Top Dawgs in the NFL (Week 16)
UGASports continues its series highlighting the top NFL performances by former Georgia players for the week and entering the Monday night game(s). With our most outstanding performer for the week—or the Top Dawg—revealed towards the end, we spotlight the top NFL performances by Bulldogs from December 18 through December 21 and preview those participating in tonight’s Monday night game.
Matthew Stafford
Although suffering a one-point setback to Seattle, Los Angeles’ Stafford continued what’s shaping up to be an MVP season in the Thursday night game. Against the Seahawks, the 17th-year veteran completed 29 of 49 passes for a staggering 457 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions for a passer rating of 110.7. For Stafford, it marked his most passing yards in a single game since he threw for 488 as a Detroit Lion in a win over Dallas in 2013. He currently ranks first in the league in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and passer rating. According to BetMGM’s latest odds, Stafford is the favorite at -210 to be named the league’s MVP.
George Pickens
In a 34-17 setback, in which Dallas led 17-14 late in the second quarter, Pickens was the offensive star for the Cowboys, making seven receptions (nine targets) for 130 yards—both game-highs—including a 38-yard touchdown. For the fourth-year wideout, the contest marked the fifth 130-yard receiving outing in his last 12 games. For the season, Pickens’ 88 catches for 1,342 yards and nine touchdowns currently rank seventh, third, and seventh in the league, respectively.
James Cook
Cook continued to have one of the top annual pro performances of all-time by a former Georgia running back in the Bills’ 23-20 win over the Cleveland Browns yesterday. On the heels of a three-touchdown outing last week, Cook rushed for 117 yards on 16 carries (7.3 average) and two touchdowns, including a 44-yard scoring jaunt midway through the opening quarter. He also made a 17-yard reception. For the season, Cook has rushed for 1,532 yards—the most by a Buffalo Bill since 1975—averaged 5.3 yards per carry, made 32 receptions, and scored 14 touchdowns.
The TOP DAWG: Jordan Davis
Davis is our top pro performer of the week for his dominating defensive outing in Philadelphia’s 29-18 win over Washington on Saturday, in which the Commanders were limited to 220 total yards. The fourth-year defensive tackle was seemingly all over the field, making six tackles, including a team-high four solo stops, two of which were for loss on running back Chris Rodriguez, in just 33 snaps. Consistently tossing blockers aside while clogging up the middle, Davis also had two tackles for no gain, and another after a gain of just a yard. He now has eight games this season with four-plus run stops, which is the most among all interior defensive linemen. Davis also leads all defensive tackles in the league with 65 tackles (including a team-high nine for loss) despite being double teamed 71.5% of snaps, the fourth-most in the NFL.
Other notable performances over the weekend by former Georgia players include from defensive end Travon Walker in Jacksonville’s 34-20 win over Denver, improving the Jaguars to 11-4 this season. Just four days after his 25th birthday, Walker made three tackles, including one for loss, one pass defended, and a game-high and career-tying high three quarterback hits yesterday against the Broncos.
In Houston’s 23-21 win over Las Vegas to improve to 10-5, cornerback Kamari Lassiter was second on the Texans with eight tackles while defending a game-high two passes. This season, Lassiter is second with Houston in tackles (85) while leading the team with 16 passes defended.
In a heartbreaking 22-16 loss in overtime to Chicago, Green Bay linebacker Quay Walker made a game-high 14 tackles, including one for loss, and a pass defended. Safety Javon Bullard was second on the Packers with nine tackles while also defending a pass.
Finally, we wanted to spotlight a couple of former Georgia teammates—and touchdown scorers—from yesterday: In Las Vegas’ 23-21 setback to Houston, Brock Bowers, who was targeted just five times, made five receptions, including a 7-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Bowers now has seven touchdown receptions this season after making five a year ago… Meanwhile, in the Chargers’ 34-17 win over the Cowboys, Ladd McConkey, who was targeted just six times, made four receptions, including a 25-yard touchdown in the second quarter. McConkey now has 14 touchdown receptions in 32 career games played with the Chargers.
Monday Night Football
Starting at 8:15 pm ET tonight, the lone Monday night game features the 10-4 San Francisco 49ers at the 8-6 Indianapolis Colts, with the visiting 49ers a 5.5-point favorite. Indianapolis has no former Georgia players on its active roster, whereas the 49ers have one: No. 2 left defensive end Robert Beal (14 tackles in 7 games this season).
BYE teams this week: None