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By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
@LonnPhillips
My Top 5 NFLSU performers of Week 6:
CLYDE EDWARDS-HELAIRE
(CHIEFS)
VS BUFFALO BILLS
161 RUSHING YARDS
26 CARRIES
6.2 PER RUSH
4 CATCHES (4 TARGETS) 8 YARDS
SEASON:
344 RUSHING YARDS
81 CARRIES
1 TD
169 RECEIVING YARDS
17 CATCHES (27 TARGETS)
Clyde Edwards-Helaire topped his NFL debut destruction of the Texans with a career-high 161 rushing yards, battering his way through the violent Buffalo rush defense (at one point Bills' DL Vernon Turner nearly decapitated Clyde in the backfield).
While the Chiefs are NFL royalty and Super Bowl Champions, this Buffalo defense (featuring Pro Bowler Tiger Tre'davious White) ranked 11th in the NFL over the past two seasons in rushing yards per attempt, allowing just over 100 each game on average....yet Clyde showcased the new rushing strengths the Chiefs can now rely upon:
Tonight, the Chiefs rushed for 245 yards, the most during Andy Reid's successful tenure as Head Coach, out-gaining their much-discussed passing game by 20 yards...most likely another first (Tiger Tre'davious White shut down Tyreek Hill, holding him to 3 catches on 20 yards; White was also covering Travis Kelce near the end of the game).
Because of their passing options proving limited against such smothering coverage, Clyde Edwards-Helaire was trusted by Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid to geaux and win the game.
Coach Reid continued to feed Clyde the ball, making sure the 2019 Tiger received 30 total touches tonight. Although Travis Kelce's 2 touchdowns effectively won Kansas City the game, Clyde's stamina, durability and multi-faceted brilliance ultimately wore Buffalo down.
Rushing for 8 first downs and one 3rd down conversion, Clyde controlled a subpar game for Mahomes' Chiefs:
Clyde even scored a touchdown from 6 yards out, but the score was denied by a penalty, only for Kelce to catch one of his touchdowns the next play.
There was even one drive where Clyde received the ball 5 out of 6 plays, gained 29 yards, forced an unnecessary roughness penalty by the Bills & ran the ball 4 straight times, grabbing chunks of 5 yards, 3 yards, 9, 7...earlier he'd broken gains of 16 yards, 17, as well as taking off for a big 31 yard burst......
#25 absolutely gashed Buffalo.
At that point, under 10 minutes left in the 4th quarter, Clyde actually had more rushing yards (167) than Mahomes passing yardage (158). Yet when he was on a roll, Coach Reid subbed him out...a move which nearly cost the Chiefs.
After a few horrible nowhere runs on the same drive from fellow Tiger Darrell Williams, Kansas City settled for a field goal. On the corresponding possession, Buffalo scored a touchdown to pull the game to 23-16...proof of how key Clyde has become to the Chiefs' offense:
When removed from the field, the Chiefs are much easier to handle: the rushing path narrows when Williams receives the carries, Reid's play-calling becomes more predictable and without Clyde in the backfield, Mahomes is down an extra safety outlet.
On the next drive, Clyde was swallowed up by Buffalo's Zimmer and as his knee touched the ground, the ball was stripped out of his hands....despite the near game-changing fumble going unpunished, the close call annoyed Clyde to no end.
Regardless, today was a masterpiece outing for Clyde as he takes home the #1 NFLSU spot from his man Joey B.
JUSTIN JEFFERSON
(VIKINGS)
VS ATLANTA
166 YARDS
9 CATCHES
2 TDS
18.4 PER CATCH
SEASON:
537 RECEIVING YARDS
28 CATCHES
3 TDs
19.3 PER CATCH
-10 PLAYS OF 20+ YARDS
Jefferson was Minnesota's only bright spot during a horrific 40-23 loss to the Falcons, losing by 17 to a team who didn't even have access to a practice facility during the week.
Cousins finally figured out his rookie's boundless potential the last few games, although his first pass of the game (intended for Jefferson) was intercepted....an indication of how the game would continue.
Cousins would atone later, hitting Jefferson beautifully inside the red zone and in a move reminiscent of his sprawling, stretching first TD vs Oklahoma, Jefferson reached the ball over the line for the score, the first of two vs Atlanta.
Of course, he followed this TD with another Griddy dance and another complete performance, currently on pace to break a myriad of rookie receiving records:
Catching 537 yards over six games, Justin could not only set the Vikings rookie record, Justin Jets could set the NFL rookie record held by Anquan Boldin (1,377 yards). Justin is also showing out for all receivers of any age: his 19.3 yards per catch ranks 3rd overall in the NFL.
Unfortunately for Justin, his repeated majesty hasn't led to wins for the Vikings, Minnesota now last in the NFC North at 1-5 and desperate.
JOE BURROW
(BENGALS)
VS COLTS
313
1 RUSHING TD
-7 Passing 3rd down conversions
-2 for 2 on 4th down (1 TD run, 1 TD pass)
SEASON:
1,617 PASSING YARDS (6th in the NFL)
6 TD PASSES
4 INTs
284 PASSING YARDS PER GAME
2 RUSHING TDs
Taking control of proceedings early, Joe Burrow led Cincy to a 21-0 lead on the road against Indianapolis, right on the cusp of his 2nd NFL victory...
...But the Bengals' defensive collapse was complete 3 quarters later when Burrow threw a game sealing INT to U of U's Julian Blackmon with only 41 seconds left, down 31-27 after a disgusting comeback by iconic Phillip Rivers.
Joe started off scorching hot, completing quick draw / rhythm passes from 2nd and 8, 2nd and 12, as well as 3rd & 7 early in the game, spreading the ball to 6 different receivers (Green 8 catches, 5 catches for Boyd, 6 catches from Higgins) rocketing throws over the middle and in between the linebackers / safeties with exquisite precision, hitting Green, Higgins and Boyd ad nauseam.
Joe's best play of the day arrived when he dropped back, felt the pocket collapsing around him before launching a long 3rd and 9 howitzer down the sidelines for Higgins. The former Clemson "Tiger" grabbed the pass with a fingertip catch and scampered inside the 2 yard line for a sctinillating 63 yard play....from here, Cincy built a 21-0 lead thanks to this catch, their biggest offensive play of the season.
Joe was electric on 3rd down, tossing consecutive 3rd and long passes to A.J Green, including one from inside his own end zone during an intense 3rd quarter. He hit Mike Thomas over the middle for another 3rd and short; not to be outdone by Myles Brennan's flea-flicker vs Vanderbilt, Joe also completed a brilliant flea flicker himself, generating yet another long gain.
Burrow continuously found A.J Green for repeated third down catches: during the second half, A.J hauled in a circus grab near his knees as he fell out of bounds (6 of his 8 catches supplied 3rd or 4th down conversions).
Down 31-27, trying to keep Cincy alive on 4th down, Burrow desperately threw to Green again and the Bengals veteran ripped an outrageous catch out of the air, converting the 4th down over the middle.
Although Joe would make an errant throw leading to a game-sealing interception by former University of Utah CB Julian Blackmon (his 2nd of the year) Joe's performance was another special display from the rookie quarterback.
Eclipsing 300 yards once again, Joe ended 8-for-15 for 175 yards on throws of 10-plus yards and he was dynamite on 3rd down (7 conversions through the air) and 2-2 on 4th down (1 pass to Green and a 4th and goal-line touchdown run.
Joe still much to learn, especially when it comes to protecting himself from vicious hits, but Bengals fans have plenty to look forward to while Burrow has much to be proud of.
DEVIN WHITE
VS BUCCANEERS
10 total tackles (9 Solo)
1 Sack
3 TFL
SEASON:
50 TACKLES (31 SOLO)
5 TFL
1 FR
3 QB HITS
1 SACK
In his greatest, most high profile professional display, Devin White helped Brady's Buccaneers eek out over .500 in dominant fashion against Aaron Rodgers' then-undefeated Packers.
From first second to last, Bucs LB Devin White wreaked havoc on Aaron Rodgers, proving everything he's capable of at the NFL level:
He disrupted, organized, sacked Rodgers and brutalized Green Bay's receivers and backs in space with 9 solo tackles from 10 overall, consistently stuffing the Packers' yards after catch and handing Brady and Bruce Arians' offense the ball.
White just shut the mouths of every doubter he's ever had while shutting down Aaron Rodgers confidence when it was at its highest in years.
Now Devvo looks to explode, hoping to claim the Defensive Player of the Year award he's been hunting for since he arrived in the league last year.
PATRICK QUEEN
VS EAGLES
2 TACKLES (2 SOLO)
2 QB HITS
1 PD
SEASON:
44 TOTAL TACKLES (32 SOLO)
4 TFL
2 FF
2 FR
1 FR TD RET (53 YARD RETURN)
2.0 SACKS
1 PD
5 QB HITS
Last week, Queen enjoyed a breathtaking showdown against Joe Burrow and the Bengals, rising triumphant over his former quarterback during a blowout victory.
For his part, Patrick was directly responsible for victory yet again, strip-sacking Joe Burrow himself and returning the fumble for his first NFL touchdown. This week, throughout the Ravens' 30-28 win over Philly, Queen was effective although he had one of his more subtle performances of the season thus far.
It seemed Eagles QB Carson Wentz escaped Queen's clutches at every turn, throwing what should've been a pick six straight to the former Tiger, only for Pat to drop a sure-fire INT return for a TD.
On two different occasions, Queen had Wentz dead to rights in the backfield, smashing Carson only a split second after the ball was released, registering 2 quarterback hits.
Wentz kept the Eagles in the game with one long Hail Mary-esque throw after another, but Lamar Jackson finished the NFC Least bottom-feeders after a ridiculous flipped pass through triple coverage (all over Sportscenter last night and today if you missed it).
Even when Queen doesn't rack up the stats, his dominance and omnipresence as the anchor of Baltimore's vicious, turnover hungry defense can still be felt.
BLACK LIVES MATTER
BY LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
@LONNPHILLIPS
COPYRIGHT 2020 UNINTERRUPTED WRITINGS INC LLC
SHOUTOUTS: MYLES BRENNAN WE ARE WITH YOU BROTHER! KREED STUBBS! TERIAN WILLIAMS!