TCI has a complete rundown of how Clemson’s NFL alumni performed in Week 4…
NY Jets 27, Miami 14
NYJ: Marcus Gilchrist—5 tackles, 2 PBU
The Jets made life miserable for Ryan Tannehill and the Dolphins’ offense in this game, allowing completions on only 43.2 percent of passes and defending seven passes in the secondary. Two of those were broken up by Gilchrist, who continues to thrive in New York.
Atlanta 48, Houston 21
ATL: Vic Beasley Jr.—1 tackle
Grady Jarrett—1 tackle
The pair of Falcon rookies did not make a sizable impact on the stat sheet, but the totality of the defensive effort in Sunday’s game was fantastic. Both Beasley and Jarrett are part of the long-term plan for a much-improved Atlanta defense.
HOU: DeAndre Hopkins—22 tgts, 9 rec, 157 yds
The Texans benched Ryan Mallett in favor of Brian Hoyer in this game, but it didn’t matter who the quarterback was for Hopkins. He was targeted a whopping 22 times—by far the most on the team—and surpassed the 150-yard mark. He continues to be treated like a number one wideout, a deserved designation for Nuk.
Chicago 22, Oakland 20
CHI: Jarvis Jenkins—4 tackles, sack
In his first three NFL seasons with Washington, Jenkins had two total sacks. In the past two weeks with the Bears, he has three. For the first time, he is beginning to show some playmaking ability with John Fox, and this second-contract pro is starting to earn his money.
Washington 23, Philadelphia 20
WAS: Bashaud Breeland—5 tackles, PBU
Breeland had a good day against the Philadelphia wideouts, who were largely ineffective in Chip Kelly’s passing game. His stock was mercurial last season, but the second-year DB is proving his legitimacy each and every week in 2015.
PHI: Byron Maxwell—1 tackle
Maxwell represents the other side of the spectrum. He signed a big contract in the offseason and has really struggled to make the kind of impact the Eagles were hoping to see. Washington’s receivers caught most of the balls thrown to them, which is an indictment of the coverage provided by Maxwell and his cohorts.
St. Louis 24, Arizona 22
ARI: Jaron Brown—2 tgts, 1 rec, 20 yds
Chandler Catanzaro—5-5 FG, 1-1 XP
Brown continues to be a lower-tier option in Arizona’s passing game. An injury could open up more targets for him, but he’s stuck where he is for the moment. Catanzaro had an exceptional game, especially on a week in which huge kicks were missed all over the league. He banged home a handful of field goals from 21 to 42 yards away to keep the Cardinals in this contest, further establishing himself as perhaps the most underrated kicker in the NFL.
Green Bay 17, San Francisco 3
SFO: Bradley Pinion—6 punts, 41.2 avg
Pinion was not perfect in this game, but the pathetic 49ers offense did not help him out much at all. Only one of his six punts went inside the Packers’ 20-yard line, but he did boom a 59-yarder at one point.
New Orleans 26, Dallas 20 (OT)
NO: Stephone Anthony—7 tackles, sack
C.J. Spiller—2 car, 10 yds; 5 tgts, 5 rec, 99 yds, TD
Clemson got a lot of love on Sunday Night Football this week. Cris Collinsworth loved watching Anthony roam around as the middle linebacker for the Saints, making a ton of strong tackles in space. Spiller stole the show at the end with the game-winning touchdown on a wheel route from 80 yards away in overtime. It was a much-needed boost to his confidence after being used sparingly to that point.
Other Rostered Players: Tavaris Barnes (NO), Andre Branch (JAC), Chris Clemons (ARI), Kavell Conner (SDG), Malliciah Goodman (ATL), Chris Hairston (SDG), Adam Humphries (TB), Antoine McClain (ARI), Jonathan Meeks (BUF), Tyler Shatley (JAC).
Bye Week: Coty Sensabaugh (TEN), Charlie Whitehurst (TEN).
Inactives: Dwayne Allen (IND), Kourtnei Brown (HOU), Andre Ellington (ARI), Tony Steward (BUF), Brandon Thomas (SFO), Brandon Thompson (CIN), Sammy Watkins (BUF).