Cal in the NFL - Week 15

BERKELEY - Here’s a look at the 35 former Cal players playing in the NFL. Top performances of Week 15 were delivered by Tony Gonzalez, Keenan Allen, Desean Jackson and Mychal Kendricks.

• Tony Gonzalez (TE), Atlanta Falcons – Had six receptions for 62 yards, including a 13-yard TD catch, in a 27-26 win against Washington that was Atlanta’s second in three games. With the performance, Gonzalez became the fifth player and first tight end in NFL history with 15,000 career receiving yards joining Jerry Rice, Terrell Owens, Randy Moss and Isaac Bruce. Gonzalez’ achievement was recognized in the third quarter with a standing ovation from Atlanta fans. Gonzalez also scored a TD for the third consecutive game and now has 110 career TDs, leading all active players and sixth all-time. Visit NFL.com to check out Gonzalez’ milestone catch and TD with a unique twist on his goalpost dunk tradition. Here’s what Gonzalez had to say afterward.

• Keenan Allen (WR), San Diego Chargers – Had two second-quarter TD receptions for 29 yards in a 27-20 upset win against Denver on Thursday night. Allen scored on a 19-yard catch and run, hurdling a defender on his way to the end zone. He added a 10-yard TD reception later, marking his second consecutive multi-TD game. Allen leads all rookie receivers in receptions (63), receiving yards (931), receiving touchdowns (seven), catches of more than 20 yards (14) and first down catches (50) on the season, making him a frontrunner for the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Year. With the win San Diego kept its playoff hopes alive with a 7-7 record.

• DeSean Jackson (WR), Philadelphia Eagles – Had a career-high 10 receptions for 195 yards, including a 30-yard TD reception, in a 48-30 loss to Minnesota. Four of Jackson’s 10 catches went for over 20 yards making Jackson second in the NFL with 24 receptions over 20 yards on the season. With two games remaining in the regular season, Jackson has already set career-highs in receptions (75), receiving yards (1,275), and TD catches (9). Despite the loss Philadelphia retained its one-game lead in the NFC East with an 8-6 record.

• Mychal Kendricks (LB), Philadelphia Eagles – Recorded a game-high eight tackles, including 3.0 tackles for loss, in a 48-30 loss to Minnesota. Kendricks also recorded his second sack and second interception of the season, as well as a quarterback hit and pass defended. Trailing Minnesota 27-16 midway through the third quarter, Kendricks intercepted a tipped pass and provided Philadelphia’s offense a short field that resulted in a TD. Despite the loss Philadelphia retained its one-game lead in the NFC East with an 8-6 record.

• Tyson Alualu (DT), Jacksonville Jaguars – Recorded a career-high-tying six tackles, including a one-yard tackle for loss, and a quarterback hit in a 27-20 loss to Buffalo.

• C.J. Anderson (RB), Denver Broncos – Did not play in a 27-20 upset loss to San Diego on Thursday night. Despite the loss Denver had already clinched a playoff spot and remains atop the AFC West with an 11-3 record and a tiebreak over Kansas City.

• Bryan Anger (P), Jacksonville Jaguars – Punted three times for an average of 45.3 yards and a net of 44.0, including placing one punt inside the opponents’ 20 yard-line, in a 27-20 loss to Buffalo. Anger continues to lead the NFL in both total punts (86) and punting yards (3,926), while ranking tied for fourth in pinning opponents inside the 20.

• D.J. Campbell (S), Miami Dolphins – Did not play in a 24-20 upset win against New England. With the win Miami kept its playoff hopes alive with an 8-6 record.

• Andre Carter (DE), New England – Played in a 24-20 loss to Miami. Despite the loss New England remains atop the AFC East with a 10-4 record.

• Sean Cattouse (DB), Chicago Bears – Did not play in a 38-31 win against Cleveland. Chicago remains atop the NFC North with an 8-6 record.

• Chris Conte (FS), Chicago Bears – Recorded four tackles and a pass defended in a 38-31 win against Cleveland. Chicago remains atop the NFC North with an 8-6 record.

• Brian De La Puente (C), New Orleans Saints – Started in a 27-16 loss to St. Louis. With the loss New Orleans falls into a tie for the NFC South lead with a 10-4 record.

• Thomas DeCoud (S), Atlanta Falcons – Out with injury.

• Mike Gibson (T), Arizona Cardinals – Played in a 37-34 overtime win against Tennessee. With the win Arizona kept its playoff hopes alive with a 9-5 record.

• Matt Giordano (FS), St. Louis Rams – Played in a 27-16 win over New Orleans.

• Lavelle Hawkins (WR), San Diego – Did not play in a 27-20 upset win against Denver on Thursday night. With the win San Diego kept its playoff hopes alive with a 7-7 record.

• Marvin Jones (WR), Cincinnati Bengals – Had five receptions for 48 yards, including a 13-yard TD catch on a fourth-down play in the fourth quarter, in a 30-20 loss to Pittsburgh. Jones has a team-high nine TDs on the season and is tied for 10th in the NFL. Despite the loss Cincinnati remains atop the AFC North with a 9-5 record.

• Cameron Jordan (DE), New Orleans Saints – Recorded three tackles, including a one-yard tackle for loss, in a 27-16 loss to St. Louis. With the loss New Orleans falls into a tie for the NFC South lead with a 10-4 record.

• L.P. LaDouceur (LS), Dallas Cowboys – Played in a 37-36 loss to Green Bay.

• Marshawn Lynch (RB), Seattle Seahawks – Had 16 carries for 47 yards, including a two-yard TD run that was a “Can’t Miss Play’ on NFL.com, in a 23-0 win against the Giants. Lynch added a team-high-tying six receptions for a game-high 73 yards. Lynch has a career-high 307 receiving yards on the season. Having already clinched a playoff spot, Seattle won its franchise-best sixth road game of the season and closed in on the NFC West title with a league-best 12-2 record.

• Alex Mack (C), Cleveland Browns – Started in a 38-31 loss to Chicago. Mack has started all 78 games in his NFL career (all with Cleveland).

• Brandon Mebane (DT), Seattle Seahawks – Recorded two tackles, including a four-yard tackle for loss, in a 23-0 win against the Giants. Seattle’s defense forced five turnovers and allowed only 25 yards rushing. Having already clinched a playoff spot, Seattle won its franchise-best sixth road game of the season and closed in on the NFC West title with a league-best 12-2 record.

• Mike Mohamed (LB), Houston Texans – Played in a 25-3 loss to Indianapolis.

• Aaron Rodgers (QB), Green Bay Packers – Out with injury.

• Jeremy Ross (WR/RET), Detroit Lions – Returned one kickoff for 33 yards and four punts for 26 yards in a 18-16 loss to Baltimore.

• Mitchell Schwartz (T), Cleveland Browns – Started in a 38-31 loss to Chicago. Schwartz has started all 30 games in his NFL career (all with Cleveland).

• Brian Schwenke (C), Tennessee Titans – Started in a 37-34 overtime loss to Arizona. In the first quarter Schwenke recovered a Ryan Fitzpatrick fumble and picked up two yards to set up a field goal for the first points of the game.

• Craig Stevens (TE), Tennessee Titans – Started in a 37-34 overtime loss to Arizona.

• Will Ta’ufo’ou (FB), Jacksonville Jaguars – Recorded a tackle on special teams in a 27-20 loss to Buffalo.

• Shane Vereen (RB), New England Patriots – Had two carries for 13 yards and three receptions for eight yards in a 24-20 loss to Miami. Despite the loss New England remains atop the AFC East with a 10-4 record.

Reserve/Injured

• Lorenzo Alexander (LB), Arizona Cardinals  
• Desmond Bishop (LB), Minnesota Vikings
• Justin Forsett (RB), Jacksonville Jaguars
• Nick Sundberg (LS), Washington Redskins
• Steve Williams (CB), San Diego Chargers

 Cal also has one former player who is a head coach in the NFL.

• Ron Rivera (Head Coach), Carolina Panthers – Carolina defeated Buffalo 30-20 and in the process set up a huge matchup next week with New Orleans. With Carolina’s win and a New Orleans’ loss, Carolina is now tied for the NFC South lead. Carolina can capture the division title and a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs by winning its next two games.

For more detailed information on Cal’s 35 players currently on NFL rosters, check out their bio pages at ESPN.com.