BBNFL Week 10: Za'Darius Smith sacks Lamar Jackson

Kentucky football takes on the Louisville Cardinals in just 11 short days, but Za’Darius Smith got Louisville Hate Week started early. The former ‘Cat sacked former Card, Lamar Jackson, on Sunday, part of a 33-31 Browns upset win over the Ravens on a last-second field goal.

Smith pressured Jackson four times on the day and ultimately sent him to the turf once. However, considering it was a former Kentucky player sacking a former Louisville Heisman winner, it feels like it should count as more than a single sack.

Kentucky football’s Big Z has had somewhat of a quiet year this season for Cleveland a year after he spent most of 2022 near the top of the NFL in sacks for the Minnesota Vikings. Still, Smith has helped the Browns become one of the best defenses in the NFL, propelling Cleveland to a 6-3 record in a tough AFC North division. They’re on their way to the franchise’s second playoff appearance in the last 20 years.

Lynn Bowden secures first reception of the season

Lynn Bowden Jr. found a home in New Orleans this season. The Saints signed the former Kentucky do-everything player and third-round NFL draft pick this offseason and immediately elevated him off the practice squad once meaningful games began. That being said, he hasn’t seen much in-game action aside from special teams. In fact, most of his snaps on offense have been runs.

However, on Sunday against the Vikings, Bowden caught a 12-yard pass across the middle to break the ice on receptions this year. It was just his second target of the season and his first catch. Hopefully, it won’t be his last.

Bowden is too good of a talent to keep off the field, but off the field, he has been kept. Let’s hope this is a sign good things are trending upward for the former ‘Cat.

Another rough day for Will Levis

After coming out of the gate on a rocket ship to the moon, Will Levis has come back down to rookie quarterback Earth. Levis threw four touchdowns the first time he stepped foot onto an NFL field, but since then, he has yet to find the end zone.

On Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Levis completed 19 of his 39 pass attempts for 199 yards and threw one interception. The real story of the day, though, was the lack of time he had in the pocket.

The Buccs pressured Levis on 19 of his 43 dropbacks and sacked him four times. At Kentucky, Levis had a knack for holding on to the ball a little too long at times, however, that was not the case on Sunday. Defenders were in his face almost immediately all day long. According to PFF, the Titans have one of the worst pass-blocking offensive lines in the league, and it showed during Week 10.

Levis’s receivers did not do him many favors either. They dropped a combined three passes on the day, 13.6 percent of his on-target attempts. With the Giants struggling this year as well, what can we do to reunite Wan’Dale Robinson and Levis in Tennessee?

After a lengthy analysis, I have determined the struggles of Will Levis started immediately after the nickname Billy Jeans was coined. So, perhaps it is best for us all to collectively agree to never utter this wretched moniker ever again. Maybe that will help.

BBNFL snap counts and PFF player grades for Week 10

PFF grades reflect the players’ respective offensive or defensive grades unless the first snap count listed is special teams (ST), in which case it is the special teams grade.

Player	Pos	Stats	PFF Grade
Za’Darius Smith (CLE)	DE	27 snaps, 4 pressures, 1 sack	72.4
Josh Allen (JAX)	LB	49 snaps, 5 pressures, 2 tackles, 2 assists	70.6
Lynn Bowden (NO)	WR	19 snaps, 1 target, 1 rec, 12 yards	66.7
Jamin Davis (WAS)	LB	80 snaps, 6 tackles, 5 assists	63.5
Brandin Echols (NYJ)	CB	5 snaps	63.4
Landon Young (NO)	OT	1 ST snap	60
Luke Fortner (JAX)	C	57 snaps, 1 pressure allowed	57.4
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (WAS)	RB	16 ST snaps	57.1
Bud Dupree (ATL)	LB	42 snaps, 2 pressures, 1 tackle, 1 assist	55.3
Wan’Dale Robinson (NYG)	WR	27 snaps, 2 targets, 2 rec, 6 yards	53.7
Josh Paschal (DET)	DE	39 snaps	50.3
Carrington Valentine (GB)	CB	65 snaps, 1 tackle, 1 assist	50
Will Levis (TEN)	QB	63 snaps, 39 attempts, 19 comp, 0 TD, 1 INT	44.6
Lonnie Johnson Jr. (NO)	S	13 snaps, 1 tackle, 25 ST snaps	27.9
Mike Edwards (KC)	S	Bye
Kelvin Joseph (MIA)	CB	Bye
Randall Cobb (NYJ)	WR	Inactive
Josh Ali (ATL)	WR	Injured Reserve