It was a big week for former Scarlet Knights in the NFL, with the Melton brothers facing off, Kyle Monangai scoring his first NFL touchdown, and Isiah Pacheco’s production continuing to increase for the Chiefs.
The two former Rutgers backs totaled 151 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday. On the other hand, former Rutgers kicker Jude McAtamney missed two critical extra points for the Giants, which cost New York a potential win, although the defense allowed 33 points in the fourth quarter after pitching a shutout through three quarters.
Even the referee who went viral for breaking up a fight and protecting Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba from sideline interference was none other than former Rutgers and Cowboys defensive back Nate Jones. Suffice it to say that the block “R” was all over the NFL landscape from Sunday to Monday night.
The Chicago Bears are on a four-game win streak after starting the season 0-2, and former Big Ten rushing leader Kyle Monangai is certainly a major factor in that. Although starting running back D’Andre Swift led the efforts on the ground with 19 carries for 124 yards and a touchdown, Monangai had his biggest contribution of the season with 81 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. His first career touchdown helped build Chicago’s 20-0 lead over the Saints in the first half, and proved pivotal as the Saints attempted a second-half comeback that felt short.
Over in Kansas City, Isiah Pacheco is regaining his role as the team’s lead back, as he led all running backs with 15 carries, 57 yards, and a touchdown. The Chiefs have all their wide receivers healthy and active, which is a dangerous proposition for opponents, especially when you factor KC’s tight end and running back play into the equation. Although Brashard Smith had 39 yards rushing and 42 yards receiving, Pacheco seems to have surpassed Kareem Hunt, as he had just four carries for 18 yards in the Chiefs’ 31-0 victory over the Raiders.
For the second straight year, the Melton brothers faced each other as NFL players when the Packers and Cardinals met in Arizona for a 27-23 victory for Green Bay. According to Bo Melton, roughly 20 to 25 friends made the trip to Glendale, including both of their parents, who were rocking house-divided jerseys.
Bo continued his duties on special teams as the team’s gunner and kick returner, where he returned two kicks for 43 yards (average of 21.5 yards per attempt). Meanwhile, Max was the top-graded cornerback for Arizona, with a PFF grade of 65.8. He played all but four snaps and recorded four tackles, including one for loss.
Sebastian Joseph-Day continued to start on the defensive line for the woeful Tennessee Titans, as he recorded four tackles with one TFL. However, the Titans fell to 1-6 as they fell 31-13 to the Patriots. Their one win was a 22-21 victory against the Cardinals in a wild finish that included an intercepted pass by Arizona being fumbled and recovered in the end zone by Tennessee’s Tyler Lockett for an improbable touchdown.
Unfortunately, all did not go well for former Scarlet Knights in football’s top professional league. Kicker Jude McAtamney missed two extra points for the Giants in a game that the Broncos won by just one point. He had previously missed an extra point in New York’s 34-17 home win over the Eagles the previous Thursday night, but that had gotten glossed over due to the resounding victory over the defending Super Bowl champions.
It appeared that this game was headed similarly, with McAtamney’s first miss coming on the Giants’ second touchdown, a 13-yard catch and run by Cam Skattebo off of a short pass from Jaxson Dart. New York still went up 13-0, a lead that increased to 19-0 off a rushing touchdown from Tyrone Tracy Jr. (they failed the subsequent two-point conversion).
All those missed opportunities for easy points came back to bite Big Blue, as Denver rallied from down 19-0 to start the fourth quarter with an incredible 33-point fourth quarter. Even with the Giants adding two more touchdowns of their own, it was not enough to win the game, with McAtamney’s second extra point proving to be one of the biggest difference makers.
Jude McAtamney’s second extra point miss of the game led to New York being up 32-30 after Jaxson Dart found the end zone on a quarterback keeper from a yard out. Horrific playcalling from the Giants’ defensive coordinator, Shane Bowen, allowed Denver to set up a 39-yard field goal attempt for Will Lutz in just 35 seconds of game time, which the Broncos’ kicker drilled down the middle. Brian Burns discussed rushing three and dropping eight into coverage, with the prevent defense allowing easy completions to gift Denver the victory.
However, if the former Scarlet Knights kicker had made both of his missed extra points, the Giants would have been up by four points. Even if he had missed one but made the other, the field goal from Lutz would have sent the game to overtime. McAtamney’s performance was inexcusable, and he knew it more than anyone.
Jude told reporters after the game, “Got to make the kicks. I’m not going to shy away from that. I’ll take full responsibility. If the snap’s not perfect, the hold’s not perfect, I’m a professional kicker. I’ve got to be able to make those… The ball was there, the laces were good. I’ve just got to make a play.”
Unfortunately for him, his accountability was not enough to save his job, as Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post reported that the Giants have cut McAtamney following the three missed extra points in two games. The Giants will have a decision to make at the position, with Graham Gano now eligible to come off injured reserve after his recovery from a groin injury suffered during pregame warmups before the game against the Chiefs. New York also signed former Ridgewood High School and Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo onto its practice squad, who lost the starting job to McAtamney after a poor showing on kickoffs during practices.
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