Top LSU, Louisiana performers in NFL Week 10
Joe Burrow said earlier this season he would “have to play damn near perfect” for the Cincinnati Bengals to beat the Baltimore Ravens.
And for the second time in six weeks, he damn near did — only to lose a heartbreaker in the AFC North rivalry.
The Heisman-winning former LSU quarterback and his longtime college and NFL teammate, Ja’Marr Chase, once again headlined the top performances by LSU products and Louisiana natives, even in the 35-34 loss.
Joe Burrow (LSU) and Ja’Marr Chase (Archbishop Rummel, LSU)
The championship-winning and record-setting LSU teammates led the NFL this weekend in passing and receiving yardage and touchdowns. Burrow completed 34 of 56 passes for 428 yards and four touchdowns — top-five career marks in all categories, including matching his most touchdowns in a game without an interception. Chase hauled in 11 receptions for 264 yards and matching a career-high with three scores. The New Orleans native’s yardage was the second-highest total of his career with his 11 catches tying for third.
Danielle Hunter (LSU) and Derek Stingley Jr. (Dunham, LSU)
Houston’s two former LSU stars highlighted a defensive effort that had the Texans’ in position for a marquee win before Detroit Lions’ fourth-quarter comeback to escape, 26-23. Stingley broke up the only pass his direction and finished with two tackles. Hunter was among the team leaders with seven tackles, plus a pair of quarterback hurries. Both players earned top-40 Pro Football Focus defensive grades among players with at least 10 snaps.
Tyrann Mathieu (St. Augustine, LSU)
The New Orleans Saints stunned NFC South rival Atlanta for a badly needed 20-17 win under new interim coach Darren Rizzi, the team’s first win since Week 2. And a local star was among the leaders with an interception of the only target his way and his highest-graded performance by Pro Football Focus since the first two weeks of the season.
Top 10
- 1
Dan Lanning
Oregon coach getting NFL buzz
- 2Trending
UK upsets Duke
Mark Pope leads Kentucky to first Champions Classic win since 2019
- 3Hot
5-star flip
Ole Miss flips Alabama WR commit Caleb Cunningham
- 4
Second CFP Top 25
Newest CFP rankings are out
- 5
Transfer Portal
Boston College QB expected to enter NCAA Transfer Portal
Justin Reid (Dutchtown)
Reid was one of the Chiefs’ highest-graded defenders in arguably his best game of the season to help Kansas City survive AFC West rival Denver, 16-14. He finished with seven tackles and a quarterback hit and kept both targets his direction in front of him for a combined 2 yards. The performances earned his highest Pro Football Focus grades of the season thus far in overall defense and coverage, with run defense, tackling and pass-rush marks also among his best.
Tyjae Spears (Ponchatoula, Tulane)
The local running back made the most of his 26 snaps with seven carries for a team-high 47 yards, plus three catches for another 4 yards. The rushing total marked the second-highest of the second-year player’s career in Tennessee’s 27-17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Xavier Woods (West Monroe, Louisiana Tech)
Woods snatched his second interception of the season and first in the past six games in the Carolina Panthers’ 20-17 defeat of the Giants. The pick ended a promising second-quarter drive by New York. Woods also tied for the team lead with eight tackles and allowed just two receptions, an 11-yarder and a 4-yarder, on targets his way, according to Pro Football Focus.
KaVontae Turpin (Neville), Derius Davis (West Feliciana) and Jha’Quan Jackson (Hahnville, Tulane)
The trio of Louisiana natives continued their strong season among the NFL’s top weapons in the return game. Davis and Turpin topped the league’s kick-return averages for the weekend at 56.0 and 41.5 yards per opportunity. For Davis, that was on 56-yarder to set up a key second-half touchdown drive in the Los Angeles Chargers’ 27-17 win against Tennessee. Turpin had two returns of 36 and 47 yards in the Dallas Cowboys’ loss to Philadelphia. And Jackson had a 27-yard return for Tennessee.
