91 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and six passes defended.
Play of the Week: Cincinnati DB Geno Stone
The Bengals are trying to make a late run at a playoff spot and Geno Stone has stepped up on the defensive side of the ball, with big plays in each of the past two weeks. On Sunday, with Cincinnati holding a 24-14 lead over Tennessee, Stone put the game away with a 39-yard pick six. He has now recorded an interception in back-to-back weeks for the first time since weeks 6-9 last season when he had an interception in four straight games. On the season, Stone has totaled 75 tackles, three interceptions, four passes defended and one fumble recovery.
