BBNFL Week 3: Brandin Echols won the game for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Have yourself a game, Brandin Echols. The former New York Jet and Kentucky Wildcat came up absolutely huge in the Steelers’ win on Sunday. The highlight of what was an overall dominant defensive performance for Pittsburgh came when Echols came away with an interception in the end zone on a crucial drive from New England. It was one of five Patriot turnovers in the afternoon, two of which came just as they were about to score.
As if an endzone interception wasn’t enough, Echols also came away with the game-sealing tackle for Pittsburgh. Despite the abundance of giveaways, the Patriots somehow managed to have the ball with a chance to tie the game late in the 4th quarter. Drake Maye and company had it 4th and 1 on the Steelers’ 28-yard line, but after a quick pass right at the sticks, Echols exploded onto the receiver with a tremendous open-field tackle to stop him short and force a turnover on downs.
After the game, Echols admitted he was getting targeted a lot in New England’s passing attack, “I feel like I’m always getting targeted because I’m not a household name like everyone else. If I was the quarterback on the other side, I’d be trying to target me too.”
Echols might not get targeted quite so much next game.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. is a starting running back in the NFL
In the Commanders’ first game without Austin Eckler, Kentucky’s very own Chris Rodriguez Jr. started in his place. C-Rod was a healthy scratch each of the first two weeks of the regular season, but kept his head up. He said, “The only things I can control are the things that I can control. That’s being ready when my number is called.”
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So what did he do when his number was called? Oh, just lead his team in rushing attempts, that’s all. Rodriguez rushed 11 times for 39 yards, which was three more carries and 13 more yards than what Jacory Croskey-Merritt had, much to the frustration of his fantasy football owners who expected “Bill” to get the bulk of the workload.
The Commanders stomped the Las Vegas Raiders, even with backup quarterback Marcus Mariota running the show. Mariota did, however, vulture a Rodriguez touchdown from two yards out on the Football Team’s first drive, while Croskey-Merritt stole a tuddy later in the game. However, it looks like we have a new lead back in Washington.
Other BBNFL Notes:
- Josh Hines-Allen recorded his first sack of 2025, taking down CJ Stroud of the Houston Texans in the Jaguars’ 17-10 win. He may not have a ton of sacks to show for it, but the all-time sack leader for Kentucky is getting to the quarterback. He is second in the NFL with 18 QB pressures through three games.
- As big a game as Dru Phillips and Wan’Dale Robinson had in Week 2, they had a disappointing Week 3. Robinson only had one catch, while Phillips gave up multiple big plays while committing a costly pass interference. It all helped lead to a 22-9 Chiefs win over New York.
- Deone Walker graded out as the second-highest player on defense for the Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football against the Miami Dolphins. He was a disruptor on the interior, coming away with two tackles and a QB hurry.
BBNFL snap counts and stats for Week 3
(ST): Special Teams snaps; player did not play on offense or defense.
| Player | POS | Snaps | Stats |
| Brandin Echols (PIT) | DB | 62 | 4 tackles, 1 INT |
| Dru Phillips (NYG) | DB | 54 | 1 tackle |
| Wan’Dale Robinson (NYG) | WR | 51 | 4 targets, 1 rec, 26 yards |
| Josh Hines-Allen (JAX) | LB | 46 | 6 QB pressures, 1 sack, 1 tackle |
| Trevin Wallace (CAR) | LB | 38 | 4 tackles, 1 assist |
| Bud Dupree (LAC) | LB | 32 | 1 QB pressure, 1 tackle |
| Carrington Valentine (GB) | DB | 22 | 1 assist |
| Chris Rodriguez (WAS) | RB | 22 | 11 rushes, 39 yards |
| Deone Walker (BUF) | DL | 19 | 1 QB pressure, 2 tackles, 1 assist |
| Darian Kinnard (GB) | OL | 4 | 0 pressures allowed |
| Ray Davis (BUF) | RB | 4 | 0 rushes, 1 target, 0 rec |
| Luke Fortner (NO) | C | 3 | 0 pressures allowed |
| Bryce Oliver (TEN) | WR | Inactive | Inactive |
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