Sunday was National Tight End Day. We’ll celebrate momentarily. But we have to start with some defensive players who wanted the spotlight as well. Let’s roll!
Anthony Nelson
You are about to see a disrespectful defensive touchdown by Mr. Nelson.
You know that, “You’re too little!” celebration? Angel Reese does it every second or third layup when she’s not hitting them off the underside of the backboard.
That’s this. Spencer Rattler is too little to stop Mr. Nelson. That wasn’t all for Nelson. He had 4 tackles, 2 sacks, and forced a fumble. The Bucs organization claimed he’s the first player to have an interception for a touchdown, a sack, and a forced fumble in a game since Alex Highsmith for Pittsburgh against Cleveland on September 18, 2023. Nice little day for Nelson and the Bucs as they moved to 6-2.
AJ Epenesa
MOAR DEFENSE! And we nearly had a second defensive touchdown on the day!
Helluva play by Epenesa too. 1 yard short of a score! He finished Sunday’s 40-9 demolition of Carolina with 4 tackles, 1 sack, and an interception.
Riley Moss
The guy with the hardest job in the NFL is now really under the spotlight after last week’s wild game with the New York Giants. He finished Sunday’s 44-24 romp over the Cowboys – they haven’t won a game against Denver since 1995 – with 6 tackles and FOUR passes defended. He was attacked relentlessly by the Cowboys, and while he picked up a couple of pass interference penalties, he held up well overall. His job will now get harder…or will the other side get attacked again? Pat Surtain II will be out for awhile with a pectoral strain. You know, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.
Tight Ends
Fine – Tight End Day came and went this last week. The party started early for these guys, as T.J. Hockenson and the Vikings were shredded Thursday night by the Chargers, 37-10. Hock had just 2 receptions for 26 yards.
Noah Fant fared slightly better in the stats column, but Cincinnati was the first team to lose to the New York Jets this year, losing 39-38 in Cincy. Ugly loss for the Bengals. Fant finished that embarrassing loss with 3 catches for 41 yards.
George Kittle was the only tight end to reach the end zone, scoring on the holiday he invented with this one-handed beauty late in the first half.
Kittle finished the game with 4 catches for 43 yards and the touchdown, but it wasn’t enough as the 49ers were mostly mauled by the Texans, 26-15.
Potpourri
We have yet more defense! Nick Niemann picked up 3 tackles for Green Bay Sunday night in their 35-25 win in Pittsburgh (no Lukas Van Ness in that game, and no snaps for Kaleb Johnson; this isn’t going well in Pittsburgh for KJ2.)
Dane Belton picked up 8 tackles in New York’s 38-20 loss to Philadelphia. It wouldn’t have mattered, but good GOD does the NFL not know how to officiate the tush push.
To the comments!
