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#StanfordNFL Week 16: Playoff Push

by gostanford.com
Dec 30, 2020

Highlights

Playoff Cardinal

Six Cardinal have clinched playoff spots with six still in contention. In the AFC, the Buffalo Bills (Trent Murphy, Harrison Phillips) and Pittsburgh Steelers (David DeCastro) have punched a ticket, while the Baltimore Ravens (Jordan Richards), Cleveland Browns (Austin Hooper) and/or Indianapolis Colts (Bobby Okereke) could this weekend. In the NFC, the New Orleans Saints (Ty Montgomery, Andrus Peat) and Seattle Seahawks (Colby Parkinson) have clinched while the Washington Football Team (Casey Toohill), Dallas Cowboys (Dalton Schultz) and/or the Chicago Bears (James Vaughters) can this weekend.

Herbig Shines on O-Line

Nate Herbig started and played every offensive snap at guard for Philadelphia against the Cowboys, allowing no QB sacks, hits or hurries on 50 pass blocking snaps to register an 81.4 pass blocking grade according to PFF.

Hooooooooooop!

Austin Hooper posted season highs for both receptions and receiving yards for the Browns on Sunday. The fifth-year tight end caught seven passes for 71 yards.

Blake Being Blake

Blake Martinez continued to solidify himself as the unquestioned defensive leader for the Giants, making a team-high 12 tackles, seven solo, including stuffing Lamar Jackson on third and one for no gain late in the fourth quarter. The fifth-year linebacker, who also had a QB hurry, has led the Giants in tackles nine times this season. His 140 tackles this season are tied for fourth in the league. In Sunday's contest, Martinez did not miss a tackle and posted an 84.2 tackling grade according to PFF.

Montgomery's Return

Returning to the lineup for the first time since Week 11 (Nov. 28), Ty Montgomery's performance on special teams helped the Saints to a 52-33 rout of the Vikings on Christmas Day. Montgomery returned two kicks for 57 yards, including a long of 33 in the first quarter. Both of his returns set up touchdown drives for New Orleans.

Schultz Continues Stellar Season

Dalton Schultz started at tight end for the Cowboys, making three receptions for 21 yards in a 37-17 win at Philadelphia. His 16-yard reception in the final minute of the first half set up a touchdown to pull Dallas ahead 20-17, with 12 seconds remaining in the period. Schultz also made a block to open up CeeDee Lamb's 19-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Quick Hitters

  • Henry Anderson made one solo tackle and added a QB hurry in a start along the defensive line for the Jets. He played 53 snaps — 48 on defense — in New York's 23-16 win over the Browns.
  • Jake Bailey averaged 51.71 yards per punt on seven punts — the most punts he has had in a single game this season — in New England's loss to Buffalo on Monday night. Bailey pinned the Bills inside their own 20 four times on the night. 
  • David DeCastro played every snap on offense in a start at guard in Pittsburgh's 28-24, come-from-behind victory over the Colts. DeCastro has played every offensive snap in 10 games this season.
  • Zach Ertz made three receptions for 33 yards in a start at tight end for the Eagles and made a 17-yard reception in the fourth quarter.
  • Cameron Fleming played 50 snaps for the Giants, earning the start along the offensive line.
  • Alijah Holder played 17 special teams snaps for the Broncos in a three-point loss to the Chargers, 19-16.
  • Trenton Irwin was activated off Cincinnati's practice squad on Saturday, making his first appearance of the season. Irwin hauled in his first career reception, good for five yards, in his second career NFL game.
  • Linebacker Peter Kalambayi saw the field for 20 snaps for the Texans against Cincinnati.
  • Quenton Meeks appeared for the third-straight game after being signed by Jacksonville mid-season. Meeks saw 14 snaps on special teams in a loss to the Bears. 
  • Bobby Okereke made three tackles, all solo, while playing 41 snaps in the Colts 28-24 loss on the road at Pittsburgh. 
  • Harrison Phillips made one solo tackle in 26 snaps in Buffalo's 38-9 win over the Patriots on Monday night. 
  • Jordan Richards played 23 snaps — five on defense — in the Ravens 27-13 win over the Giants on Sunday.
  • Brennan Scarlett made a tackle on defense, playing 36 total snaps for Houston.
  • Starting at tight end for the third-straight week, Kaden Smith played 30 snaps in the Giants loss to the Ravens. 
  • Levine Toilolo played 18 snaps, 12 on special teams, for the Giants. 
  • Rookie defensive end Casey Toohill played nine snaps on special teams for the Washington Football Team. 
  • James Vaughters made two tackles, one solo, in Chicago's 41-17 win over Jacksonville. The win propelled the Bears into the last wild card spot entering the final week of the regular season.

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