By outreach@cw.ua.edu (James Ogletree)
As many teams around the NFL prepare to make a push for the playoffs, former Alabama players are setting new personal bests almost every week. Week 12 was no different, as two defenders tied career highs that they set last week, One performance, though, stands out above the rest. Here are the top performances from Alabama alumni in Week 12:
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones, a four-time Pro Bowler, caught 12 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday in a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Perhaps even more impressive than the yardage total itself is the fact that it is only the third-highest of Jones’ career. His 12 catches also fell just one short of his career high.
Jones has three 250-yard receiving games in his career; he is the only player in NFL history with more than one. Put another way, he owns three of the 28 highest single-game receiving totals in NFL history. He also had his first rushing attempt since October 2014 during the game, gaining 15 yards.
In his 90th career game, Jones set numerous NFL records at that point in a career:
No receiver in NFL history has had a better start to their career than Julio Jones. pic.twitter.com/yvbWXx0PFh
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 26, 2017
New York Giants safety Landon Collins has had arguably the best two games of his career within the last nine days. His previous career high in total tackles was 12 before he made 15 in each of the Giants’ last two games, including 13 solo tackles against the Washington Redskins on Thanksgiving.
According Pro Football Reference, whose statistics differ slightly from the ESPN statistics listed above, Collins leads the NFL in total tackles over the last two weeks, making five more than any other player.
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Reggie Ragland has also set and matched his career high in tackles over the last two weeks. He has made nine total tackles in each of his last two games, but three of them were behind the line of scrimmage in Sunday’s loss to his former team, the Buffalo Bills.
Watch him shoot the gap without hesitation here, leading to one of his three tackles for loss:
Every week Ragland is looking faster reading and reacting. He also is a really heavy hitter. Looks like a really nice find by Veach. pic.twitter.com/InEhAKeF2H
— Seth Keysor (@RealMNchiefsfan) November 27, 2017
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick broke up two Cleveland Browns passes on Sunday, bringing his season total to eight passes defended. His five passes defended in the last two games are a career-high for any two-game stretch. He also made nine total tackles against the Browns, one short of his career best.
Giants defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson earned his first career sack in the loss to the Redskins on Thanksgiving night, collapsing the pocket and bringing quarterback Kirk Cousins to the ground.
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper sustained a concussion during the Raiders’ win over the Denver Broncos, but it looked at first like it would be a lot worse. Cooper lay motionless on the ground for several seconds after a hit from Broncos safety Darian Stewart, but then got up and walked off the field on his own power:
Big hit by Stewart and Amari Cooper was left motionless on the ground. scary…. pic.twitter.com/PdoUsRDiD5
— Rob Lopez (@r0bato) November 26, 2017
Miami Dolphins running back Kenyan Drake will likely see an increased workload in the coming weeks due to starter Damien Williams’ dislocated shoulder. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport said the injury could keep Williams sidelined for two or three weeks.
Source:: The Crimson White Sports
