Wolverines in the NFL: Tom Brady still undefeated against Atlanta Falcons, thanks in part to controversial call
Former Michigan Wolverines football quarterback Tom Brady has still never lost to the Atlanta Falcons during his 23-year career. That, of course, includes the legendary comeback from 28-3 down in Super Bowl LI, a 34-28 Patriots overtime victory.
This past Sunday, Brady led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 21-15 victory over the division rival, throwing 35 completions on 52 pass attempts for 351 yards and 1 touchdown. The pass game carried the load offensively, with the Bucs rushing for just 69 yards on 23 carries with a 14-yard long.
Atlanta mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter, scoring 2 touchdowns with a two-point conversion to pull within six points with less than five minutes to play, but Tampa Bay held on. A controversial call at the end helped, with Brady being on the receiving end of a favorable roughing the passer penalty.
Falcons defensive lineman Grad Jarrett sacked Brady on third-and-5 from the Atlanta 47-yard line with just under five minutes to go, but the weak penalty gave Brady and Co. a new set of downs before they ran out the clock.
“It was a long hug. A long unwelcomed hug from Grady,” Brady said on his Let’s Go! podcast with Jim Gray. “He was in the backfield all day. As I said after the game, I don’t throw flags.”
Brady joked: “What I do throw is tablets and I didn’t have one accessible at the time. He had a hell of a game, I’ll leave it at that.’’
Here’s a look at how every former Michigan player in the NFL performed in Week 5:
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Tom Brady (Played at Michigan from 1995-99), QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Connected on 35 of his 52 pass attempts for 351 yards and 1 touchdown in the 3-2 Buccaneers’ 21-15 win over the Atlanta Falcons … Has completed 141 of his 207 passes for 1,409 yards and 7 touchdowns with 1 pick for the season.
Ben Bredeson (2016-19), OL, New York Giants
Started at left guard in the 4-1 Giants’ 27-22 win over the Green Bay Packers in London … Posted a 55.1 overall Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade and allowed 1 pressure in the victory … Has opened all five games this year.
Devin Bush Jr. (2016-18), LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Registered 4 tackles while starting the 1-4 Steelers’ 38-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills … Has opened all five outings so far this season.
Camaron Cheeseman (2016-19), LS, Washington Commanders
Snapped nine times in the 1-4 Commanders’ 21-17 loss to the Tennessee Titans … Has played in all five contests.
Frank Clark (2011-14), DE, Kansas City Chiefs
The former Michigan defensive end started and recorded 2 tackles, including a half-sack and a stop for loss, and 2 quarterback hits in the 4-1 Chiefs’ 30-29 win over the Las Vegas Raiders Monday night … Has totaled 9 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2 stops for loss and 4 quarterback hits while starting all five games.
Mason Cole (2014-17), OL, Pittsburgh Steelers
Opened the 1-4 Steelers’ 38-3 setback to the Buffalo Bills and posted a 55.9 overall PFF grade with a team-high 5 pressures allowed and 1 sack given up … Has started all five outings this year.
Nico Collins (2017-19), WR, Houston Texans
The former Michigan wideout started and had 4 catches for 65 yards in the 1-3-1 Texans’ 13-6 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars … For the season, has caught 15 passes for 272 yards with three starts in five appearances.
Mike Danna (2019), DE, Kansas City Chiefs
Missed the last three outings with a calf injury … Has registered 2 tackles and 1 quarterback hit in two appearances this season.
Chris Evans (2016-20), RB, Cincinnati Bengals
Returned 2 kicks for 54 yards in the 2-3 Bengals’ 19-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens Sunday night … Has played mostly special teams in all five games this year.
Rashan Gary (2016-18), LB, Green Bay Packers
The former Michigan defensive end started and tallied 3 tackles in the 3-2 Packers’ 27-22 loss to the New York Giants in London … Has racked up 22 tackles, 5 sacks and 6 quarterback hits while starting all five games this season.
Zach Gentry (2015-18), TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Caught a season-high 5 passes for 43 yards while starting in the 1-4 Steelers’ 38-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills … Has notched 8 receptions for 85 yards on the season.
Graham Glasgow (2011-15), OL, Denver Broncos
Started the last four games for the 2-3 Broncos, including Thursday night’s 12-9 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in which he posted a 62.0 overall PFF rating … Has given up 1 sack.
Brandon Graham (2006-09), DE, Philadelphia Eagles
Made 2 tackles in the 5-0 Eagles’ 20-17 win over the Arizona Cardinals … Has recorded 14 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 tackles for loss and 6 quarterback hits while appearing in all five games off the bench this year.
Hassan Haskins (2018-21), RB, Tennessee Titans
Registered 2 tackles on special teams in the 3-2 Titans’ 21-17 triumph over the Washington Commanders … For the season, has rushed 9 times for 37 yards, had 1 reception for 0 yards and totaled 3 tackles.
Chad Henne (2004-07), QB, Kansas City Chiefs
Hasn’t played since Week 1, when he was in on five offensive snaps.
Dax Hill (2019-21), S, Cincinnati Bengals
Made 1 tackle while playing 6 defensive snaps and 10 special teams plays in the 2-3 Bengals’ 19-17 setback to the Baltimore Ravens Sunday night … Has recorded 1 tackle in five games with one start this year.
Aidan Hutchinson (2018-21), DL, Detroit Lions
The former Michigan defensive end started and notched 2 tackles in the 1-4 Lions’ 29-0 loss to the New England Patriots … Leads the team with 15 pressures on the year, having started every game and tallied 14 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 stops behind the line of scrimmage and 6 quarterback hits.
Jourdan Lewis (2013-16), CB, Dallas Cowboys
Returned to the starting lineup after missing the previous clash with a groin injury … Made 4 tackles, including 1 sack, in the 4-1 Cowboys’ 22-10 victory over the Los Angeles Rams … Has registered 20 tackles and 1 sack this season … Hasn’t allowed a touchdown in coverage.
David Long Jr. (2016-18), CB, Los Angeles Rams
Did not play for the third straight week (groin) … Has appeared in the first two contests, notching 7 tackles.
Sean McKeon (2016-19), TE, Dallas Cowboys
Has not played in the last three games for the 4-1 Cowboys … Has made one appearance this season but hasn’t recorded any statistics.
Josh Metellus (2016-19), S, Minnesota Vikings
Came off the bench and made 1 tackle in the 4-1 Vikings’ 29-22 win over the Chicago Bears … Already has a career-high 18 tackles for the season, with 2 pass breakups (also a career high) and 1 interception with one start in five games.
Bryan Mone (2014-18), DT, Seattle Seahawks
The former Michigan defensive tackle notched 5 tackles while coming off the bench in the 2-3 Seahawks’ 39-32 loss to the New Orleans Saints … Has tallied 13 tackles with one start in five games for the campaign.
Michael Onwenu (2016-19), OL, New England Patriots
Started at right guard and played every offensive snap in the 2-3 Patriots’ 29-0 victory over the Detroit Lions … Had a 76.2 overall PFF grade and an 86.3 pass-blocking rating, with the latter leading the team … Did not allow a pressure on 26 pass-blocking snaps … His 87.9 PFF pass-blocking grade leads all NFL guards, and he’s given up just 2 pressures all year … Has started all five games for the Patriots.
Kwity Paye (2017-19), DE, Indianapolis Colts
The former Michigan defensive end started and made 1 hit on the quarterback in the 2-2-1 Colts’ 12-9 win over the Denver Broncos Thursday night … Carted off the field with an injury, but early reports are that it was a high-ankle sprain that should have him out just four to six weeks … Has recorded 16 tackles, including 5 behind the line of scrimmage, 3 sacks and 5 quarterback hits this season.
Donovan Peoples-Jones (2017-19), WR, Cleveland Browns
Hauled in 4 receptions for 50 yards in the 2-3 Browns’ 30-28 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers … The former Michigan wideout has started four of five tilts this year, totaling 16 catches for 191 yards.
Jabrill Peppers (2014-16), S, New England Patriots
Came off the bench and made 2 tackles in the 2-3 Patriots’ 29-0 win over the Detroit Lions … Has started one of five games this year, with 14 tackles.
Cesar Ruiz (2017-19), OL, New Orleans Saints
Opened the game at right guard and played every offensive snap in the 2-3 Saints’ 39-32 win over the Seattle Seahawks … Posted a 61.3 overall PFF grade with 2 pressures and 1 sack allowed … Has started all five games on the season.
Jon Runyan (2015-19), OL, Green Bay Packers
The former Michigan offensive lineman started at left guard in the 3-2 Packers’ 27-22 loss to the New York Giants in London … Graded out as the offense’s third-best player in the game with an 82.7 overall PFF rating … His 85.0 pass-blocking grade for the season ranks fourth among NFL guards … Has opened all five tilts this year.
Ambry Thomas (2017-19), CB, San Francisco 49ers
Played eight defensive snaps and nine special teams plays with a season-high 2 tackles in the 3-2 49ers’ 37-15 victory over the Carolina Panthers … Has totaled 4 tackles in five appearances this season.
Josh Uche (2016-19), LB, New England Patriots
The former Michigan edge rusher made 1 tackle in the 2-3 Patriots’ 29-0 win over the Detroit Lions … Has tallied 3 tackles in five games this year.
Chris Wormley (2012-16), DE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Played off the bench but did not record any statistics in the 1-4 Steelers’ 38-3 setback to the Buffalo Bills … Has recorded 14 stops, including 2 behind the line of scrimmage, in five games this year.
Injured reserve
The following are Michigan football players who are currently on teams but listed as on the injured reserve:
• Titans OL Taylor Lewan
• Patriots K Quinn Nordin
• Patriots OL Andrew Stueber
• Cowboys TE Ian Bunting
• Ravens OLB David Ojabo
• Ravens LB Josh Ross
• Falcons OL Jalen Mayfield
• Browns DE Chase Winovich
Practice squad
The following are former Michigan players on NFL practice squads:
• WR Daylen Baldwin — Browns
• DE Taco Charlton — Saints
• CB Vincent Gray — Sainrts
• DB Brad Hawkins — Patriots
• LB Khaleke Hudson — Commanders
• LB Carlo Kemp — Chargers
