Top Dawgs in the NFL (Week 10)
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 6 through November 9 and preview those participating in tonight’s Monday night game.
Malaki Starks
Starks had another notable outing yesterday in Baltimore’s 27-19 win over the Minnesota Vikings—the Ravens’ third win in a row following a 1-5 start—after having the best game of his rookie campaign last week. He played 63 of 65 snaps from his safety position, totaling three tackles, not including an assist he made on a punt return, and made an acrobatic interception in the second quarter, skying over the top of a receiver to pick off Minnesota’s J.J. McCarthy. For Starks, it was his second interception in as many games after he had no picks through Baltimore’s first seven. He is currently tied with Nate Wiggins for the team lead in interceptions with two.
Ladd McConkey
In yesterday’s nightcap, a 25-10 win by the Los Angeles Chargers over the Pittsburgh Steelers, McConkey made four receptions for a season-high 107 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown reception from Justin Herbert just before halftime. McConkey’s long of 58 yards against the Steelers marked his longest reception since an 86-yard touchdown from Herbert in last season’s playoffs. After a stellar rookie season, McConkey was limited to less than 43 receiving yards per game and scored one touchdown through the season’s first five games, but has since averaged 84 receiving yards per game and scored three touchdowns in the Chargers’ last five games.
The TOP DAWG: Matthew Stafford
Our top pro performance for the week by a former Georgia player, Stafford continued his distinguished season and a legitimate claim for league MVP in the Los Angeles Rams’ 42-26 win on the road against the San Francisco 49ers. In victory, the 17th-year quarterback completed 24 of 36 passes for 280 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions, for a quarterback rating of 127.1. In the process, he became the first player in NFL history to pass for at least four touchdowns and zero interceptions in three straight games. Stafford has passed for 20 touchdowns and no interceptions in the last six games. For the season, he has passed for 2,427 yards—the fourth-most in the league—while no one is within four touchdowns of his league-leading 25 touchdown passes.
Speaking of veterans, other notable performances by former Georgia players over the weekend include from eighth-year linebacker Roquan Smith and 13th-year defensive tackle John Jenkins. Assisting rookie Starks in Baltimore’s 27-19 win over Minnesota, Smith totaled six tackles, a quarterback hurry, and a pass defended, while Jenkins, in limited play, chipped in a solo tackle and his first pass breakup since last season.
Albeit in a 28-23 upset loss at home to New England, Tampa Bay safety Tykee Smith made eight tackles, including one for loss, had a quarterback hit, and made his first interception of the season. Last season, when he placed in the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year voting, Smith recorded three interceptions.
Although he didn’t score a touchdown for the first time in five games, D’Andre Swift still rushed for 80 yards while averaging 6.2 yards per carry in Chicago’s 24-20 win over the New York Giants. The sixth-year running back also made five receptions, his most since making six catches in Week 9 of last season. After averaging just 3.3 yards per carry in his first four games this season, Swift has averaged a notable 6.3 yards per rush in his last four games.
Finally, although the Atlanta Falcons were last-moment losers again for the second straight week, a 31-25 overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts in the morning game in Germany, rookie Jalon Walker showed up big again for the second consecutive game. Starting at defensive end, and playing 50 of 77 snaps, Walker made six tackles, four of which were solo stops, and a sack. On his sack, Walker forced a fumble recovered by the Colts. Two plays later, teammate and fellow rookie James Pearce forced a fumble, which Walker covered for his first fumble recovery of his pro career (he had two fumble recoveries in his three-season Georgia career).
Monday Night Football
Starting at 8:15 pm ET tonight, the lone Monday night game features the 6-2 Philadelphia Eagles at the 5-2-1 Green Bay Packers, with the home Packers a 1.5-point favorite. Philadelphia has five former Georgia players on its active roster: starters defensive tackle Jalen Carter (team-leading 9 QB hits), nose tackle Jordan Davis (30 tackles, 3 sacks), middle linebacker Nakobe Dean (first start of season came last week), and reserves Kelee Ringo (backup right cornerback) and Smael Mondon (third-string WLB). Green Bay has even more former Georgia players on its active roster with six: starters linebacker Quay Walker (team-leading 71 tackles), defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt (2 sacks, 5 QB hits), nickelback Javon Bullard (45 tackles), and reserves Nazir Stackhouse (backup right defensive tackle), John FitzPatrick (backup tight end), and Warren Brinson (No. 3 left defensive tackle).
BYE teams this week: Bengals, Chiefs, Cowboys, and Titans