Top LSU, Louisiana performers in NFL Week 18

Former LSU wide receivers fittingly headlined the final weekend of the NFL regular season, as they have the season as a whole.

But the record-setting pass-catching efforts were not alone among the standout performances by former Tigers and Louisiana natives.

Here’s a look at 15 that caught our eye in Week 18, including best stat lines, highest-impact players and some notable bounce-backs and firsts.

Joe Burrow (LSU)

Pass-catchers are going to — once again, and rightfully so — dominate the offensive notes from the weekend. But, with as much as has already been covered about this historic season for wide receivers, let’s not bury the remarkable passing season by Burrow. The 2019 national champion and Heisman winner capped his comeback season with one more big night, completing 37 of 46 passes (a season-best 80.4%) for 277 yards, a touchdown and an interception in a fifth straight victory for the Bengals.

Burrow finished the season as the NFL’s leading passer in completions (460), attempts (652), yardage (4,918) and touchdowns (43) and fourth in completion percentage (70.6%) and touchdown-to-interception ratio (43-to-9) among quarterbacks to have attempted at least 50 passes. His touchdown total and completion percentage both marked career-highs. And his 4,918 yards were a career-best for a regular season and No. 22 all-time in NFL single-season history. But, after struggling all season to overcome a 1-4 start, Cincinnati was eliminated from the playoff picture Sunday as the Broncos beat the Chiefs to secure the final AFC spot.

Ja’Marr Chase (Archbishop Rummel, LSU)

Burrow’s partner-in-crime at the lead of the Bengals’ passing attack completed one of the most prolific receiving seasons in NFL history — and particularly for a player his age (24). Chase became just the fifth player since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970 to complete the triple crown of leading the league in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. The Archbishop Rummel and LSU product became the youngest to complete that feat with his 127 catches for 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns — all of which marked franchise records.

His final showing of that historic season was another effective one with 10 catches on 13 targets for 96 yards and his team’s lone touchdown in the victory at rival Pittsburgh. The receptions tied for the league’s second-most of the weekend, and the yardage was the eight-highest total. Chase finished with at least 94 yards for the fifth straight week to end the season and at least 85 yards for his 10th time in 17 games.

Kayshon Boutte (Westgate, LSU)

LSU’s single-game receiving leader didn’t have the record-setting individual season of some of his purple-and-gold predecessors and successors. But he led the group in Week 18 to cap his own breakout season — a sophomore campaign of 43 catches for 589 yards and three touchdowns that helped put the Tigers over the hump for the most prolific season in NFL history by the alumni of a single college program. Boutte’s seven catches for 117 yards and a score Sunday in the Patriots’ defeat of Buffalo marked career-highs in all three categories, and his yardage was fourth among all receivers in the league for the weekend.

Brian Thomas Jr. (Walker, LSU)

The Jaguars’ rookie caught seven passes for 103 yards, the fifth-most among all receivers in Week 18, to become just the seventh rookie since the AFL-NFL merger to surpass the 1,200-yard mark. Thomas finished the season with 87 receptions for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns. The yardage total was third-most in the league this season and a Jacksonville rookie record. The former Walker High standout was productive from his debut, but closed the season particularly strong with 33 catches for 431 yards and four scores in the final four weeks.

Malik Nabers (Comeaux/Southside, LSU)

Both rookies out of LSU had record-setting debut seasons as Nabers’ five catches Sunday moves his total to 109 — the most-ever for the New York Giants or by an NFL rookie. He finished with 64 yards and a touchdown on the afternoon and 1,204 and seven scores on the season. Despite missing two games earlier in the season, Nabers finished No. 5 in the league in receptions and No. 7 in yardage.

Justin Jefferson (Destrehan, LSU)

Week 18 was actually the most challenging of the season for the Minnesota Vikings’ star (more on that below) and among the handful or so most challenging of his five-year career. Even still, Jefferson managed three catches for 54 yards to remain the league’s second-leading receiver for the season and notch the third 1,500-yard season of his career — tied for second behind Jerry Rice’s four. Jefferson wrapped up the regular season with 103 receptions for 1,533 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Cade York (LSU)

For all the prolific passing between Burrow and Chase, the performance of another former LSU standout was also critical in the Bengals’ win in Pittsburgh. York was a perfect 4-for-4 on field goals and 1-for-1 on his lone extra-point attempt to help Cincinnati hold off the Steelers, 19-17. He made a field goal in each quarter from 48, 27, 35 and 23 yards, respectively, and scored the team’s first 13 points after the early Burrow-Chase touchdown.

D.J. Chark Jr. (Alexandria, LSU)

The veteran receiver saw limited action in his first year with the Chargers as he worked through hip and groin injuries that cost him more than half the season. But Chark earned more snaps each of the past three weeks and closed the season with his first touchdown: a physical, 6-yarder near the goal line.

Patrick Queen (Livonia, LSU)

The Steelers’ linebacker earned his highest overall defensive grade since Week 14 from Pro Football Focus and his highest pass-rushing grade in more than two and a half seasons. Queen finished a close loss to the Bengals with five tackles, a pass break-up, his first sack of the season for Pittsburgh, another quarterback hit and another hurry.

Amik Robertson (Thibodaux, Louisiana Tech)

The cornerback, in his first year with the Lions, was a key contributor in Jefferson’s tough night and in Detroit’s dominant win to sweep the Vikings and claim the NFC’s top seed and first-round bye. Robertson allowed Jefferson just two catches on six targets his direction and finished with five tackles and a pass break-up.

ArDarius Washington (Evangel Christian)

The former Evangel Christian star and one-time LSU commit earned PFF’s highest overall defensive grade and coverage grade among Louisiana natives to play at least 10 snaps. Washington was among the Ravens’ defensive leaders in a 35-10 rout of the Browns with four tackles and didn’t allow a catch on three targets.

Devin White (North Webster, LSU)

The veteran linebacker earned his first start for the Texans and had his most productive game of the season since signing in late October. White’s season-high five tackles were the team’s second-highest total in a 23-14 road win at Tennessee. His tackling and coverage grades from Pro Football Focus were both his best of the season.

Edgerrin Cooper (Covington)

The rookie linebacker was the Green Bay Packers’ highest-graded defender, per PFF, again in Week 18 — continuing his particularly strong late-season run during an impressive debut campaign overall. Cooper led the team with seven tackles, including one for loss and four solo stops, and added a quarterback hit and two other hurries in a loss to Chicago.

Percy Butler (Plaquemine, Ragin’ Cajuns)

The Commanders’ third-year safety earned his most extensive snap count of the season (56) and matched a season-high with seven tackles, without a miss, to help highlight a 23-19 defeat of the Cowboys. His performance notched the highest tackling grade of his career from Pro Football Focus and the fourth-highest of the weekend among all players.

Jacoby Windmon (John Ehret)

The rookie linebacker played just a few snaps in the Panthers’ 44-38 spoiling of the Falcons’ playoff hopes, but made his presence felt and earned far-and-away the highest PFF grade of his young career. Windmon recorded a tackle and did not allow a target his direction to be completed. In the limited sample size, he earned Carolina’s top defensive grade and top coverage grade.