BBNFL Week 15: Paschal records first sack of the season, Levis avoids serious injury
Josh Paschal is a beast and this fact is slowly becoming more and more evident in the professional ranks. The former Wildcat and cancer survivor picked up his first NFL sack of the season on Saturday, taking down Denver Broncos quarterback, Russell Wilson, early in the second quarter. The play came off explosive pressure up the middle, leaving Wilson nowhere to go but down to the turf. The Lions went on to beat the Broncos, 42-17.
Paschal has been in and out of the Detroit lineup this season with injuries, but when he’s been on the field, he’s been a solid contributor for a team that finds itself 10-4 and at the top of the NFC North standings.
The former Kentucky defenseman played 43 total snaps on the day, and in addition to the sack, recorded an additional QB pressure, tackle, and assist. He just keeps getting better.
Will Levis avoids serious injury after gruesome-looking sack
The Tennessee Titans fell to the Houston Texans on Sunday in overtime, but the loss could have been much worse. Late in the 4th quarter, freshly-minted franchise quarterback, Will Levis, took a brutal sack (one of many allowed by his atrocious offensive line) and folded like a pretzel.
Actually, he looked more like a pretzel after a pack of toddlers and rats got a hold of it. Everyone who saw it feared the worst. Players took knees in prayer, announcers got squeamish, and fans held their breaths.
Thankfully, the news broke that Levis only suffered a sprained ankle. It is hard to say what kind of Gumby-like bones and ligaments the man has, but let’s all be thankful that is the case.
As for his performance before exiting the game, Levis threw for 199 yards, completing 17 of 26 attempts, but his most shocking stat was in the run game. He out-rushed the NFL’s former leading running back, Derrick Henry, by more than double Henry’s yardage.
Despite toting the rock 16 times, Henry finished with just nine yards. Meanwhile, Levis finished with 25 yards rushing, including a third-down scramble to move the chains that got Titans head coach Mike Vrabel so fired up, he shot a Jamal Murray-style imaginary arrow down the field.
Get well soon, Will.
Other BBNFL Notes
- With starting running back, Brian Robinson, inactive with an injury, Chris Rodriguez took the role of lead back for the Washington Commanders. He finished with 10 carries for 35 yards, 30 of which came after contact in true Chris Rodriguez form. Though Washington lost to the Rams, C-Rod just keeps continuing to climb up the depth chart and making it tough to keep him off the field.
- Landon Young got the starting nod for the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, his first of the season. Young switched to right tackle, away from his usual left tackle spot, and played 62 snaps without allowing a single quarterback pressure. Some offensive linemen in the past have claimed switching sides of the line is like learning to wipe your butt with your opposite hand. If that is the case, consider Young ambidextrous.
- Josh Allen went his second straight game without a sack but still managed eight QB pressures on the day. He is now tied for 6th overall in the league in both sacks and QB pressures. He is giving something Josh Paschal to aspire towards.
- Chris Olave missed Sunday’s game, so it was Lynn Bowden‘s time to step up, earn the start, and make plays. Bowden finished with his most receiving yards of the year, hauling in three passes for 31 yards.
- Quinton Bohanna played 17 snaps in his Tennessee Titans debut on Sunday and recorded a tackle in his 17 snaps on the field. Bohanna came over from the Lions earlier in the week.
BBNFL snap counts and PFF player grades for Week 15
PFF grades reflect the players’ respective offensive or defensive grades unless the first snap count listed is special teams (ST), in which case it is the special teams’ grade.
| Player | Pos | Stats | PFF Grade |
| Josh Allen (JAX) | LB | 53 snaps, 8 pressures, 3 tackles | 77.1 |
| Will Levis (TEN) | QB | 63 snaps, 26 att, 17 comp, 199 yds, 1 INT, 4 rushes, 25 yds | 70 |
| Josh Paschal (DET) | DE | 43 snaps, 2 pressures, 1 sack, 1 tackle, 1 assist | 68.6 |
| Brandin Echols (NYJ) | CB | 7 snaps, 12 ST snaps | 64.9 |
| Landon Young (NO) | OT | 62 snaps, 0 pressures allowed | 62.3 |
| Za’Darius Smith (CLE) | DE | 41 snaps, 7 pressures, 1 tackle | 60 |
| Quinton Bohanna (TEN) | DT | 17 snaps, 1 tackle, 1 assist | 59.6 |
| Wan’Dale Robinson (NYG) | WR | 53 snaps, 4 targets, 4 rec, 25 yards | 57.8 |
| Chris Rodriguez Jr. (WAS) | RB | 21 snaps, 10 att, 35 yards | 57.6 |
| Lynn Bowden (NO) | WR | 37 snaps, 5 targets, 3 rec, 31 yards | 55.2 |
| Randall Cobb (NYJ) | WR | 7 snaps, 3 targets, 0 receptions | 53.7 |
| Mike Edwards (KC) | S | 53 snaps, 2 tackles, 4 assists | 50.7 |
| Luke Fortner (JAX) | C | 62 snaps, 4 pressures allowed | 47.8 |
| Lonnie Johnson Jr. (NO) | CB | 23 snaps, 1 tackle, 19 ST snaps | 47.3 |
| Carrington Valentine (GB) | CB | 62 snaps, 5 tackles | 34.4 |
| Bud Dupree (ATL) | LB | Inactive – Back Injury | |
| Jamin Davis (WAS) | LB | Injured Reserve | |
| Josh Ali (ATL) | WR | Injured Reserve |
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