Tracking Terps NFL Success: Week 14
We’re 14 weeks down and we have three more to go as the NFL regular season winds down. Several former Terps have been making plays this year on offense, defense and special teams, and Week 14 was no different.
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One Maryland alum set a couple of season-highs for himself on Sunday, while another caught a touchdown, and one even found himself in a bit of a controversy after being tossed from his game against another former Terps’ team. It certainly was an eventful week for Terps in the NFL, and as we do each week, TSR has tracked the success of former Maryland football players in the pros. Here’s a look at how they performed in Week 14 of the NFL regular season.
Sean Davis -- Pittsburgh Steelers, SS
Huge game for Davis here, who played a key role in Pittsburgh’s fourth-quarter comeback against Baltimore. The second-year safety recorded a team-high 12 tackles, while also coming up with a momentum-swinging interception off of Joe Flacco, who was driving the Ravens offense down field on that particular drive. Davis is having himself one heck of a year for the Steelers with now 75 tackles, seven passes defended and two interceptions. Rumblings of a potential Pro Bowl bid are even starting to formulate. However, with the AFC’s best record currently, Davis and the Steelers have their sight set on a Super Bowl instead.
Torrey Smith -- Philadelphia Eagles, WR
In a high-scoring affair between two potent offenses, Smith had his best game yet with the Philadelphia Eagles. Philly needed every one of Smith’s six receptions for 100 yards to beat the Los Angeles Rams 43-35 and the former Terps wideout set season-highs for himself in catches, receiving yards and targets (11). Smith’s biggest play of the game came at the end of the first half when he caught a pass from Carson Wentz for 46 yards on third-and-long to help set the Eagles up for a field goal. After a slow start to the season, Smith is starting to heat up for Philadelphia, having caught four or more passes in each of his last three games. With Wentz now done for the rest of the season because of an ACL tear and backup quarterback Nick Foles now at the helm, the Eagles will need Smith and the rest of his teammates to step up even more.
Vernon Davis -- Washington Redskins, TE
Davis continues to resurrect his career this season by serving as Washington’s primary tight end. With Jordan Reed now on injured reserve, Davis’ role isn’t going anywhere. In an uninspired blowout loss on the road to the Los Angeles Chargers, Davis was one of the only bright spots of the day for the Redskins, scoring the team’s only offensive touchdown and his second receiving touchdown of the season. Davis finished with two receptions for 26 yards on seven targets. His 23-yard touchdown reception from Kirk Cousins in the second quarter brought Washington within one score of the lead at the time, but the Chargers quickly put their foot on the gas after that and pulled away.
Stefon Diggs -- Minnesota Vikings, WR
In a tough loss to the Carolina Panthers for the Vikings, Diggs finished tied for the most receptions on his team with six and the second-most receiving yards with 64. His 10 targets are a good indication of just how involved he still is in Minnesota’s offensive game plan, but opposing defenses have certainly started to pay Diggs more attention after his early season outburst. Although it didn’t do itself any favors by losing on Sunday, Minnesota still has a chance to earn home field advantage for the NFC playoffs. If the Vikings are to accomplish that feat, you can bet Diggs will be making some heavy contributions.
Yannick Ngakoue -- Jacksonville Jaguars, DE
Ngakoue added another sack to his totals on Sunday, giving him 11 on the year to go along with his league-leading six forced fumbles. The second year pass rusher’s sack was his only tackle of the game, but it was all Jacksonville needed from him as the Jaguars handed the Seattle Seahawks their fifth loss of the season, 30-24. Ngakoue is currently tied with Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs for the sixth-most sacks in the NFL, trailing his teammate Calais Campbell who is fourth with 12.5. Together, Ngakoue and Campbell have been a force to be reckoned with this season and are bringing truth to the nickname “Sacksonville.”
Quinton Jefferson -- Seattle Seahawks, DT
Playing against Ngakoue’s Jaguars, former Terps defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson had an unfortunate circumstance happen to him. After registering two sacks in the game, Jefferson was ejected along with fellow Seattle defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson because of their part in a scuffle between the offensive and defensive lines in the final moments of the game. The Seahawks let their frustrations get the best of them and didn’t respect the unwritten rules of Victory Formation. Seattle’s defensive line gave one final push as Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles took a knee, and a tussle ensued. While leaving the field following his ejection, Jefferson had several bottles and drinks thrown at him from the Jacksonville stands. This turned an ugly scene even uglier as Jefferson lost his cool and tried to climb up into the stands to go after the fans at fault. Luckily for everyone, Jefferson was restrained and it appears for now that this incident has been put to rest.