TCI has an overview of how Clemson’s NFL alumni performed in Week 11…
Jacksonville 19, Tennessee 13 (Thurs.)
JAC: Andre Branch—2 tackles (1 solo), sack
Branch’s sack came on the final play of the game to cement the Jaguars’ win. It was just the second sack of the season for Branch, who has seen his role diminished due to organizational depth at defensive end.
TEN: Coty Sensabaugh—6 tackles, PBU
Sensabaugh has had a fine season and has continued to incrementally earn the trust of his coaches in Tennessee. He has fluctuated between his traditional nickel role and a perimeter coverage role this season and has handled both relatively well.
Indianapolis 24, Atlanta 21
IND: Dwayne Allen—1 tgt, 1 rec, 7 yds
For some reason, Allen has just never gotten going in the Colts’ passing game this season. Early on, he was being used as an extra blocker a lot, and that may be what’s happening now. Still, the lack of targets his way is a concern heading into free agency.
ATL: Vic Beasley Jr.—1 tackle
Grady Jarrett—1 assisted tackle
Beasley and Jarrett continue to struggle to put up numbers on the stat sheet. It’s a product of a defensive scheme that rewards linebackers and perimeter speed, which works to the detriment of Jarrett’s numbers but should prove fruitful for a player like Beasley. Either way, this latest swoon for the Falcons coincides with a swoon for both of Clemson’s rookies on the roster.
Denver 17, Chicago 15
CHI: Jarvis Jenkins—2 tackles
Teams are starting to block Jenkins differently since his torrid start to the season. He is seeing more double teams, and quite honestly, Brock Osweiler wasn’t going to be sacked a bunch on Sunday since the plan was to get the ball out of his hands quickly on most passing downs.
Tampa Bay 45, Philadelphia 17
TB: Adam Humphries—5 tgts, 4 rec, 50 yds
When your targets are up there with Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson, you might be having a pretty good season. That’s where Humphries is at the moment, and Jameis Winston isn’t just throwing his way in garbage time, either. The undrafted rookie is quietly putting up solid numbers for a blossoming Buccaneers offense.
PHI: Byron Maxwell—4 tackles (3 solo)
A big part of the problem for the Eagles has been Maxwell’s inability to live up to a large offseason contract. While he hasn’t had a bad year, he certainly hasn’t been the shutdown cornerback Philly hoped it was getting. A bad day in coverage against lowly Tampa reinforced that notion, as all three of his targets went for completions, including a touchdown.
Carolina 44, Washington 16
WSH: Bashaud Breeland—11 tackles (8 solo)
You never really want to see a cornerback lead your team in tackles, but that’s what Breeland did for the Redskins on Sunday. He continues to play well more often than not, but this laugher wasn’t anything to write home about for the team from D.C. on either side of the football.
Houston 24, NY Jets 17
HOU: DeAndre Hopkins—12 tgts, 5 rec, 118 yds, 2 TD
Hopkins brought a beach chair with him to Revis Island, as he comfortably torched the veteran cornerback throughout Sunday’s game. His first touchdown catch—a 61-yarder where he basically just beat Revis on a skinny post up the seam—made all of the highlight shows, as Nuk does on a regular basis now.
NYJ: Marcus Gilchrist—7 tackles (3 solo), PBU
No matter what the stats say, Gilchrist consistently rates as one of the top performers defensively for the Jets. The production just so happened to match the level of play in this one, even give the day Hopkins had against the Jets’ secondary.
Seattle 29, San Francisco 13
SFO: Bradley Pinion—7 punts, 43.7 avg
Given the 49ers’ struggles on offense, one of the sure things in the NFL this season has been Bradley Pinion getting a hefty workload. He won’t be making the Pro Bowl, but knocking two punts inside the 20 with a high of 52 yards isn’t a bad day at the office for the rookie.
Arizona 34, Cincinnati 31
ARI: Andre Ellington—2 car, 2 yds; 2 tgts, 1 rec, 5 yds
Chandler Catanzaro—2-2 FG, 4-4 XP
Catanzaro made headlines this week for his Dabo-esque celebration after he nailed the game-winning field goal as time expired. With only two missed field goals and extra points each this season, Catman continues his impressive two-year run in Arizona. Ellington appears on the outside looking in given the depth the Cardinals have at tailback. His role could shift, but injuries have set his season back significantly.
New England 20, Buffalo 13
BUF: Jonathan Meeks—2 tackles (1 solo)
Sammy Watkins—6 tgts, 3 rec, 39 yds
Watkins’ one-handed catch made headlines, but the Bills’ inability to get him the ball on a regular basis given his matchup advantage was a popular topic of conversation for fans and media. Still, it wasn’t a bad game for him overall. Meeks is still a key part of the Bills’ rotation in the secondary.
Other Rostered Players: Isaiah Battle (STL), Jaron Brown (ARI), Kourtnei Brown (TB), Crezdon Butler (DET), Chris Clemons (ARI), Chris Hairston (SDG), Tyler Shatley (JAC), Tony Steward (BUF), Brandon Thompson (CIN), Charlie Whitehurst (IND).
Inactives: Kavell Conner (SDG), Malliciah Goodman (ATL), Brandon Thomas (SFO).
Bye Week: Stephone Anthony (NO), Tavaris Barnes (NO), Martavis Bryant (PIT), C.J. Spiller (NO).