BBNFL Week 10: Mike Edwards plays in Germany to the chorus of Country Roads
Former Kentucky safety Mike Edwards dusted off his passport and traveled to Germany, as the NFL played a game in Munich on Sunday. Edwards finished the game with four tackles (four solo) in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 21-16 win over the Seattle Seahawks, but the stat sheet did not show the most astonishing part of the day.
From all accounts, the atmosphere was absolutely electric with Tom Brady calling it one of his best-ever football experiences. The crowd stayed engaged the entire game, bursting into American tunes like Country Roads and Sweet Caroline, with 70,000 Germans singing in pristine English and in perfect tune.
I actually had the opportunity to attend Oktoberfest in Munich back in 2014 and can confirm the locals there would rival any West Virginia bar when it comes to how passionately they belt out the lyrics to John Denver’s most famous song.
Germans love drinking and singing and let it show when the American football match came to town. Citizens of Kentucky would be proud. Hopefully, its success will lead to more international games like this.
Za’Darius Smith records sack in best NFL game of the year
In what was the best regular season game of the year, Za’Darius Smith and the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Buffalo Bills in overtime, 33-30. The game was an instant classic, highlighted by Justin Jefferson defying gravity to come up with the catch of the century on a crucial 4th and 18 play.
Za’Darius Smith recorded another sack in the win, tying him for second overall in the league with Joey Bosa, just behind Matthew Judon. The former Kentucky pass rusher now has 9.5 sacks on the season and has been an absolute menace on the league’s most surprisingly successful teams.
Smith also had a tackle for a loss, a pass deflection, and two QB hits on Sunday. He is now fifth in the NFL in QB hits and first in the NFL in QB pressures. Needless to say, he made the day tough for Josh Allen.
That being said, the Kentucky version of Josh Allen played well for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He recorded a season-high seven tackles (four solo) and had a QB hit, though his team fell to the Kansas City Chiefs 27-17. Corey Peters had one tackle for a loss for the Jaguars as well.
At Lambeau, the Dallas Cowboys blew a 14-point fourth-quarter lead to lose to the Green Bay Packers. Randall Cobb is not back from his ankle sprain yet for the Packers, but Kelvin “Bossman Fat” Joseph recorded five tackles (four solo) and Quinton Bohanna had four tackles (two solo) for the Cowboys.
Elsewhere among former Kentucky defensemen, Jamin Davis led the Washington Commanders in tackles with nine (five solo) in their Monday Night Football upset of the previously undefeated Philadelphia Eagles, while Benny Snell had two tackles (one solo) on special teams in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ victory over the New Orleans Saints.
Landon Young promoted to 1st team after injury to starting LT
Playing time has been sparse for former Kentucky lineman, Landon Young, thus far in the NFL, but that changed on Sunday. New Orleans Saints starting left tackle, James Hurst, left the game and entered concussion protocol, which created an opportunity for Landon Young to play.
New Orleans’ offensive line has been ravaged by injuries lately and while that has been bad for the Saints’ success, it is great to see Young getting some extra playing time.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, Luke Fortner continues to play every single snap for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Through Week 9, Fortner played 354 snaps and allowed zero sacks. You can add another 64 snaps to that impressive stat after this week, as the rookie out of Kentucky kept that streak alive.
Keeping it on the offensive side of the ball, Wan’Dale Robinson had two catches for 20 yards and one rush for -5 yards for the New York Giants, as the team keeps working the rookie into the game plan.
Finally, though he isn’t a Kentucky player, Laviska Shenault Jr. did a modified John Wall dance in the endzone after he scored a touchdown on Thursday Night Football for the Carolina Panthers. If nothing else, it is a good reminder that Kentucky basketball season is upon us.
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