Wolverines in the NFL: Tom Brady breaks NFL record for most game-winning drives, Josh Uche explodes for 3-sack game
Former Michigan Wolverines football quarterback Tom Brady led his 55th career game-winning drive in a 16-13 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Down four points, Brady and Co. got the ball back with 44 seconds left and no timeouts remaining. In the matter of 35 seconds, the Buccaneers scored on a 1-yard touchdown pass from Brady to rookie tight end Cade Otton to take the lead.
That put the Buccaneers back into first place in the NFC South at 4-5 overall. The Atlanta Falcons have an identical record, but Tampa Bay has been better against divisional opponents and thus holds the tiebreaker.
Brady’s game-winning drive pushed him past former Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, a Pro Football Hall of Fame member, for the most in NFL history. The two were tied at 54.
Tampa Bay has had a tough go as of late. Entering Sunday, the Buccaneers had lost three straight games and five of six. Needless to say, the former Michigan signal-caller was elated to come away victorious.
“That was awesome. That was f—ing awesome,” Brady said after stepping up to the podium for his postgame press conference.
“It’s just like the good ol’ days when I was a kid, watching Tom Brady drive down the field,” cornerback Jamel Dean said. “He’s known for his two-minute offense, so seeing that happen live, it’s like, ‘Yeah, he’s still got it.’”
“Shoot, he’s been doing that for 40 years. Nothing new. We just knew we had to get the ball in his hands, let him do his thing,” defensive tackle Vita Vea said.
Here’s a complete update on every former Michigan player in the NFL following Week 9:
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Tom Brady (Played at Michigan from 1995-99), QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Led his 55th career game-winning drive, capped off by a 1-yard touchdown pass, in the 4-5 Buccaneers’ 16-13 win over the Los Angeles Rams … Connected on 36 of his 58 pass attempts for 280 yards and 1 score, while adding 1 rush for 8 yards … For the season, has completed 260 of 398 passes for 2,547 yards and 10 touchdowns with 1 interception.
Ben Bredeson (2016-19), OL, New York Giants
Designated on injured reserve with a knee injury suffered Oct. 23 against the Jacksonville Jaguars … Has started 7 games at left guard for the 6-2 Giants.
Devin Bush Jr. (2016-18), LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
The former Michigan All-American and his team had a bye over the weekend … Has tallied 44 stops, including 1 for loss, 1 quarterback hit and 1 pass breakup while starting all eight games for the 2-6 Steelers.
Camaron Cheeseman (2016-19), LS, Washington Commanders
Snapped eight times during the 4-5 Commanders’ 20-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings … Has snapped in all nine contests this season.
Frank Clark (2011-14), DE, Kansas City Chiefs
Suspended two games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, with the ruling stemming from his March 2021 arrest and subsequent no-contest plea to two counts of misdemeanor possession of an assault weapon … Has one more game to go in his suspension … Has started 7 outings with 15 tackles, including 4 for loss and 3 sacks, 7 quarterback hits and 1 safety for the 6-2 Chiefs.
Mason Cole (2014-17), OL, Pittsburgh Steelers
Team had a bye over the weekend … Has a 64.1 overall PFF rating for the season, having started all eight games.
Nico Collins (2017-19), WR, Houston Texans
Missed his second consecutive tilt with a groin injury … The former Michigan wideout has opened four of his six outings this year, totaling 18 receptions for 305 yards for the 1-6-1 Texans.
Mike Danna (2019), DE, Kansas City Chiefs
Came off the bench and made 4 tackles while adding 2 pressures in the 6-2 Chiefs’ 20-17 triumph over the Tennessee Titans Sunday night … Has totaled 6 tackles and 12 pressures in four games this year.
Chris Evans (2016-20), RB, Cincinnati Bengals
Returned 1 kick for 22 yards in the 5-4 Bengals’ 42-21 victory over the Carolina Panthers … Has brought back 10 kicks for 211 yards and caught 2 passes for 30 yards while appearing in all nine contests this year.
Rashan Gary (2016-18), LB, Green Bay Packers
Suffered a season-ending ACL injury during the 3-6 Packers’ 15-9 loss to the Detroit Lions … Had 3 tackles and 1 quarterback hit before the injury … Registered 32 stops, 7 tackles for loss, 6 sacks and 12 quarterback hits this season.
Zach Gentry (2015-18), TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Team had a bye over the weekend … Has started six of eight outings and hauled in 12 catches for 92 yards for the 2-6 Steelers.
Graham Glasgow (2011-15), OL, Denver Broncos
Team had a bye this past weekend … Has started four of eight games for the 3-5 Broncos … Stepped in for the injured Lloyd Cushenberry (groin) in the last game and appears to be the starting center while he’s out going forward … Has a 60.2 overall grade for the season with 7 pressures and 1 sack given up.
Brandon Graham (2006-09), DE, Philadelphia Eagles
Recorded 1 tackle in the 8-0 Eagles’ 29-17 victory over the Houston Texans Thursday evening … Has racked up 3 sacks to go along with 16 tackles and 7 quarterback hits on the year, appearing in all eight outings.
Hassan Haskins (2018-21), RB, Tennessee Titans
Rushed once for 5 yards, hauled in 1 reception for 2 yards, returned 4 kickoffs for 72 yards and tallied 4 tackles on special teams during the 5-3 Titans’ 20-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs … Has 42 yards on 10 carries, 7 yards on 3 receptions and 308 yards on 14 kick returns this season.
Chad Henne (2004-07), QB, Kansas City Chiefs
Has appeared in two contests during garbage time this season.
Dax Hill (2019-21), S, Cincinnati Bengals
The former Michigan defensive back notched 1 tackle while playing three defensive snaps and 12 special teams plays in the 5-4 Bengals’ 42-21 win over the Carolina Panthers … Has played in all nine tilts with one start and totaled 3 tackles this season.
Khaleke Hudson (2016-19), LB, Washington Commanders
Activated off the practice squad before Week 5 and has played in five contests, almost exclusively on special teams … Notched 1 tackle in this past weekend’s 20-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
Aidan Hutchinson (2018-21), DL, Detroit Lions
Made his first career interception on 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line and registered 2 tackles in the 2-6 Lions’ 15-9 win over the Green Bay Packers … Has started all eight games and recorded 20 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 3 tackles for loss and 9 quarterback hits … Tied first among rookies with 24 pressures and leads first-year players in sacks and QB hits.
Jourdan Lewis (2013-16), CB, Dallas Cowboys
Suffered a season-ending knee injury Week 7 … For the year, he totaled 26 tackles, 1 sack, 1 pass breakup and 1 interception.
David Long Jr. (2016-18), CB, Los Angeles Rams
The former Michigan cornerback recorded 4 tackles in the 3-5 Rams’ 16-13 setback to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers … Has appeared in five games with one start this year, tallying 12 tackles.
Sean McKeon (2016-19), TE, Dallas Cowboys
Team had a bye over the weekend … Has 1 reception for 10 yards in four appearances this season.
Josh Metellus (2016-19), S, Minnesota Vikings
The former Michigan safety notched 2 tackles while mostly playing special teams in the 7-1 Vikings’ 20-17 victory over the Washington Commanders … Has started one of his eight games this season and registered 22 tackles, 2 pass breakups and 1 interception.
Bryan Mone (2014-18), DT, Seattle Seahawks
Played just four defensive snaps, a season low, in the 6-3 Seahawks’ 31-21 win over the Arizona Cardinals … Has made 17 tackles, including 1 behind the line of scrimmage, and 1 quarterback hit in nine games with two starts.
David Ojabo (2019-21), OLB, Baltimore Ravens
Began practicing with the team Nov. 2 after being activated to the roster the prior day, following a torn Achilles he suffered at Michigan’s pro day in March … Ravens have a bye this coming weekend, and Ojabo is expected to take the game field the following week.
“It’s been a long journey, but it’s God’s plan at the end of the day,” Ojabo said. “We’re getting there, man. I made my first full practice. I feel good. I already know the playbook. It’s just a matter of getting my confidence back, getting my footing back.”
Michael Onwenu (2016-19), OL, New England Patriots
Started at right guard in the 5-4 Patriots’ 26-3 blowout win over the Indianapolis Colts, who fired head coach Frank Reich after the loss … His 86.4 overall PFF grade led his team’s offense, and he gave up just 1 pressure and no sacks on the afternoon … His 86.0 overall rating for the season slots second on the Patriots’ offense … Has allowed just 4 pressures and no sacks … Has started all nine outings.
Kwity Paye (2017-19), DE, Indianapolis Colts
Hadn’t played since Week 5 with a high-ankle sprain before returning Sunday in a 26-3 loss to the Patriots … Made 8 tackles, 1 sack and 1 quarterback hit, while adding a team-high 5 pressures … Has started all six of his appearances, totaling 24 tackles, 6 stops for loss, 4 sacks and 6 quarterback hits.
Donovan Peoples-Jones (2017-19), WR, Cleveland Browns
Team had a bye this week … Third on the 3-5 Browns in both receptions (30) and receiving yards (417).
Jabrill Peppers (2014-16), S, New England Patriots
The former Michigan star recorded 5 tackles in the 5-4 Patriots’ 26-3 victory over the Indianapolis Colts … Has recorded 32 tackles, 1 stop for loss and 1 fumble recovery in nine games with two starts.
Cesar Ruiz (2017-19), OL, New Orleans Saints
Started at right guard but moved over to center after starter Erik McCoy was hurt in the middle of the 3-6 Saints’ 27-13 loss to the Baltimore Ravens Monday night … Allowed 2 pressures on the evening … Has started all nine games at right guard and allowed 8 pressures and 2 sacks this season.
Jon Runyan (2015-19), OL, Green Bay Packers
Started at right guard in the 3-6 Packers’ 15-9 loss to the Detroit Lions … Posted a 68.6 overall PFF grade with 3 pressures given up for the game … Has allowed 9 pressures and 1 sack this year, while starting all nine outings.
Ambry Thomas (2017-19), CB, San Francisco 49ers
Team had a bye over the weekend … Has tallied 6 tackles in eight appearances this season.
Josh Uche (2016-19), LB, New England Patriots
Exploded for a career-high 3 sacks to go along with 6 tackles, 3 stops for loss and 2 quarterback hits in the 5-4 Patriots’ 26-3 victory over the Indianapolis Colts … Now has 8 sacks for his career and 4 on the season … Has played in seven games off the bench.
“For him to come out there and have a game like he had, and then play lights-out like that, that just allows him to see what he can do in this league,” Patriots edge rusher and NFL sack leader Matthew Judon said. “He can be a premier pass rusher, and I always tell him, he’s probably the best pass rusher we’ve got.”
Chris Wormley (2012-16), DE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Team had a bye this week … Has recorded 18 tackles, including 3 for loss, in eight games with one start this year for the 2-6 Steelers.
Injured reserve
The following are Michigan football players who are currently on teams but listed as on the injured reserve:
• Giants OL Ben Bredeson
• Titans OL Taylor Lewan
• Patriots K Quinn Nordin
• Patriots OL Andrew Stueber
• Cowboys TE Ian Bunting
• Ravens LB Josh Ross
• Falcons OL Jalen Mayfield
• Browns DE Chase Winovich
Practice squad
The following are former Michigan players on NFL practice squads:
• WR Daylen Baldwin — Browns
• DE Taco Charlton — Saints
• CB Vincent Gray — Sainrts
• DB Brad Hawkins — Patriots
• LB Carlo Kemp — Chargers
• LB Cameron McGrone — Patriots
