We got a loaded edition of Pro Blue this week, including a guide to which Wolverines to watch in the NFL playoffs. Tons of Wolverines were in action for Week 18 of the NFL season. We’ll continue this series through the Super Bowl, but until then, let’s recap the final week of the regular season.
Devin Bush scores on 97-yard pick-six to end stellar season
In a win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, linebacker Devin Bush got the scoring started for Cleveland. The seven-year veteran picked off Joe Burrow in the first quarter and returned it 97 yards to the house.
This was the third interception and second touchdown of the year for Bush. While the Browns and Bengals were merely playing for draft position, Bush had his best performance of the season, leading the team with a season-high 14 tackles.
To say Bush has revitalized his career with the Browns would be an understatement. Looking at advanced stats, he was one of the best linebackers in football this past season. Bush posted an 86.4 defensive grade on Pro Football Focus ($). Among 87 qualifying linebackers, that’s the fourth-highest grade. He also posted a run defense grade of 84.9 (10th among 91 players) and a coverage grade of 78.7 (fourth among 78 players).
Bush is set to become an unrestricted free agent after completing this one-year, $3.25 million contract. I’d wager he earned himself a pay raise after this career season; he was one of the few bright spots on a 5-12 Browns team.
Bush’s teammate, defensive tackle Mason Graham, racked up four tackles in this game. For the Bengals, safety Dax Hill also had four tackles.
Colston Loveland draws comparison to future Hall of Fame TE
Bush wasn’t the only former Wolverine to end the regular season on a high note. Tight end Colston Loveland had one of the best games of his rookie season, recording a career-high 10 catches — which led all Chicago Bears pass catchers — for 91 yards and a score.
Loveland got off to a relatively slow start, as most rookie tight ends do. But if you took Loveland in your dynasty fantasy football league like me, you are very excited about his future prospects. He finished his rookie campaign with 58 catches, 713 yards and six touchdowns.
After the Bears went scoreless in the first three quarters, Caleb Williams kept throwing to Loveland, who kept finding open space in the Lions defense. He was impressive enough late to earn a comparison to future Hall of Famer Rob Gronkowski on the broadcast from Tom Brady.
The sky seems to be the limit for Loveland, especially if he continues to be the go-to guy late in games for Caleb Williams. Under Ben Johnson, he’ll be put in the best position to succeed offensively.
In that same game, Aidan Hutchinson got another sack to get up to 14.5 on the season, a mark that puts him fourth in the NFL behind Myles Garrett, Brian Burns and Danielle Hunter. He continues to be in elite company, ranking fourth among edge defenders.
While Graham Glasgow and the Lions had a rough season, they ended the season on a high note. Glasgow and the offensive line helped Detroit rush for 122 yards in the win and only allowed Jared Goff to be sacked twice.
Former teammates score in Week 18
Running back Zach Charbonnet and wide receiver Ronnie Bell spent two seasons together at Michigan (2019-20), and both were able to find the end zone to close the regular season.
Charbonnet scored the lone touchdown in a Seattle Seahawks win over the San Francisco 49ers to clinch the 1-seed in the NFC. Charbonnet had 97 all-purpose yards, including 74 yards on the ground. His score came on a 27-yard burst in the first quarter.
Charbonnet finished the regular season with 730 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns — both career-highs — and 144 receiving yards. He’s a key piece on a team that has a real chance to win the Super Bowl under former Michigan defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald.
In an NFC South duel where the Atlanta Falcons beat the New Orleans Saints, wide receiver Ronnie Bell made the highlight of the week, making a one-handed catch to make it a one-score game late in the fourth quarter.
Bell appeared in two games for the Saints this season, and hopefully he has a permanent home as a receiving threat for exciting rookie quarterback Tyler Shough.
Other notable performances
-In a win over the Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams linebacker Josaiah Stewart had a sack, his third of the season. He also forced a fumble on the play.
-In that Seahawks-Niners game, Seahawks tight end AJ Barner caught two passes for 14 yards.
-Quarterback J.J. McCarthy led the Minnesota Vikings to a win over a depleted Green Bay Packers team in Week 18, throwing for 182 yards and completing 14 of his 23 attempts with no turnovers.
-In a loss to the New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys tight end Luke Schoonmaker caught a pass for 12 yards.
-In a loss to the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts defensive end Kwity Paye had a tackle.
-In a loss to the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers running back Hassan Haskins had a carry for three yards.
-In a loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Mike Danna had three tackles and a tackle for loss.
-In a win over the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots guard Mike Onwenu helped the Patriots rush for 243 yards and four scores while not allowing Drake Maye to be sacked at all. Admittedly, I haven’t covered Onwenu enough in this weekly story; on PFF, he’s the seventh-highest rated guard among 82 qualifying players (78.0).
In that same game, Dolphins defensive tackle Kenneth Grant had a tackle and a quarterback hit.
-In a win over the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil had six tackles and a pass defensed, and kicker Jake Moody made a 56-yarder. In that same game, Eagles linebacker Josh Uche and defensive lineman Brandon Graham combined for nine tackles.
-In a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers that knocked the Ravens out of the playoffs, Baltimore linebacker David Ojabo had a solo tackle.
Wolverines to watch in Wild Card Round
Saturday, Jan. 10
- Los Angeles Rams vs Carolina Panthers, 4:30 p.m. on FOX — running back Blake Corum, cornerback Josh Wallace and linebacker Josaiah Stewart for Rams, none for Panthers
- Green Bay Packers vs Chicago Bears, 8 p.m. on Amazon Prime — defensive end Rashan Gary for Packers, tight end Colston Loveland for Bears
Sunday, Jan. 11
- Buffalo Bills vs Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m. on CBS — none for Bills, cornerback Jourdan Lewis for Jaguars (out with injury)
- San Francisco 49ers vs Philadelphia Eagles, 4:30 p.m. on FOX — offensive lineman Drake Nugent for 49ers, defensive end Brandon Graham and linebacker Josh Uche for Eagles
- Los Angeles Chargers vs New England Patriots, 8 p.m. on NBC — running back Hassan Haskins, linebacker Junior Colson (out for season) and head coach Jim Harbaugh for Chargers, guard Mike Onwenu for Patriots
Monday, Jan. 12
- Houston Texans vs Pittsburgh Steelers, 8 p.m. on ABC — wide receiver Nico Collins for Texans, safety Jabrill Peppers for Steelers
On Bye
Seattle Seahawks — running back Zach Charbonnet, tight end A.J. Barner, center Olu Oluwatimi, defensive lineman Mike Morris and head coach Mike Macdonald on Seahawks
