Top Dawgs in the NFL (Week 12)
UGASports continues its series highlighting the top NFL performances by former Georgia players for the week and entering the Monday night game(s). With our most outstanding performer for the week—or the Top Dawg—revealed towards the end, we spotlight the top NFL performances by Bulldogs from November 20 through November 23 and preview those participating in tonight’s Monday night game.
James Cook
Although resulting in a 23-19 setback to the Houston Texans on Thursday night, Cook rushed for 116 yards on 17 carries, including a 45-yard touchdown midway through the opening quarter, while making three receptions. On the long touchdown run, he surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the year, becoming just the third Bill in franchise history to rush for 1,000+ yards in three consecutive seasons, joining Thurman Thomas and O.J. Simpson. Cook has rushed for 100-plus yards in six of 11 games this season and is currently second in the league in rushing behind Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor.
Devonte Wyatt
Wyatt was a significant part of Green Bay’s dominating defensive performance in a 23-6 win yesterday over the Minnesota Vikings. In victory, the fourth-year defensive tackle totaled three tackles and a game-high two sacks. It marked the first time Wyatt recorded a sack since Week 2 of this season and was just the second two-sack game of his pro career. Although he has missed two entire games this season, Wyatt is currently third on the 7-3-1 Packers with four sacks.
Matthew Stafford
In a 34-7 rout in yesterday’s nightcap, Los Angeles’ Stafford carved up the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, completing 25 of 35 passes for 273 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions (122.7 rating). Continuing his MVP-like season, whereby he has passed for an NFL-leading 30 touchdowns and just two interceptions, the 17th-year veteran helped move the 9-2 Rams into sole possession of the NFC lead. For Stafford, who has thrown at least seven more touchdowns than anyone else in the league this season, he has completed 185 passes since his last interception, which occurred way back in Week 3.
The TOP DAWG: George Pickens
Edging out Stafford as our top performer of the week, Pickens was essentially unstoppable at wideout for Dallas as the Cowboys rallied from a three-touchdown deficit in an upset win over the Philadelphia Eagles. In the 24-21 victory, the fourth-year receiver made a career-high nine receptions on nine targets for 146 yards and a touchdown (with a long reception of 43 yards that was extraordinary). For Pickens, who is second in the league this season with 1,054 receiving yards, the 146 receiving yards vs. the Eagles are his second-most in a single game this season and the third-most for his career.
Other notable performances by former Georgia players over the weekend include from a trio of “Philly Dawgs” in the Eagles’ 24-21 loss to the Cowboys. Defensive tackle Jordan Davis totaled six tackles, including one for loss; defensive tackle Jalen Carter made five tackles and a quarterback hit; and linebacker Nakobe Dean made five tackles and a sack.
In Cleveland’s 24-10 win over Las Vegas, cornerback Tyson Campbell made a career-high 10 tackles—nine on defense, one on a kickoff return—while defending on two passes, his second-highest single-game total this season.
With linebacker Quay Walker, the team’s leading tackler, out with an injury, other Bulldog defenders besides Wyatt stepped up for Green Bay in the Packers’ 23-6 win over the Vikings. Starting safety Javon Bullard made a tackle and broke up a pass, while reserve defensive tackle Warren Brinson made two tackles and a half-sack.
A trio of former Georgia players assisted Baltimore’s defensive effort in the Ravens’ 23-10 win over the New York Jets. Linebacker Roquan Smith made a team-high 11 tackles, safety Malaki Starks totaled four, while reserve defensive lineman John Jenkins added two stops as Baltimore won its fifth consecutive game.
Finally, the Atlanta Falcons were actually winners yesterday, beating the dreadful New Orleans Saints 24-10, improving to 4-7 this season. Tight end Charlie Woerner, who entered the game having made only two catches for nine yards all season, made a career-high three catches for 24 yards. On the defensive side for the Falcons, Jalon Walker made his fifth sack of the season. After leading Georgia with 6.5 sacks last season, the rookie defensive end currently ranks second on the Falcons in sacks behind Brandon Dorlus’ six.
Monday Night Football
Starting at 8:15 pm ET tonight, the lone Monday night game features the 6-5 Carolina Panthers at the 7-4 San Francisco 49ers, with the home 49ers a 7.5-point favorite. Carolina has one former Georgia player on its active roster: rookie Trevor Etienne, the team’s No. 3 running back, who has rushed 20 times this season for 94 yards, and has returned 13 punts and 19 kickoffs. San Francisco has one former Georgia player on its active roster, as well: No. 2 left defensive end Robert Beal, who has totaled 10 tackles in five games this season.
BYE teams this week: Broncos, Chargers, Dolphins, and Commanders