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Hawkeyes in the NFL: Week 12 Top Performers

On3 imageby: Kyle Huesmann3 hours agoHuesmannKyle

Week 12 of the NFL season is complete with George Kittle and the 49ers getting a win over Carolina on Monday night. This past week, 27 former Hawkeyes were on active rosters, while 12 players are listed atop the depth chart at their position. With the season starting to hit the home stretch, it’s worth noting that 22 players (active and practice squad) are on teams that currently hold a playoff position. With that in mind, we take a look at the top five performances from the weekend.

1. Cincinnati DB Geno Stone

There hasn’t been much to be happy about in Cincinnati this season, with Joe Burrow sidelined for much of the year and defense that allows points like they’re in the old Big 12. However, former Hawkeye defensive back Geno Stone made a highlight play on Sunday afternoon, picking off Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and returning it 33 yards for a touchdown. Stone also finished with a season-high 13 tackles in the 26-20 loss. On the season, Stone has accumulated 80 tackles and two interceptions, while he is on track to eclipse 100 tackles for the first time in his career.

2. Detroit LB Jack Campbell

The Lions are in the thick of the playoff hunt and they had to pull out a comeback, overtime win over the 2-10 Giants on Sunday to keep themselves on the right side of the picture. Linebacker Jack Campbell contributed to the win just as you’d expect, tallying a team-high 11 tackles and a tackle for loss, earning an 81.1 game grade from Pro Football Focus, which led the Detroit defense. In the 34-27 overtime win, Campbell eclipsed 100 tackles for the year and it’s just the fifth time since 1987 that a Lions player has reached 100 tackles in 11 games or less.

On the season, Jack has tallied 108 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. At his current pace of 9.82 tackles per game, he is on track to finish the regular season with 167 tackles.

3. San Francisco TE George Kittle

The 49ers seem to be back on the right track, winning each of their last two games to get to 8-4 on the year, which has them in the final playoff spot. In Monday night’s 20-9 win over Carolina, George Kittle caught six passes for 78 yards in just his second game back from injury. He had a big 19-yard reception on the 49ers fourth quarter field goal drive, and the defense got an interception on the ensuing Panthers drive to put the game away.

In just seven games this year, Kittle has caught 33 passes for 329 yards and five touchdowns. Since returning from injury, the 49ers are 2-0, while George has caught 12 passes for 145 yards, including two scores against Arizona last week.

Kittle capped off the night with a message for his friend and former Husker player Will Compton on SVP regarding the upcoming game between Iowa and Nebraska.

4. New York DB Dane Belton

Unfortunately, players on teams that are 2-10 and eliminated from the playoffs with five games to play don’t get much publicity. That’s a shame for Dane Belton because he’s putting together a career-best season for the Giants this year. In New York’s 34-27 overtime loss to the Lions, Belton finished with a team-high nine tackles, one tackle for loss and one pass broken up. It’s the fourth time this season that he has tallied 8+ tackles in a game.

On the season, Belton has totaled 78 tackles, three tackles broken up and has been tagged with just four missed tackles. At his current pace of 6.5 tackles per game, Dane is on track to finish with 111 tackles, shattering his previous high (56) set last season.

5. Los Angeles OT Alaric Jackson

The Rams, with their dominant 34-7 win over Tampa Bay on Sunday Night Football, have overtaken Philadelphia for the top spot in the NFC. Starting offensive tackle Alaric Jackson earned 74.9 game grade from PFF, which ranked as the 19th-best by any offensive lineman for week 12. His 84.4 run blocking grade ranked 8th-best, while he allowed just two pressures on 36 drop backs by Matthew Stafford. On the season, Jackson has an 81.1 grade, ranking 16th out of 147 lineman that have played 50% of snaps.

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