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What To Look For – Week 10

By
Stephen Patrick
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Photo Cred: NFL

NEW YORK — Nov. 6, 2024 — Below are players that can set historic marks or reach career milestones in Week 10 of the 2024 NFL season, including:

  • QB Lamar Jackson
  • RB Derrick Henry
  • QB Jared Goff
  • WR Amon-Ra St. Brown
  • RB Joe Mixon
  • TE Travis Kelce
  • QB Aaron Rodgers
  • WR Davante Adams
  • WR Justin Jefferson
  • LB T.J. Watt

LAMAR JACKSON

Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson leads the NFL with a 120.7 passer rating this season and ranks third with 2,379 passing yards. He has recorded a rating of 100-or-higher in seven consecutive games and has reached 275 passing yards in each of his past five.

On Thursday Night Football against Cincinnati (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video), Jackson can become the third player all-time with at least 275 passing yards and a passer rating of 100-or-higher in six consecutive games, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (seven consecutive games from 2012-13 and six in 2012) and Aaron Rodgers (seven in 2011).

The players with at least 275 passing yards and a passer rating of 100-or-higher in the most consecutive games in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM SEASON(S) GAMES
Peyton Manning HOF Denver 2012-13 7
Aaron Rodgers Green Bay 2011 7
Peyton Manning HOF Denver 2012 6
       
Lamar Jackson Baltimore 2024 5*
*active streak

Jackson can also become the fourth quarterback in NFL history to record a passer rating of 100-or-higher in eight consecutive games within a season, joining Tom Brady (eight consecutive games in 2007 and 2010), Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (nine in 2004 and eight in 2005) and Aaron Rodgers (12 in 2011 and eight in 2020).

The players with a passer rating of 100-or-higher in the most consecutive games within a season in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM SEASON GAMES
Aaron Rodgers Green Bay 2011 12
Peyton Manning HOF Indianapolis 2004 9
Tom Brady New England 2010 8
Tom Brady New England 2007 8
Aaron Rodgers Green Bay 2020 8
Peyton Manning HOF Indianapolis 2005 8
       
Lamar Jackson Baltimore 2024 7*
*active streak

DERRICK HENRY

Baltimore running back Derrick Henry leads the NFL in scrimmage yards (1,145) and rushing yards (1,052) and has a league-high 13 scrimmage touchdowns (11 rushing, two receiving) this season, including at least one touchdown in each of his first nine games this season.

On Thursday against Cincinnati (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video), Henry can become the fifth player in the Super Bowl era to record a touchdown in each of his first 10 games of a season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers O.J. Simpson (first 14 games in 1975), Jerry Rice (first 12 in 1987) and John Riggins (first 12 in 1983) as well as Todd Gurley (first 10 in 2018).

The players with a touchdown in the most consecutive games to begin a season in the Super Bowl era:

PLAYER TEAM SEASON GAMES
O.J. Simpson HOF Buffalo 1975 14
Jerry Rice HOF San Francisco 1987 12
John Riggins HOF Washington 1983 12
Todd Gurley L.A. Rams 2018 10
       
Derrick Henry Baltimore 2024 9*
*active streak

Henry, who turned 30 years old on Jan. 4, 2024, can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders (1,126 rushing yards in 1998) for the most rushing yards by a player aged 30-or-older in his team’s first 10 games of a season and become the fourth player aged 30-or-older with at least 15 touchdowns in his team’s first 10 games of a season all-time.

The players aged 30-or-older with the most rushing yards in their team’s first 10 games of a season in NFL history:

PLAYER TEAM SEASON RUSH YARDS
Barry Sanders HOF Detroit 1998 1,126
Walter Payton HOF Chicago 1984 1,112
Curtis Martin HOF N.Y. Jets 2004 1,072
Derrick Henry Baltimore 2024 1,052*
Adrian Peterson Minnesota 2015 1,006
*in nine games

The players aged 30-or-older with the most touchdowns in their team’s first 10 games of a season in NFL history:

Saquon Barkley, Kamren Kinchens & Blake Gillikin Named Week 9 NFC Players of the Week

By
Stephen Patrick
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0
Photo Cred: USA Today
NEW YORK — Nov. 6, 2024 — Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, Los Angeles Rams safety Kamren Kinchens and Arizona Cardinals punter Blake Gillikin are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for Week 9 (October 31, November 3-4).

OFFENSE: RB SAQUON BARKLEY, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

  • Barkley totaled 199 scrimmage yards (159 rushing, 40 receiving) and scored two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving), helping Philadelphia defeat Jacksonville, 28-23. He is the second player in NFL history with at least 110 scrimmage yards in seven of his first eight games with a team, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson (with the Los Angeles Rams in 1983).
  • This is the sixth-career Offensive Player of the Week Award for Barkley and third this season with Philadelphia, joining Michael Vick as the only Eagle to earn the honor three times in a season (2010):
    • 2018: Week 11 (Giants)
    • 2019: Week 16 (Giants)
    • 2022: Week 1 (Giants)
    • 2024: Weeks 1, 7, 9 (Eagles)
  • With his six Offensive Player of the Week awards, Barkley surpassed Kerry Collins (five) for the most-ever by a former Penn State player.

DEFENSE: S KAMREN KINCHENS, LOS ANGELES RAMS

  • Kinchens recorded three tackles and two fourth-quarter interceptions in the Rams’ 26-20 overtime victory against the Seahawks, including a 103-yard interception-return for a touchdown, tied with Pete Barnum (Sept. 26, 1926) for the longest interception-return for a touchdown by a rookie in NFL history. It was also the longest go-ahead fourth-quarter touchdown by a rookie all-time, surpassing Jaylen Watson (99-yard interception return for a touchdown with Kansas City on Sept. 15, 2022).
  • Kinchens joins Janoris Jenkins (Week 12, 2012) as the only Rams rookies to earn Defensive Player of the Week.
  • Kinchens joins Phillip Buchanon (Week 5, 2002) and Tyrique Stevenson (Week 17, 2023) as the only former Miami Hurricane defensive backs to earn Defensive Player of the Week as a rookie.

SPECIAL TEAMS: P BLAKE GILLIKIN, ARIZONA CARDINALS

  • Gillikin punted four times in Arizona’s 20-9 victory over Chicago, three of which landed inside the 20-yard line and two inside the 10. He was the only punter in the NFL this week with 75 percent of his punts landing inside the 20 (minimum three punts).
  • This is the first-career Special Teams Player of the Week Award for Gillikin, as he becomes the third Cardinals punter to earn the honor, joining Jeff Feagles (Week 13, 1995) and Ben Graham (Week 15, 2009).
  • Gillikin becomes the first former Penn State punter to win Special Teams Player of the Week.
For more from NFL Communications, visit  media.nfl.com

Garrett Wilson, Trey Hendrickson & Tyler Bass Named Week 9 AFC Players of the Week

By
Stephen Patrick
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NEW YORK — Nov. 6, 2024 — New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson, Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson and Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for Week 9 (October 31, November 3-4).

OFFENSE: WR GARRETT WILSON, NEW YORK JETS

  • Wilson recorded nine receptions for 90 yards and two second-half touchdowns, the second of which gave the Jets the lead in the fourth quarter of their 21-13 victory over Houston on Thursday Night Football. Wilson leads the NFL with 60 receptions this season.
  • This is the first-career Player of the Week award for Wilson, becoming the fourth Jets wide receiver to win Offensive Player of the Week, joining Brandon Marshall (Week 13, 2015), Al Toon (Week 8, 1990) and Wesley Walker (Week 3, 1986).
  • Wilson becomes the second former Ohio State wide receiver to earn the honor since 2000, joining Michael Thomas (Week 9, 2018).

DEFENSE: DE TREY HENDRICKSON, CINCINNATI BENGALS

  • Hendrickson recorded a career-high four sacks, with a forced fumble and pass defensed in Cincinnati’s 41-24 victory over Las Vegas. It marks the second four-sack performance in the NFL this season (Aidan Hutchinson, Week 2) and Hendrickson now leads the league with 11 sacks.
  • This is Hendrickson’s second-career Player of the Week Award, also earning the honor in Week 3 of the 2022 season. He is the third Bengals defensive lineman to win multiple Defensive Player of the Week Awards, joining Geno Atkins (two-time winner) and Carlos Dunlap (four).
  • Hendrickson joins kicker Greg Joseph (two-time winner) as the only former Florida Atlantic players to earn multiple Player of the Week awards.

SPECIAL TEAMS:  K TYLER BASS, BUFFALO BILLS

  • Bass kicked a game-winning 61-yard field goal with five seconds remaining in the Bills’ 30-27 win over Miami, becoming the ninth kicker all-time and the first since Greg Joseph on Dec. 24, 2022, with a game-winning field goal of 60-or-more yards in the final two minutes of regulation or in overtime. He also converted both of his other field goal attempts, from 40 and 49 yards.
  • This is Bass’ first-career Player of the Week award, becoming the first Bills kicker to earn the honor since Stephen Hauschka in Week 10 of the 2018 season.
  • Bass becomes the third former Georgia Southern kicker to win Player of the Week, joining Rob Bironas (three-time winner) and Younghoe Koo (four).
For more from NFL Communications, visit  media.nfl.com

Ohio State Stuns Penn State as CFP Nears

By
Kellan Quinn
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Photo Cred: Ohio State

In one of the most anticipated matchups of the week, the No. 3 Penn State Nittany Lions hosted the No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes in a top-five showdown that carried major Big Ten Championship and College Football Playoff implications. With both teams looking to make a statement, the game lived up to its billing, as Ohio State earned a hard-fought 20-13 victory. For Penn State, this was their first real test of the season, while Ohio State entered the game fresh off another top-five contest.

Penn State takes first loss as offense struggles vs. Ohio State

Photo Cred: USA Today

The Nittany Lions came out of the gates hot, taking the opening kickoff and marching down the field on a 14-play, 8-minute drive that ended in a field goal. Their defense followed suit, intercepting a Will Howard pass and returning it for a pick-six to give Penn State an early 10-0 lead. However, Ohio State quickly settled in. Quarterback Will Howard responded with precision, finding Emeka Egbuka wide open for a 25-yard touchdown to trim the deficit to 10-7. As the momentum seemed to shift in Penn State’s favor, the Buckeyes continued to execute. After forcing a quick three-and-out, Ohio State’s offense efficiently moved the ball down the field.

Howard connected with Brandon Inniss for his second touchdown pass of the game, giving Ohio State their first lead, 14-10, and quieting the 100,000-plus fans in Beaver Stadium. Penn State had an opportunity to regain control before halftime, driving all the way to Ohio State’s 3-yard line. But the Buckeyes’ defense stood tall, with cornerback Davison Igbinosun making a spectacular interception in the corner of the end zone, preserving Ohio State’s 14-10 lead as the teams headed to the locker room. The second half saw both teams exchange field goals, bringing the score to 17-13 in favor of Ohio State.

Football: No. 4 Buckeyes take the Happy out of the Valley, down No. 3 Penn State 20-13

Photo Cred: The Columbus Dispatch

With just under 10 minutes remaining in the game, the Buckeyes extended their lead to 20-13 with another field goal, putting the pressure squarely on Penn State. The Nittany Lions had one final chance to tie or win the game, driving down the field and setting up first-and-goal at the 3-yard line. The stage was set for a dramatic finish, but Ohio State’s defense again proved too strong. The Buckeyes stuffed three straight rushing attempts and halted a pass attempt on fourth down, forcing a turnover on downs with five minutes remaining.

With the ball and time on their side, Ohio State simply needed to run out the clock. Leaning on their offensive line, which had been plagued by injuries throughout the season, the Buckeyes ran the ball 10 consecutive times to drain the clock and secure the win. Running backs TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins combined for 149 yards on 24 carries, powering Ohio State’s ball-control attack. The story of the game for the Buckeyes was their defense and improved run game.

Despite struggling in recent weeks, the offensive line stepped up when it mattered most, especially on the game-clinching drive. Defensively, Ohio State allowed just two field goals, with Penn State’s lone touchdown coming off a defensive turnover. Key goal-line stands from the Buckeyes, particularly in the second half, were the difference-makers in a game that required complimentary football to pull out the victory. Looking ahead, Ohio State will face Purdue in Week 11, a game they cannot afford to overlook.

While the Boilermakers will pose a challenge, the Buckeyes should be able to take care of business. With the end of the season fast approaching, Ohio State must remain focused week-to-week, especially with upcoming games against Indiana, a team with both Big Ten and College Football Playoff aspirations, and their rivalry game against the team up north. The Buckeyes’ defense and offensive line must continue to improve if they hope to finish the season strong and make a deep playoff run.

Lamar Jackson, Will Anderson & Chris Boswell Named October AFC Players of the Month

By
Stephen Patrick
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0
NEW YORK — Oct. 31, 2024 — Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson and Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell are the AFC Players of the Month for the month of October (Weeks 5-8).

OFFENSE: QB LAMAR JACKSON, BALTIMORE RAVENS

  • Jackson completed 86 of 128 passes (67.2 percent) for 1,241 yards and 12 touchdowns with one interception for a 126.5 passer rating,   rushing for 193 yards in Weeks 5-8. He led the AFC in passing yards, touchdown passes, passer rating and rushing yards by a quarterback. Jackson became the first quarterback in NFL history with at least 500 rushing yards in seven consecutive seasons and surpassed Cam Newton (5,628 rushing yards) for the second-most rushing yards by a quarterback in NFL history.
  • This is Jackson’s fourth-career Player of the Month award, trailing only Justin Tucker (seven-time winner) for the most Player of the Month awards by a Raven:
    • 2019: November
    • 2022: September
    • 2023: December
    • 2024: October
  • Since entering the NFL in 2018, Jackson has won four Offensive Player of the Month awards and becomes the third player to earn the honor four-or-more times in that span, joining Patrick Mahomes (five-time winner) and Christian McCaffrey (four).

DEFENSE: DE WILL ANDERSON, HOUSTON TEXANS

  • Anderson recorded 17 tackles, seven tackles for loss, five sacks, a fumble recovery and a pass defensed in Weeks 5-8. His seven tackles for loss led the NFL and five sacks led the AFC. Anderson was the only player to record at least 15 tackles, five sacks and a pass defensed in Weeks 5-8.
  • This is Anderson’s first-career Player of the Month honor. He is the second Texans defensive end to earn the honor, joining J.J. Watt (six-time winner).
  • Anderson is the third former Alabama defensive lineman to win Defensive Player of the Month, joining Antwan Odom (September, 2009) and Quinnen Williams (October, 2022).

SPECIAL TEAMS: K CHRIS BOSWELL, PITTSBURGH STEELERS

  • Boswell led the AFC with 46 points and was the only kicker in the NFL to make 100-percent of his kicks with at least 10 field-goal attempts (12) and 10 point-after attempts (10) in Weeks 5-8. His 12 made field goals included three from 40-or-more yards and one from 50-or-more yards.
  • This marks the third-career Player of the Month honor and second this season for Boswell, surpassing Jeff Reed (two-time winner) for the most Special Teams Player of the Month awards by a Steeler:
    • 2015: December
    • 2024: September & October
  • Boswell ties Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis (three-time winner) and Antonio Brown (three) for the second-most Player of the Month awards by a Steeler, trailing only T.J. Watt (four).
For more from NFL Communications, visit  media.nfl.com

Looking Forward to Some Mean Green Basketball!

By
Yassine Keyou
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0
Photo Cred: University of North Texas Athletics

It’s Nov. 5, 2024, and the University of North Texas (UNT) men’s basketball team will make its season debut. They will look to start their season off right against the Evansville Purple Aces at The Super Pit (UNT Coliseum). This is a good time to check in with what to look forward to this season and reflect on the previous one. 

The 2023-24 Season 

2023-24 was a rollercoaster ride for the Mean Green. With plenty of ups and downs, it was a different sight from their stellar performances in years prior. Despite the challenges, the team managed to carve out slivers of hope throughout the season. 

UNT faced tough competition, finishing seventh in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) with a record of 19-15 (10-8 AAC). Compare this to their amazing 31-7 (16-4 C-USA) finish, second-place conference ranking, and NIT championship win in 2022-23. It was clear that last season was a step backward for the team. Of course, some of that is to be expected with a rookie head coach. Associate HC Ross Hodge took over last year when former head coach Grant McCasland left for Texas Tech. 

Ross Hodge Named Men's Basketball Head Coach - University of North Texas Athletics

Photo Cred: University of North Texas Athletics 

Regardless, there were shining moments that showcased the team’s potential. Their thrilling two-point victory against arch-rivals SMU in January was a big moment for the team and fans. It was a game filled with intensity and showed that UNT could rise to the occasion. Another positive moment came when they put up another season-high 84 points against LSU in the NIT on March 19th. It was a display of offensive ability that fans hadn’t seen throughout the entire season. 

Their season ended in the NIT, where they beat LSU but lost to No. 1 Seton Hall. Before that, UNT also had a second-round exit in the AAC Tournament, losing to No. 2 Florida Atlantic after knocking off No. 10 Tulane. They headed into the offseason with a sense of determination to bounce back stronger, knowing that they’d previously tasted success. 

North Texas 84-77 LSU (Mar 19, 2024) Final Score - ESPNPhoto Cred: ESPN 

The Standouts 

Guard Jason Edwards emerged as an elite scorer for the team, leading the team offensively with 650 points. He hit 84 three-pointers and shot an impressive 42.5 percent from the field. Edwards provided a spark for UNT’s sluggish offense the entire season. Guard/forward Aaron Scott also played a pivotal role, leading the team in steals (38) and blocks (45) while contributing significantly in points (374) and rebounds (191). His defensive tenacity and all-around consistency helped keep the Mean Green afloat. 

What They Needed To Work On  

Improving the roster, particularly in the guard positions, needed to be a priority. Adding scoring guards who can complement the team’s defensive strengths will be crucial for success. Despite facing the injury bug and various challenges along the way, UNT did what it could to be competitive. With a solid foundation to build on and various lessons learned, there is still optimism for the current season. 

What’s New in 2024-25? 

A lot has changed from last season, as the Mean Green have to replace their best players. The two standouts mentioned, Edwards and Scott, are now at Vanderbilt and St. John’s respectively. Rebounds leader Robert Allen graduated, while assists leader Rubin Jones graduate transferred to Michigan. Guards John Buggs III (East Tennessee State) and CJ Noland (New Mexico), veterans of 29 games last season, have left for greener pastures as well. It seems as though coach Hodge will have to rebuild from the ground up. 

North Texas Daily on X: "SPORTS: North Texas men's basketball gains commitments from multiple players for the 2024-25 season 📝: @ethanplinsky 📸: Mean Green Sports Read more: https://t.co/yIh7lIMRkE https://t.co/8p6ieW5XlI" / X

Photo Cred: X 

Several three-star recruits and transfers will look to bridge the gaps left by last season’s stars. SG Tyran Mason and C Baron Smith Jr. are North Texas’ 2024 high school enrollees. Guards Latrell Jossell (Stephen F. Austin) and Atin Wright (Drake) will bring their 10+ point and a-steal-a-game averages as transfers. Forwards Brenen Lorient (FAU) and Grant Newell (Cal) also join UNT with 0.85 ratings or higher from 247Sports.  

Seniors Moulaye Sissoko, Matthew Stone, and Rondel Walker are the only returnees who’ve played at least 20 games for North Texas. 2023 high school recruit Alex Cotton and 2023 walk-on Grayson Allo will also fight for more playing time. 

“Our Team Will Ever Fight. Fight! Fight! Fight!” 

The Mean Green have some big games to look forward to this season. After today’s game, they’ll stay in Denton, Texas to face Wayland Baptist on Thursday before traveling to face Minnesota for their first away game. November 25th-29th feature a tough stretch of matchups. After a home game against Oregon State, North Texas will travel to Bay Lake, Florida for the NIT Season Tip-Off. On the 28th, they take on the Northern Iowa Panthers in the semifinals of the tournament. The next day, they would take on either Utah State or St. Bonaventure in the third-place game or the championship. 

Men's Hoops 2024-25 AAC Schedule Announced - University of North Texas Athletics

Photo Cred: University of North Texas Athletics 

Before their slate of conference matchups, the last tough non-conference game is against Sun Belt giants Appalachian State (27-7, 16-2 Sun Belt). North Texas opens up their conference play against rivals UAB on December 31st, again facing off against them in February. The usual in-state rivalry matchups against Rice and UTSA (twice) will always be interesting, but they won’t be playing the SMU Mustangs this year. Lastly, February 23rd and 27th features two back-to-back away games against last year’s two AAC leaders South Florida and Florida Atlantic. Here’s to hoping for some great results from UNT!

Bo Nix & Beanie Bishop Named October Rookies of the Month

By
Stephen Patrick
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0
NEW YORK — Oct. 31, 2024 — Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix and Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Beanie Bishop are the NFL Rookies of the Month for the month of October (Weeks 5-8).

OFFENSE: QB BO NIX, DENVER BRONCOS

  • Nix led all rookies in completion percentage (66.7 percent), passing yards (870) and touchdown passes (seven), ranked tied for first in rushing touchdowns (two) and ranked second in passer rating (102.7) in the month of October. Nix became the first Broncos rookie quarterback to win five games and with four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) and a 124.2 passer rating in Week 8, became the fourth rookie quarterback with at least three touchdown passes, one rushing touchdown and a passer rating of 120-or-higher in a game since 2000, joining Justin Herbert (Jan. 3, 2021), Cam Newton (Dec. 24, 2011) and Deshaun Watson (Oct. 1, 2017).
  • Nix becomes the third Broncos player to win Offensive Rookie of the Month, joining Mike Anderson (September & December, 2000) and Clinton Portis (October, 2002), and the first since 2002.
  • Nix is the third former Oregon quarterback to win Rookie of the Month, joining Justin Herbert (October & November, 2020) and Marcus Mariota (September, 2015).

DEFENSE: CB BEANIE BISHOP, PITTSBURGH STEELERS

  • Bishop tied for the league-lead with three interceptions, ranked second among rookies with five passes defensed and had 16 tackles, including two tackles for loss, in the month of October. He was only player in the NFL with at least 15 tackles, three interceptions and a tackle for loss in Weeks 5-8.
  • Bishop becomes the fifth Steeler to win Rookie of the Month and the second Pittsburgh defensive player to earn the honor, joining Kendrell Bell (October & November, 2001).
  • Bishop becomes the first former West Virginia player to win Defensive Rookie of the Month and the second Mountaineer overall to earn the honor, joining Steve Slaton (December, 2008).
For more from NFL Communications, visit  media.nfl.com

Jared Goff, Xavier McKinney & Chad Ryland Named October NFC Players of the Month

By
Stephen Patrick
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0
Photo Cred: USA Today
NEW YORK — Oct. 31, 2024 — Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff, Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney and Arizona Cardinals kicker Chad Ryland are the NFC Players of the Month for the month of October (Weeks 5-8).

OFFENSE: QB JARED GOFF, DETROIT LIONS

  • Goff led the NFL in completion percentage (80.0) and passer rating (149.8) in October, becoming the third player in NFL history with a passer rating of 125-or-higher in four consecutive games (minimum 15 attempts per game), joining Russell Wilson (five straight games in 2015) and Ryan Tannehill (four in 2019). Detroit’s 172 points in their past four games (Weeks 4, 6-8) are the most points by a team in a four-game span since the 2019 Baltimore Ravens (172 points from Weeks 9-12).
  • This is Goff’s second-career Player of the Month honor and first with Detroit. He is the first Lions quarterback to earn Offensive Player of the Month:
    • 2018: September (Rams)
    • 2024: October (Lions)
  • Goff is the second former University of California player to earn Offensive Player of the Month multiple times, joining Aaron Rodgers (10-time winner).

DEFENSE: S XAVIER MCKINNEY, GREEN BAY

  • McKinney totaled 19 tackles, three passes defensed, two interceptions, a fumble recovery and a sack in the month of October, finishing as the only player with multiple interceptions, a sack and a fumble recovery in Weeks 5-8.  McKinney notched his league-leading sixth interception of the season in Week 8, becoming the fifth player since 2000 with an interception in six of his team’s first eight games of a season, joining Corey Chavous (2003 with Minnesota), Trevon Diggs (2021 with Dallas), Doug Evans (2001 with Carolina) and Brian Russell (2003 with Minnesota).
  • This is McKinney’s first-career Player of the Month honor. He is the third Packers defensive back to earn Defensive Player of the Month, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Charles Woodson (three-time winner) and Atari Bigby (December, 2007).
  • McKinney is the third former University of Alabama safety to earn Player of the Month Honors, joining Landon Collins (November, 2016) and Eddie Jackson (November, 2018).

SPECIAL TEAMS: K CHAD RYLAND, ARIZONA CARDINALS

  • Ryland, with game-winning field goals in Weeks 5, 7 and 8, became the first kicker since Daniel Carlson (with Las Vegas in 2021) to record three game-winning field goals in the final two minutes of regulation or in overtime in a four-game span.
  • This marks the first-career Player of the Month award for Ryland, joining Neil Rackers (October & December, 2005) and Zane Gonzalez (October, 2019) as the only Cardinals kickers to earn the honor.
  • Ryland becomes the first former University of Maryland kicker to win a Player of the Month award and second to win Special Teams Player of the Month, joining Jermaine Lewis (September, 1998 & December, 2000).
For more from NFL Communications, visit  media.nfl.com

Seven From Sunday – Week 9

By
Stephen Patrick
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0
Photo Cred: NFL
NEW YORK –– Nov. 3, 2024 –– A look at seven statistical highlights from games played during the 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. ET windows on Sunday, November 3, the ninth week of the 2024 season.

  • With two games remaining in Week 9, eight games were within one score (eight points) in the fourth quarter and seven games were decided by seven-or-fewer points.

    There have been 74 games decided by seven-or-fewer points and 64 games decided by six-or-fewer points this season, both the most such games through Week 9 in NFL history.

    The Los Angeles Rams overcame a 10-point halftime deficit to defeat Seattle, 26-20, in overtime as quarterback Matthew Stafford threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Demarcus Robinson for the game-winning score. Stafford is the third quarterback in the past 20 years (2005-24) with three career overtime touchdown passes, joining Derek Carr (three) and Dak Prescott (three).

    Rams rookie safety Kamren Kinchens recorded a 103-yard interception-return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, tied with Pete Barnum (Sept. 26, 1926) for the longest interception-return for a touchdown by a rookie in NFL history and the longest go-ahead fourth-quarter touchdown by a rookie all-time, surpassing Jaylen Watson (99-yard interception return for a touchdown with Kansas City on Sept. 15, 2022).

    Buffalo’s Tyler Bass kicked a game-winning 61-yard field goal with five seconds remaining in the Bills’ 30-27 win over Miami, becoming the ninth kicker all-time and the first since Greg Joseph on Dec. 24, 2022, with a game-winning field goal of 60-or-more yards in the final two minutes of regulation or in overtime.

    Tennessee     registered a 13-play, 72-yard drive to open overtime that took 7 minutes and 28 seconds off the clock and resulted in a go-ahead field goal from Nick Folk. It marked the longest overtime drive since the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 9, 2018 (8:05) and the first overtime drive of 13-or-more plays and 70-or-more yards since the New York Jets on Oct. 3, 2021 (13 plays, 71 yards).

    A rookie quarterback has thrown a game-winning or game-tying touchdown pass as time expired in consecutive weeks – New England’s Drake Maye in Week 9 and Washington’s Jayden Daniels in Week 8 – for the first time since Weeks 13-14 of the 2012 season (Week 13: game-winning touchdown pass by Indianapolis’ Andrew Luck; Week 14: game-winning touchdown pass by Philadelphia’s Nick Foles).

  • Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson completed 16 of 19 pass attempts (84.2 percent) for 280 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 158.3 rating – the highest attainable mark – in the Ravens’ 41-10 win over Denver.

    Jackson has four career games with a 158.3 passer rating (minimum 15 attempts in each game), surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famers Peyton Manning (three games) and Kurt Warner (three) as well as Tom Brady (three) and Ben Roethlisberger (three) for the most such games in NFL history.

    Jackson is the third player ever with seven career games with a passer rating of 150-or-higher (minimum 15 attempts in each game), joining Drew Brees (eight games) and Ben Roethlisberger (eight).

    Jackson has 20 touchdown passes and two interceptions this season and became the fifth player in NFL history with at least 20 touchdown passes and two-or-fewer interceptions in his first nine games of a season, joining Tom Brady (2016), Drew Brees (2018), Patrick Mahomes (2020) and Russell Wilson (2019).

    Jackson, with 20 touchdown passes and a 120.7 rating this season, is the fifth player in NFL history with at least 20 touchdown passes and a passer rating of 120-or-higher (minimum 100 pass attempts) in his first nine games of a season, joining Tom Brady (2007), Drew Brees (2018), Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (2004 and 2013) and Aaron Rodgers (2011 and 2014).

  • Baltimore running back Derrick Henry rushed for 106 yards and two touchdowns in the team’s Week 9 victory.

    Henry has 101 career rushing touchdowns and became the fifth player in NFL history with at least 100 rushing touchdowns in his first nine seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers LaDainian Tomlinson (138 rushing touchdowns), Emmitt Smith (125) and Jim Brown (106) as well as Shaun Alexander (100).

    Henry has 11 rushing touchdowns this season and became the fourth player in NFL history to reach 10 rushing touchdowns in seven career seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers LaDainian Tomlinson (nine seasons) and Emmitt Smith (eight) as well as Adrian Peterson (eight).

    Henry became the third player in NFL history with 10 rushing touchdowns in seven consecutive seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson (nine consecutive seasons from 2001-09) and Adrian Peterson (seven from 2007-13).

    Henry has 26 career games with at least two rushing touchdowns, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer Marcus Allen (25 games), Shaun Alexander (25) and Priest Holmes (25) for the fifth-most games ever with at least two rushing touchdowns. Only Pro Football Hall of Famers LaDainian Tomlinson (38), Emmitt Smith (36) and Jim Brown (27) as well as Adrian Peterson (28) have more.

    Henry has 21 career games with at least 100 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith (21 games) for the third-most such games all-time. Only Pro Football Hall of Famers Jim Brown (25) and LaDainian Tomlinson (25) have more.

    Henry is the fourth player since 1990 to record a touchdown in each of his first nine games of a season, joining Todd Gurley (first 10 games in 2018), Arian Foster (first nine in 2012) and LeSean McCoy (first nine in 2011).

    Henry, who has a touchdown in each of his first nine games this season and had a rushing touchdown in his final game last season after turning 30 years old on Jan. 4, 2024, joins Pro Football Hall of Famer John Riggins (13 consecutive games from 1982-83) as the only players over the age of 30 to record a touchdown in 10 consecutive games.

  • Washington rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, in his fifth-career road game, completed 15 of 22 pass attempts (68.2 percent) for 209 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 128.8 rating in the Commanders’ 27-22 win at the New York Giants.

    Daniels has a 116.2 passer rating in five career road games and joined Dak Prescott (119.5 passer rating) and Patrick Mahomes (115.2) as the only players with a passer rating of 110-or-higher in his first five career road games (minimum 100 attempts) in NFL history.

    Daniels joined Dak Prescott as the only players all-time with a passer rating of 90-or-higher (minimum 15 attempts per game) in each of his first five career road games.

    Daniels has a 76.9 completion percentage (103 of 134) in five career road games and surpassed Dak Prescott (71.6 completion percentage) and Chad Pennington (70.5) for the highest completion percentage by a player in his first five career road games (minimum 100 attempts) all-time.

  • Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert passed for 282 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions for a 125.8 rating in the team’s 27-10 win over Cleveland.

    The Chargers became the sixth team since 1990 to allow 20-or-fewer points in each of its first eight games of a season, joining the 1990 New York Giants (first 10 games), 2013 Kansas City Chiefs (nine), 1999 Jacksonville Jaguars (nine), 2019 New England Patriots (eight) and 1991 Kansas City Chiefs (eight).

    Herbert has 29 career games with at least two touchdown passes and a passer rating of 100-or-higher, tied with Deshaun Watson (29 games) for the second-most such games by a player in his first five seasons in NFL history. Only Patrick Mahomes (35 games) has more.

  • Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow threw five touchdown passes in the Bengals’ 41-24 win over Las Vegas.

    Burrow, who also had five touchdown passes in Week 5, is the fifth player in the past 15 seasons with five-or-more touchdown passes in multiple home games in a season, joining Tom Brady (2021), Drew Brees (2011), Ben Roethlisberger (2014) and Russell Wilson (2020).

    Burrow has 19 career games with at least three touchdown passes, tied with Justin Herbert (19 games, in fifth season) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (19) for the fifth-most such games by a player in his first five seasons in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famers Dan Marino (33 games) and Kurt Warner (21) as well as Patrick Mahomes (28) and Josh Allen (20) have more.

  • Detroit quarterback Jared Goff completed 18 of 22 pass attempts (81.8 percent) for one touchdown and no interceptions for a 109.3 rating, while wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown had a touchdown reception and safety Kerby Joseph returned an interception for a touchdown in the Lions’ 24-14 win at Green Bay.

    Goff has an 82.8 completion percentage (106 of 128) in his past six games, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning [78.3 percent (137 of 175) in 2008 with Indianapolis] for the highest completion percentage (minimum 100 attempts) in a six-game span within a season in NFL history.

    Goff has a 140.1 passer rating in his past six games, surpassing Brock Purdy (138.1 rating in 2023 with San Francisco) for the highest passer rating (minimum 100 attempts) in a six-game span within a season in NFL history.

    St. Brown has 363 receptions for 4,052 yards and 27 touchdowns in his career and became the fourth player in NFL history with at least 350 receptions, 4,000 receiving yards and 25 touchdown receptions in his first four seasons, joining Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb and Michael Thomas.

    Joseph is the sixth player since 2000 with an interception in six of his team’s first eight games of a season, joining Corey Chavous (2003 with Minnesota), Trevon Diggs (2021 with Dallas), Doug Evans (2001 with Carolina), Xavier McKinney (2024 with Green Bay) and Brian Russell (2003 with Minnesota).

  • Additional notes from Sunday include:
    • Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts recorded three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) with a 132.3 rating and running back Saquon Barkley totaled 199 scrimmage yards (159 rushing, 40 receiving) and two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving) in the Eagles’ 28-23 win over Jacksonville.

      Hurts is the first player in NFL history with a touchdown pass, rushing touchdown and a passer rating of 115-or-higher in three consecutive games.

      Hurts has six rushing touchdowns in his past three games and joined Cam Newton (six rushing touchdowns from Weeks 11-13, 2011) as the only quarterbacks with six rushing touchdowns in a three-game span by a quarterback since 1970.

      Barkley is the second player in NFL history with at least 110 scrimmage yards in seven of his first eight games with a team, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson (with the Los Angeles Rams in 1983).

    • Atlanta quarterback Kirk Cousins passed for 222 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions for a 144.8 rating in the Falcons’ 27-21 win over Dallas.

      Cousins has 11 career games with at least three touchdown passes and a passer rating of 140-or-higher, surpassing Tony Romo (10 games) for the fifth-most such games in NFL history. Only Tom Brady (21 games), Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (20), Aaron Rodgers (20) and Drew Brees (18) have more.

    • Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp recorded 11 receptions for 104 yards in the team’s Week 9 win.

      Kupp has 601 receptions in 96 career games and tied Keenan Allen (96 games) and Antonio Brown (96) as the fastest player to reach 600 receptions in NFL history.

      Kupp is the fifth player in NFL history with 600 receptions in his first 100 career games, joining Keenan Allen (624 receptions), Antonio Brown (622), Julio Jones (619) and Anquan Boldin (614).

    • New Orleans running back Alvin Kamara had six receptions and a career-high 215 scrimmage yards (155 rushing, 60 receiving) in Week 9.

      Kamara has 551 career receptions and surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk (548 receptions) for the most receptions by a running back in his first eight seasons in NFL history.

    • Denver rookie quarterback Bo Nix recorded his first-career touchdown reception in Week 9.

      Nix is the third rookie starting quarterback to record a touchdown reception since 1960, joining David Blough (Dec. 29, 2019, with Detroit) and Marcus Mariota (Dec. 13, 2015, with Tennessee).

    • New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers had nine receptions in Week 9.

      Nabers has 55 receptions in seven career games and joined Puka Nacua (58 receptions) as the only players in NFL history with at least 50 receptions in their first seven career games.
For more from NFL Communications, visit  media.nfl.com

UAB Blazers Bounce Back with Dominant Victory Over Tulsa

By
Iliyan Lakhani
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0

A hungry and motivated UAB Blazers squad dominated the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes, 59-21, on Saturday afternoon in Birmingham, Alabama. This commanding victory marks the team’s most impressive performance of the season, as the Blazers have been looking to turn the corner after some early-season struggles. The win was especially sweet for UAB, who had all but lost hope of reaching their goals.

Shanks and Kitna Lead UAB to 59-21 Victory over Tulsa on Homecoming - UAB Athletics

Photo Cred: UAB

In contrast, Tulsa left Protective Stadium with the sting of defeat, adding another loss to their ongoing six-game losing streak. The Golden Hurricanes, once hopeful for a turnaround, now face a challenging road ahead. Junior quarterback Jalen Kitna, stepping in for the injured Jacob Zeno, delivered a sensational performance in the win.  Kitna was nothing short of spectacular, throwing for 404 yards and a school-record six touchdowns, completing 23 of 30 passes with just seven incompletions.

His ability to read defenses and anticipate coverage allowed his receivers to thrive, and he looked poised throughout the game. Kitna’s performance was a standout, providing the spark the offense needed to explode for nearly 60 points. While the game was largely a showcase of the Blazers’ aerial attack, star running back Lee Beebe Jr. still contributed with 10 carries for 54 yards. Despite the limited touches, the receiving corps—led by the dynamic duo of Kam Shanks and Amare Thomas—stole the show.

Kitna Earns National Recognition for Performance vs. Tulsa - UAB Athletics

Photo Cred: UAB

Together, they combined for 13 catches, 237 yards, and five touchdowns. Shanks and Thomas were virtually unstoppable, finding themselves open at will, making it look like they were playing a game of backyard football with no defenders in sight. The Blazers’ defense showed improvement but was not as sharp as they would have liked. Despite holding Tulsa to just 187 rushing yards, they allowed the Golden Hurricanes’ star receiver, Joseph Williams, to finish with over 100 yards and a touchdown.

While the defense still has room to grow, this performance represented a step forward. UAB will need to tighten up defensively as they look to make a run in the latter half of the season. With Kitna and the offense finally hitting their stride, UAB has the chance to gain momentum with a crucial game against UCONN next Saturday. The Huskies, sitting at 6-3, have been one of the surprise teams of the season, making this a potential statement game for head coach Trent Dilfer and the Blazers.

A win would not only solidify UAB’s offensive resurgence but also give them a chance to build a winning streak and reassert themselves as a force to be reckoned with. To do so, the Blazers will need to clean up their mistakes on both sides of the ball and put together a flawless performance in front of their home crowd. The stakes are high, but if UAB can continue to improve, the future looks bright.

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