While the current LSU Tigers are off to an exciting 2-0 start with a No. 3 ranking, our stellar alumni are back on the professional gridiron putting on shows. Welcome to the beginning of our weekly breakdown of how former LSU players performed in every NFL game. A few reminders before we get started:
-We are only considering players who actively participated in the game. We don’t give out points for having Tigers on the practice squad or injury report. We want to see them on the field!
-The scores
I assign are not that deep. Don’t worry too much about comparisons. Please don’t get mad at me for not giving out a ton of points for offensive linemen. With all due respect to Damien Lewis, watching Justin Jefferson go off for 200 yards is a little more exciting.
-Scores are EXCLUSIVELY based on LSU player production. If a 41-38 thriller happens but neither team played any Tigers, too bad. Still a 0.
-I am using LSU’s official NFLSU tracker to follow every active player. While they update it very regularly, they have missed some guys in the past, so please let me know in the comments if I missed anyone.
Cowboys 20 at Eagles 24
Damone Clark had six tackles. He didn’t spit on anyone, as far as I can tell.
NFLSU Score: 2/10
Chiefs 21 at Chargers 27
Donte Jackson (who plays for the Chargers now) had three tackles and a pass breakup. Kristian Fulton (who plays for the Chiefs now) had one tackle against his former team. Austin Deculus (who plays for the Chargers now) played one snap on offense and one on special teams.
NFLSU Score: 4/10
Buccaneers 23 at Falcons 20
Deion Jones made one tackle against his former team. We’re really scraping by so far here.
NFLSU Score: 1/10
Bengals 17 at Browns 16
It’s crazy to say this is Joe Burrow’s sixth season in the NFL. In the previous five years, there were two things that really gave him fits: Week 1 and the Cleveland Browns. How did Joe do against the Browns in Week 1? 14/23 for 113 yards and 1 TD. Those are absolutely not the numbers you expect to see from a guy who should’ve been MVP last year. But you know what helps? The Bengals being 1-0 for only the second time in Joe’s tenure.
Our other beloved Bengal, Ja’Marr Chase, was also strangely quiet, catching just two passes for 26 yards. This is exactly what happened last year before they shredded the league for their remaining 15 games , and this time they won’t be in an 0-2 hole. We should celebrate that and hope we can see the greatest connection in LSU history compete for a playoff spot again.
On the Cleveland side, Grant Delpit made four tackles, Ethan Pocic played every snap at center, and Jarrick Bernard-Converse played eight special teams snaps.
NFLSU Score: 6/10
Dolphins 8 at Colts 33
No Tigers to be found 🙁
NFLSU Score: 0/10
Raiders 20 at Patriots 13
Kayshon Boutte has established himself as a reliable target for Drake Maye. He caught six passes for 103 yards, which tied Brock Bowers for a game-high. Will Campbell made a promising NFL debut against a stingy Raiders pass rush. He was even credit with a fumble recovery on a ball Maye lost.
On the defensive side, K’Lavon Chaisson had three tackles and half credit for a sack against his former team. You know who had the most tackles in this game? Devin White, had a whopping 11 in his Raider debut. Another stout tackler from LSU in his first game as a Raider, Jamal Adams, had three.
NFLSU Score: 8/10
Cardinals 20 at Saints 13
Hey! That’s the same score as the last game! Unfortunately, the NFLSU Score will not be the same since BJ Ojulari and Foster Moreau are both on the PUP list. Our only action is Davon Godchaux’s three tackles.
NFLSU Score: 2/10
Steelers 34 at Jets 32
Patrick Queen had eight tackles, which was tied with three other Steelers for a game-high. Mason Taylor was only targeted once in his pro debut, but he made it count by hauling in a 20-yard reception.
NFLSU Score: 5/10
Giants 6 at Commanders 21
With a world of pressure on his shoulders, Jayden Daniels was just fine in Game 1 of his sophomore season. JD was 19/30 for for 233 yards and 1 TD, while running for 68 yards on 11 rushes. Weird but funny: both LSU Heisman winners only threw one TD on Sunday, but both of them were to tight ends wearing No. 86.
After taking the league by storm last year, the Commanders aren’t sneaking up on anyone, but nobody really thought they would lose to a shoddy Giants team. They did what they needed to.
Speaking of the shoddy Giants team, FREE MALIK NABERS! HE IS TOO GOOD FOR THEM!
Malik had 71 yards on five catches, most of them crisp and explosive like that. However, the public will only remember the shots of Nabers and coach Brian Daboll exchanging some heated words. Normally I’d say a star receiver yelling at his coach is a bad sign, but it is so clear Daboll has no more juice here. Hopefully when Jaxson Dart gets his inevitable desperation start in the next few weeks he can toss a few moon balls for Nabers to Moss people for. Oh, and Cor’Dale Flott had two tackles and a pass breakup.
NFLSU Score: 8/10
Panthers 10 at Jaguars 26
Brian Thomas Jr. scored a touchdown in the first game of his NFL career a year ago. Despite a pedestrian receiving day, he scored a touchdown in the first game of his sophomore season. It’s all he does!
In addition to this run, BTJ only caught one pass for 11 yards. However, he was targeted seven times and Trevor Lawrence missed a few of those throws quite badly. Someone is still mad LSU beat Clemson again! Speaking of Carolina teams losing, Damien Lewis once again blocked his ass off for a moribund Bryce Young offense.
NFLSU Score: 5/10
Titans 12 at Broncos 20
Lloyd Cushenberry III played every snap at center against his former team. Arden Key had one tackle.
NFLSU Score: 3/10
New 49er Russell Gage played 28 snaps but did not catch a pass. Anthony Bradford played every snap at guard.
NFLSU Score: 2/10
Lions 13 at Packers 27
Mekhi Wingo was out for this game, so we are too!
NFLSU Score: 0/10
Texans 9 at Rams 14
Coming off an All-Pro season, Derek Stingley Jr. was tested heavily by a Sean McVay offense that featured Matt Stafford throwing to Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Those are PROS, and naturally they caught some balls against Sting. While he didn’t break up a pass, he did have five tackles and never got seriously torched for a big play. Danielle Hunter had three tackles, while Omar Speights had four. Ed Ingram was a last-minute scratch for Houston with an abdomen injury.
NFLSU Score: 5/10
Ravens 40 at Bills 41
Tre White and Emery Jones were both injured, so our only action is Reid Ferguson long-snapping. This game is reeeeeally testing my third rule in the intro.
NFLSU Score: 1/10
Vikings 27 at Bears 24
The first half of Justin Jefferson playing with a redshirt rookie QB looked a little dicey. While his final statline of 44 yards on four catches is below what we expect from JJ, he did snag the first Minnesota TD of the season.
That TD felt like it unlocked the Vikings offense, which proceeded to score touchdowns on three consecutive fourth quarter drives after not finding the end zone during the first three. As the lesser Vikings JJ develops as a passer, his chemistry with Jefferson will improve, and those monster receiving days will be a regular occurrence again.
Jay Ward made his first career start at safety. He made three tackles, had a HUGE hit on DJ Moore that would’ve been a pass breakup if it wasn’t wiped out by another Viking’s penalty, and recovered a fumble on the Bears’ last-ditch attempt for a lateral play to clinch the game. Not too shabby.
NFLSU Score: 7/10
