We’re in the thick of the holiday season, and while many families were opening presents, drinking eggnog and spending time together, several former Michigan Wolverines took the field just a couple weeks
before the NFL playoffs.
We’re kicking off today’s edition of Pro Blue with a few big performances from players on the team that’s leading the NFC.
AJ Barner, Zach Charbonnet combine for 3 TDs
In just his second season leading Seattle, former Michigan defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald has the Seahawks firing on all cylinders as the leaders of the NFC.
In a win over the Carolina Panthers, running back Zach Charbonnet had his best game of the season by rushing for a season-high 110 yards and two scores.
He wasn’t the only Wolverine to reach paydirt in that game. Tight end AJ Barner scored with just over five minutes left in the third quarter, while also racking up 43 yards on three catches.
Barner has earned himself a starting spot for at least next season; on Pro Football Focus ($), he ranks just outside the top-10 in his position group (75.2 offense grade, 11th out of 75 qualifying tight ends).
In that same game, defensive lineman Mike Morris had two tackles, including a tackle for loss.
Other notable performances
-In a shootout loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football, Colston Loveland tied his single-season game high for catches (six) for 94 yards, including this touchdown.
-In a loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Christmas Day, Aidan Hutchinson had two more sacks to get him up to 13.5 on the season. It was his third game of the season with multiple sacks.
-In a win for the Cowboys on Christmas Day, tight end Luke Schoonmaker had two catches for 15 yards, and Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil recorded six tackles and a pass defensed. In that same game, Commanders kicker Jake Moody made all three of his field goals, including a long of 51 yards.
-In a win over Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins had three catches for 57 yards.
-In the Baltimore Ravens win over the Green Bay Packers, Ravens linebacker David Ojabo and Packers defensive end Rashan Gary each had a tackle, with Gary getting credited for a quarterback hit.
-In a win over the Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals safety Dax Hill recorded a tackle. As one Bengals fan pointed out, he’s been excellent in coverage in recent weeks as a cornerback, posting the second-highest grade of any cornerback over the past five weeks.
In that same game, cornerback Will Johnson recorded four tackles for the Cardinals.
-In a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, linebacker Devin Bush led the Cleveland Browns with nine tackles, five of them solo, along with a tackle for loss.
-In a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts defensive end Kwity Paye had a tackle and a quarterback hit.
