As the temperatures outside continue to drop, former Michigan Wolverines are heating up for their respective NFL teams. Here are the best performances from Week 9 of the NFL season.
Colston Loveland scores twice, including game-winning TD
After struggling to find his footing offensively in the first eight weeks, tight end Colston Loveland posted a career game for the Chicago Bears. In a thrilling win over the Cincinnati Bengals, Loveland caught six passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns, the first two scores of his professional career. The second was with
just seconds left to help the Bears clinch the win.
Sunday’s production alone nearly doubled Loveland’s yardage total (234 yards) on the season. It looks like he’s bound to be a bigger part of the Bears offense.
In that same game, Bengals safety Dax Hill and cornerback DJ Turner II combined for 11 tackles, with Turner also logging a pass defensed.
A rushing TD from a tight end on Sunday Night Football (and a pick from Mikey)
Loveland wasn’t the only former Michigan tight end to find the end zone on Sunday. In a blowout win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday Night Football, Seattle Seahawks tight end A.J. Barner rushed for a touchdown to increase the Seattle lead to 38-7.
It was Barner’s first career NFL rushing touchdown. He also had three catches for 24 yards. Midway through the season, he is the 12th-best tight end on Pro Football Focus (74.2), including the ninth-best receiving grade (74.3) at the position.
In that same game, Seattle running back Zach Charbonnet posted 46 all-purpose yards. For the Commanders, Mike Sainristil laid out for an impressive interception.
Other notable performances
-There’s a few certainties in life: death, taxes, and Aidan Hutchinson getting a sack on a key third down in the fourth quarter for the Lions.
Hutchinson finished the loss with two tackles and three passes defensed. In that same game, Vikings safety Josh Metellus recorded five tackles.
-In a win over the New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum rushed for 58 yards on 13 carries, and defensive end Josiah Stewart logged a tackle.
-In a loss to the Denver Broncos, Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins caught seven passes for 75 yards.
-In a blowout win over the Miami Dolphins on Thursday Night Football, Baltimore Ravens pass rusher David Ojabo posted a quarterback hit and half a sack.
-In a loss to the Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers defensive end Rashan Gary recorded three tackles.
-In a win over the Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson had one catch for four yards. In that same game, Colts defensive end Kwity Paye had three tackles.
-In a loss to the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Mike Danna recorded a tackle.
-In a win over the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Will Johnson recorded six tackles and a pass defensed. In that same game, Cowboys tight end Luke Schoonmaker caught a pass for 14 yards.
