The parade of trips to the end zone by NFL players last season may not have been unending, but it sure lasted a long time. Longer than ever, in fact. The total of 1,371 touchdowns scored during the 2018 regular season were the most ever, smashing the old record, which was set in 2013, by 33 touchdowns. How many of those 1,371 were scored by players with dreads? I'm glad you asked, because that's what this post is all about. For the record 259 of the 1,371, or 18.9%, were scored by 60 different players with dreads. The 259 house calls, an average of slightly more than one per game, are also a new record; and the 18.9% is a nice increase from 17.9% in 2017. A little later we'll take a look at some photos and videos of several of them.Los Angeles Rams RB Todd Gurley certainly had plenty to smile about. Again. Shown in the photo above making his exit after his 3-touchdown day at Seattle in Week 5, Gurley for the second consecutive season led everyone - that's with or without dreads - in individual touchdowns.
His 21 trips to the house in 2018 were two more than he made the previous year; and he scored them in just 14 games, as he sat out the last 2 games of the season to rest his ailing knee. He took at least one to the house in each of the Rams' first 10 games of the year and in 12 of his 14 games, with only the Chiefs (surprisingly) in Week 11 and the Bears (not surprisingly) in Week 14 able to keep him out of the end zone. Gurley's scoring spree helped the Rams finish with a 13-3 record (tied with the New Orleans Saints for best in the league) and it foiled my crystal ball's prediction that RB Alvin Kamara of the Saints would dethrone him as the player with dreads with the most touchdowns. Alvin certainly gave Todd a run for his money before coming up 3 short with 18.
There were 9 players with dreads who scored 10 or more touchdowns, including all 6 who also hit double figures in 2017. 7 players who didn't have dreads in 2017 and got them started in 2018 accounted for 20 touchdowns, led by Falcons WR Julio Jones with 8. There were 11 defensive touchdowns by players with dreads - one each by 11 different players. And the 259 total TD by players with dreads were achieved with very little help from the 2018 class of rookies with dreads, as 6 rookies scored but combined for only 11 TD.
With Sammy Watkins no longer his teammate (and it wouldn't have mattered anyway even if he was because he cut off his dreads), Gurley was unable to lead the Rams to a repeat of the team crown for the most touchdowns by players with dreads. The Rams' total of 22 (down from 27 in 2017) was surpassed by the Packers with 26, the Chargers with 27, and the new king, the Kansas City Chiefs with 33. The Packers were the team having the highest percentage of their touchdowns scored by players with dreads at 63.4% (26 of 41). The Texans dropped from 25 TD (2nd place) by players with dreads in 2017 to only 19 in 2018 but repeated as the team that had the most players with dreads to take at least one to the house. Rookie S Justin Reid joined the same 5 players who scored in 2017 to make a total of 6 for 2018.
Obviously with the Chiefs and Chargers in the same division, the AFC West had no trouble defending its crown as the division to have the most TD scored by players with dreads. 13 players with dreads combined to score 68 touchdowns (!), 18 more than in 2017 and a whopping 27 more than the next closest division. Unfortunately there were 4 NFL teams that had none of their touchdowns scored by players with dreads - the Bears (again), Bengals (again), Browns, and Jaguars. Joining the fun after being shutout in 2017 were the Cowboys, Dolphins, 49ers, and Patriots.
Here now is the entire list of players with dreads who scored touchdowns during 2018.
21
Todd Gurley (LAR)
18
Alvin Kamara (NO)
14
Melvin Gordon (LAC)
Tyreek Hill (KC)
Kareem Hunt (KC)
13
Davante Adams (GB) (his 15-yard TD catch vs. the Vikings in Week 12 in photo below)
12
Derrick Henry (TENN)
11
DeAndre Hopkins (HOU)
Mike Williams (LAC)
9
Aaron Jones (GB)
8
Alex Collins (BAL)
Julio Jones (ATL)
6
Robby Anderson (NYJ)
Isaiah Crowell (NYJ) (photo below, scoring the first of his 2 TD vs. the Browns in Week 3)
Larry Fitzgerald (ARIZ)
T.Y. Hilton (IND)
5
LeGarrette Blount (DET)
Cordarrelle Patterson (NE)
4
Kapri Bibbs (WASH)
Dalvin Cook (MINN) (photo below, scoring the first of his 2 TD vs. the Dolphins in Week 15)
Will Fuller (HOU)
Demarcus Robinson (KC)
3
Josh Adams (PHIL)
Jay Ajayi (PHIL)
Brandon Bolden (MIA)
Marshawn Lynch (OAK)
Andre Roberts (NYJ)
Jamaal Williams (GB)
2
Mo Alie-Cox (IND)
Gus Edwards (BAL)
Richie James (SF)
Zach Pascal (IND)
Seth Roberts (OAK)
Ian Thomas (CAR)
1
Kelvin Benjamin (BUF)
Travis Benjamin (LAC) (finishing off his 46-yard TD catch vs. the Steelers in Week 13 in photo above)
Bashaud Breeland (GB)
Josh Bynes (ARIZ)
Jadeveon Clowney (HOU)
Todd Davis (DEN)
Bud Dupree (PIT)
Bruce Ellington (HOU)
D'Onta Foreman (HOU)
Virgil Green (LAC)
Dwayne Harris (OAK)
Chris Ivory (BUF)
Cyrus Jones (BAL)
Reshad Jones (MIA)
Ronald Jones (TB)
Linval Joseph (MINN)
Cory Littleton (LAR)
Brandon Marshall (SEA)
Chris Moore (BAL)
Ron Parker (KC)
Tim Patrick (DEN)
Justin Reid (HOU)
Curtis Riley (NYG)
Jacquizz Rodgers (TB)
Jaylon Smith (DAL) (photo below, scoring on a fumble return vs. the Buccaneers in Week 16)
Chad Williams (ARIZ)
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Here again are the 259 touchdowns, this time listed by team and division.
AFC EAST (26)
BUF (2) - WR Kelvin Benjamin 1, RB Chris Ivory 1
MIA (4) - RB Brandon Bolden 3, S Reshad Jones 1
NE (5) - WR Cordarrelle Patterson 5
NYJ (15) - WR Robby Anderson 6, RB Isaiah Crowell 6, WR Andre Roberts 3
AFC NORTH (13)
BAL (12) - RB Alex Collins 8, RB Gus Edwards 2, CB Cyrus Jones 1, WR Chris Moore 1
CIN (0)
CLEV (0)
PIT (1) - LB Bud Dupree 1
AFC SOUTH (41)
HOU (19) - WR DeAndre Hopkins 11, WR Will Fuller 4, LB/DE Jadeveon Clowney 1, WR Bruce Ellington 1, RB D'Onta Foreman 1, S Justin Reid 1
IND (10) - WR T.Y. Hilton 6, TE Mo Alie-Cox 2, WR Zach Pascal 2
JAC (0)
TENN (12) - RB Derrick Henry 12
AFC WEST (68)
DEN (2) - LB Todd Davis 1, WR Tim Patrick 1
KC (33) - WR Tyreek Hill 14, RB Kareem Hunt 14, WR Demarcus Robinson 4, S Ron Parker 1
LAC (27) - RB Melvin Gordon 14, WR Mike Williams 11, WR Travis Benjamin 1, TE Virgil Green 1
OAK (6) - RB Marshawn Lynch 3, WR Seth Roberts 2, WR Dwayne Harris 1
DeAndre Hopkins' 2nd TD of the season, a 5-yard reception late in the 2nd quarter, upped the Texans' lead to 21-7 over the Colts at Indianapolis in Week 4.
NFC EAST (12)
DAL (1) - LB Jaylon Smith 1
NYG (1)- S Curtis Riley 1
PHIL (6) - RB Josh Adams 3, RB Jay Ajayi 3
WASH (4) - RB Kapri Bibbs 4
NFC NORTH (36)
CHI (0)
DET (5) - RB LeGarrette Blount 5
GB (26) - WR Davante Adams 13, RB Aaron Jones 9, RB Jamaal Williams 3, CB Bashaud Breeland 1
MINN (5) - RB Dalvin Cook 4, DT Linval Joseph 1
NFC SOUTH (30)
ATL (8) - WR Julio Jones 8
CAR (2) - TE Ian Thomas 2
NO (18) - RB Alvin Kamara 18
TB (2) - RB Ronald Jones 1, RB Jacquizz Rodgers 1
NFC WEST (33)
ARIZ (8) - WR Larry Fitzgerald 6, LB Josh Bynes 1, WR Chad Williams 1
LAR (22) - RB Todd Gurley 21, LB Cory Littleton 1
SF (2) - WR Richie James 2
SEA (1) - WR Brandon Marshall 1
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PLAYOFF TD (8) - Melvin Gordon 2, Todd Gurley 2, Virgil Green 1, Tyreek Hill 1, T.Y. Hilton 1, Zach Pascal 1
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Also in this post we will take a look at some of the stats of the league's defensive players with dreads - specifically (and as usual) their interceptions and sacks. The 99 interceptions picked off by players with dreads in 2018 were way more than the 2017 tally of 77. The 99 were made by 57 different players, with 3 players sharing the individual crown. Redskins S D.J. Swearinger, Giants S Curtis Riley, and rookie CB Donte Jackson of the Panthers had 4 INTs each to lead the way, one fewer than S Tre Boston's leading total of 5 for the Chargers in 2017. The NFC East, which finished in last place among the divisions in touchdowns by players with dreads, finished first (by a mile) in interceptions by players with dreads with 21, with the Washington Redskins taking both division and league honors with 10.
This is the list of the 56 players with dreads with interceptions in 2018.
4
Donte Jackson (CAR)
Curtis Riley (NYG)
D.J. Swearinger (WASH)
3
Tre Boston (ARIZ)
Anthony Harris (MINN)
Derwin James (LAC)
Reshad Jones (MIA)
Cory Littleton (LAR)
Bradley McDougald (SEA)
Josh Norman (WASH)
Justin Reid (HOU)
Earl Thomas (SEA)
2
Bashaud Breeland (GB)
Brandon Carr (BAL)
Tremaine Edmunds (BUF)
Mason Foster (WASH)
Stephon Gilmore (NE)
Shaquill Griffin (SEA)
Joe Haden (PIT)
Malik Hooker (IND)
Janoris Jenkins (NYG)
Christian Kirksey (CLEV)
Avonte Maddox (PHIL)
Tyrann Mathieu (HOU)
Reggie Nelson (OAK)
Ron Parker (KC)
Danny Trevathan (CHI)
1
Jahleel Addae (LAC) (photo above, in the end zone vs. the Broncos in Week 17)
Walt Aikens (MIA)
A.J. Bouye (JAC)*
Patrick Chung (NE)
Jamie Collins (CLEV)
Ronald Darby (PHIL)
Sean Davis (PIT)
Todd Davis (DEN)
Bud Dupree (PIT)
Terrell Edmunds (PIT)
Deshazor Everett (WASH)
Ronnie Harrison (JAC)
Domt'a Hightower (NE)
Holton Hill (MINN)
Melvin Ingram (LAC)
Adam Jones (DEN)
Kevin King (GB)
Demarcus Lawrence (DAL)
Bobby McCain (MIA)
C.J. Mosley (BAL)
Patrick Onwuasor (BAL)
Eric Reid (CAR)
Denzel Rice (CLEV)
Darryl Roberts (NYJ)
Nickell Robey-Coleman (LAR)
Bradley Roby (DEN)
Trae Waynes (MINN)
B.W. Webb (NYG)
Derek Wolfe (DEN)
Isaac Yiadom (DEN)
* - Bouye's INT in Week 5 came before he cut his dreads off, which happened sometime around Week 11.
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OK. Here are all 99 interceptions again, listed this time by team and division.
AFC EAST (12)
BUF (2) - LB Tremaine Edmunds 2
MIA (5) - S Reshad Jones 3, S Walt Aikens 1, CB Bobby McCain 1
NE (4) - CB Stephon Gilmore 2, S Patrick Chung 1. LB Dont'a Hightower 1
NYJ (1) - CB Darryl Roberts 1
AFC NORTH (13)
BAL (4) - CB Brandon Carr 2, LB C.J. Mosley 1, LB Patrick Onwuasor 1
CIN (0)
CLEV (4) - LB Christian Kirksey 2, LB Jamie Collins 1, CB Denzel Rice 1
PIT (5) - CB Joe Haden 2, S Sean Davis 1, LB Bud Dupree 1, S Terrell Edmunds 1
AFC SOUTH (9)
HOU (5) - S Justin Reid 3, S Tyrann Mathieu 2
IND (2) - S Malik Hooker 2
JAC (2) - CB A.J. Bouye 1, S Ronnie Harrison 1
TENN (0)
AFC WEST (14)
DEN (5) - LB Todd Davis 1, CB Adam Jones 1, CB Bradley Roby 1, DE Derek Wolfe 1, CB Isaac Yiadom 1
KC (2) - Ron Parker 2
LAC (5) - S Derwin James 3, S Jahleel Addae 1, DE Melvin Ingram 1
OAK (2) - S Reggie Nelson 2
The Denver Broncos had the most players with dreads with interceptions with 5, with each of them getting 1, including this pick by Bradley Roby of an overthrown Josh Rosen pass in the end zone in the Broncos' easy win over the Cardinals in Week 7.
NFC EAST (21)
DAL (1) - Demarcus Lawrence 1
NYG (7) - S Curtis Riley 4, CB Janoris Jenkins 2, CB B.W. Webb 1
PHIL (3) - CB Avonte Maddox 2, CB Ronald Darby 1
WASH (10) - S D.J. Swearinger 4, CB Josh Norman 3, LB Mason Foster 2, S Deshazor Everett 1
NFC NORTH (10)
CHI (2) - LB Danny Trevathan 2
DET (0)
GB (3) - CB Bashaud Breeland 2, CB Kevin King 1
MINN (5) - S Anthony Harris 3, CB Holton Hill 1, CB Trae Waynes 1
NFC SOUTH (5)
ATL (0)
CAR (5) - CB Donte Jackson 4, S Eric Reid 1
NO (0)
TB (0)
NFC WEST (15)
ARIZ (3) - S Tre Boston 3
LAR (4) - LB Cory Littleton 3, CB Nickell Robey-Coleman 1
SF (0)
SEA (8) - S Bradley McDougald 3, S Earl Thomas 3, CB Shaquill Griffin 2
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PLAYOFF INT (5) - Stephon Gilmore 2, LB Demario Davis (NO) 1, CB Cre'von LeBlanc (PHIL) 1, Cory Littleton 1
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As for sacks, I'm not going to list all 85 players with dreads who combined for 260.5 sacks in 2018, only the top 20. Saints DE Cameron Jordan and Cowboys DE Demarcus Lawrence for the 2nd straight year were the top two sack men among players with dreads, with Jordan this time replacing Lawrence in the top spot in 2018. Lawrence finished tied for 2nd place with Seahawks DT Jarran Reed. The Ravens, who had 11 sacks in one game, edged the Cowboys 23.5-22.5 as the team with the most sacks by players with dreads; and the NFC South, with 48 sacks, finished with a comfortable margin over the AFC South (43.5) to earn top honors among the divisions.
Here are the top 20 players with dreads in sacks during the 2018 regular season.
DE Cameron Jordan (NO) 12
DE Demarcus Lawrence (DAL) 10.5
DT Jarran Reed (SEA) 10.5
DE Yannick Ngakoue (JAC) 9.5
DT Denico Autry (IND) 9
DE Michael Bennett (PHIL) 9
DE/LB Jadeveon Clowney (HOU) 9
LB Za'Darius Smith (BAL) 8.5
DE Melvin Ingram (LAC) 7
LB Matt Judon (BAL) 7
DE Takk McKinley (photo below) (ATL) 7
DE Randy Gregory (DAL) 6
DT Gerald McCoy (TB) 6
LB Bud Dupree (PIT) 5.5
DT Larry Ogunjobi (CLEV) 5.5
LB Patrick Onwuasor (BAL) 5.5
DE Jabaal Sheard (IND) 5.5
LB Demario Davis (NO) 5
DE Julius Peppers (CAR) 5
DT Robert Nkemdiche (ARIZ) 4.5
DT Sheldon Richardson (MINN) 4.5
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DG
And now, here is some photographic evidence of the names and numbers listed above.
FIRSTS
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3. In the second game on Monday night in Week 1 RB Todd Gurley opens his account for 2018, scoring the Rams' 1st TD of the season on this 19-yard catch and run against the Raiders, as S Reggie Nelson makes the hit much too late to stop him. The TD answered a TD by RB Marshawn Lynch earlier in the 1st quarter and tied the game at 7. Gurley finished with 147 total yards (108 rushing, 39 receiving), and the Rams outscored the Raiders 23-0 in the 2nd half to pick up the 33-13 road victory. This TD by Gurley was the last of the 6 touchdowns scored by a player with dreads in the two games on Monday night.
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8. After blowing a golden opportunity to score his 1st career TD in a game against the Falcons way back in Week 2, rookie TE Ian Thomas of the Panthers gets it right this time in Week 16, leaping above grounded DE Brooks Reed to make a 1-yard TD catch on 2nd and goal for his 1st career TD midway through the 1st quarter. The TD was the 14th play of the Panthers' game-opening 73-yard drive. Thomas finished with 4 catches for 48 yards, but this was the Panthers' only TD of the afternoon in a 24-10 home loss to the Falcons. Thomas added another TD in Week 17 to finish with 2 for the year, and his 333 yards receiving for the season (on 36 catches) were the most by any rookie with dreads in 2018.
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9. There were 5 TD scored by TEs with dreads in 2018, and this one was the most spectacular. I guess that since Mo Alie-Cox was a basketball star in college, it's fitting that his 1st career TD catch comes on a play on which it looks like he's bringing down a rebound. On the 11th play on the Colts' opening drive at Oakland in Week 8, the 6-5, 265-pound Alie-Cox soars and snares an Andrew Luck pass one handed inside the 5-yard line, lands on his feet, and his momentum carries him into the end zone for a 26-yard TD on 1st and 10: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3WKQBiPGbk .... Wow. With Alie-Cox making no other contributions, the Colts went on to defeat the Raiders 42-28. After spending most of 2017 and the first month of 2018 on the practice squad, Mo averaged 19 yards per reception on the 7 catches he had, including one more TD, in what hopefully was the start of a very productive career.
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11. After scoring 38 regular season TD, including 14 in 2018, in the first 4 years of his career, RB Melvin Gordon scores his 1st postseason TD early in the 4th quarter of his 1st postseason game. After coming up (literally) about 3 inches short on the previous play, Gordon takes it up the middle and in on 4th and goal and then survives a shot to the groin from LB Chris Board after crossing the goal line. LB C.J. Mosley (#57) might have stopped Gordon but instead gets blocked out of the play by TE Virgil Green. It was the Chargers 1st TD of the day and it upped their lead to 20-3 over the Ravens. Melvin finished with just 40 yards rushing on 17 carries, but the Chargers got the road win in Baltimore 23-17 in the 1st round of the AFC playoffs.
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FIRST AND ONLY
12. Playing in his 1st game in Week 16 after missing most of the season while still recovering from the Achilles injury he suffered in Week 11 of the 2017 season, Texans RB D'Onta Foreman scores his 1st and only TD of 2018 on a 20-yard reception against the Eagles. While QB Deshaun Watson rolled right to buy time, the man covering Foreman stopped covering him, leaving him all alone; and after making the catch at the 3-yard line, D'Onta gets in before Ss Corey Graham (#24) and Malcom Jenkins can arrive to stop him. The TD cut the Eagles lead to 29-23 with 4:41 to play in the 4th quarter. Foreman finished with -1 yard rushing on 7 carries and 2 catches for 28 yards. In a game of the utmost importance for both teams the Eagles kicked a FG on the final play of the game to defeat the Texans 32-30.
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13. After scoring 2 TD in 2016 and 4 in 2017, Ravens WR Chris Moore did not score 6 TD in 2018, only one. And he might not have gotten even that one had the officials called a holding penalty on WR Willie Snead, who clearly is grabbing the jersey of CB Brent Grimes while blocking him. After taking a forward flip on a jet sweep on 2nd and goal, Moore speeds around right end and into the end zone for a 5-yard TD catch that finishes a 16-play, 73-yard drive. The TD gave the Ravens a 7-6 lead over the Buccaneers with 3:58 to play until halftime at Baltimore in Week 15, and they went on to win 20-12 and improve to 8-6.
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14. Plagued by a foot injury for most of the first half of the season, WR Travis Benjamin played only 278 snaps on offense in 12 games for the Chargers in 2018 and scored only 1 TD. And he mot not have gotten even that one had the officials not missed a false start penalty and stopped the play. But there was no whistle, and after Benjamin beats CB Mike Hilton on an out and up route on 1st and 10, he catches Philip Rivers' pass in stride at the 9-yard line and takes it to the house for a 46-yard TD to get the Chargers on the board late in the 1st quarter in Week 13. Wearing his pink cleats in support of breast cancer awareness and with his dreads flowing at full blast, Travis then spikes the ball after scoring what turned out to be the Chargers only TD in the first 43 minutes of the game. Benjamin was no factor in the game other than this play, but the Chargers rallied from a 23-7 deficit without him, scoring 3 consecutive touchdowns in a span of 9 minutes and later kicking a FG on the final play of the game to defeat the Steelers at Heinz Field 33-30.
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Although his only TD catch, this certainly was not Roberts only TD of the season. When he took a kickoff return to the house in Week 16, he became the first player in Jets history to have a TD reception, kickoff return TD, and punt return TD in the same season. But that wasn't enough to convince the Jets to bring him back for another season. He's now with the Bills, his 5th team in the last 5 seasons.
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SILVER MEDAL REPEAT
16. For the second straight season RB Alvin Kamara of the Saints finished 2nd in the NFL in TD scored. He scored 14 as rookie in 2017 and upped that to 18 in 2018, good for the silver medal both times. After settling for 4 FG in the 1st half against the Giants in Week 4, the Saints scored 3 TD in the 2nd half, all by Kamara. On 1st and goal midway through the 3rd quarter Alvin scores standing up (left photo) on a 9-yard run up the middle on 1st and goal to extend the Saints lead to 19-7. Then with the score 26-18, Alvin puts the game away with a 49-yard TD run (right photo) with 2:06 remaining, as neither LB Alec Ogletree, CB Janoris Jenkins (#20), nor CB B.W.Webb succeed in a last-ditch effort to stop him. Kamara finished with 181 total yards, including a season high 134 yards rushing in the Saints' 33-18 road win over the Giants.
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GOLD MEDAL REPEAT
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Todd played very little in the Rams' victory over the Saints in the NFC Championship game and their loss to the Patriots in the Super Bowl. Even though the Rams wouldn't say why, you knew he had to be injured. During the offseason it was finally revealed that Gurley has an arthritic condition in his knee, which does not bode well for the rest of his career.
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SHOW OF HANDS
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22. WR DeAndre Hopkins of the Texans may have 'slumped' to 11 TD catches (down from his league-leading 13 in 2017), but he still was his usual spectacular self in 2018. Here in Week 6 he gets the scoring started with a great leaping catch against the coverage of Bills CB Tre'Davious White, landing at the 1-yard line and falling backward into the end zone for a 13-yard TD and a 7-0 lead with 4:43 remaining in the 1st quarter. On a day on which the Texans' offense was held to just 216 total yards, Hopkins was their most productive player with 5 catches for 63 yards. The Texans won 20-13 on a pick-6 TD with 1:23 remaining in the game.
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23. In the Texans' next home game on Thursday night in Week 8 DeAndre Hopkins finishes the scoring midway through the 4th quarter with his 2nd TD catch of the game and his 6th of the season on 3rd and goal, nearly losing control of the ball after an attempt by Dolphins CB Xavien Howard to break up the pass but keeping his grip on it and keeping it from touching the ground. The 2-yard TD upped the Texans' lead to 42-23. Earlier in the quarter DeAndre had his longest reception of the season, a 49-yard TD that gave the Texans some breathing room at 35-20. He finished the night with 6 catches for 83 yards.
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24. I can't speak for DeAndre Hopkins, of course, but I wouldn't be surprised if he told you his most satisfying TD catch of 2018 was this one in Week 7, because he made it while beating the coverage of the great Jalen Ramsey. There's no better way to shut up a cocky, trash-talking DB than to score against him. The 10-yard reception on 2nd and 8 came 2 plays after the Jaguars turned the ball over at their own 12-yard line, and it upped the Texans' lead to 20-0 early in the 3rd quarter. Hopkins finished with just 3 catches (on 8 targets) for 50 yards, but all three came on scoring drives, as the Texans got the road win 20-7.
If you like, here's the video of the battle between Hopkins and Ramsey from this game, with the TD coming at the 2:25 mark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCITaQ-qaW4
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HOUSE OF DREAD - THE SILVER MEDAL
There was a 3-way tie for the game with the second most touchdowns scored by players with dreads. The Bengals-Chiefs game in Week 7 and the Falcons-Packers game in Week 14 both had 5. And we'll look at a couple of photos from those games later. The 3rd game with 5 TD was between the Cardinals and Chargers in Week 12, and we'll look at all 5 right now.
The Cardinals, a 14-point underdog, led 10-0 at the end of the 1st quarter before the game completely turned around in the 2nd quarter .....
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26. On the 2nd play of the quarter the Chargers faced 3rd and goal from the 9-yard line and were in danger of having to settle for a FG. But never fear, Mike Williams is here. Arguably the best jump-ball catching WR in the league, Williams does what he does best, going way up and making the catch in the end zone (left photo), not allowing the hit by CB Bene Benwikere to prevent him from landing inbounds. Midway through the quarter the Chargers take the lead on RB Melvin Gordon's 28-yard TD run off right tackle on 2nd and 11 (right photo). Former Charger S Tre Boston, he of the super long dreads, comes over to try to cut Gordon off and knock him out of bounds, but Melvin is too fast for that .....
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At that point the game looked like a safe bet to at least tie for if not not take the lead for house of dread honors; but there were no further touchdowns by players with dreads. WR Keenan Allen and RB Austin Ekeler scored for the Chargers in the 3rd quarter, and then the starters sat out the 4th quarter. Gordon finished with 61 yards rushing on 10 carries. Williams had 4 catches for 25 yards. Fitzgerald had just 2 catches for 30 yards. After the early scare, the Chargers easily covered the point spread, blowing out the Cardinals 45-10. The link below is to the highlights of the game. You're welcome to watch the whole thing; but if you just want to see the 5 TD, they're at the 0:18, 2:10, 3:35, 4:19, and 5:34 marks of the video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UT6XclFiWJc
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HOUSE OF DREAD - THE GOLD MEDAL
Even though it was only Week 2 and there were 15 more weeks to go, as soon as the game was over you knew it was going to be hard for any other game to top this one. And no other game did. Therefore the house of dread winner for 2018 goes to the end zones at New Era Field in Orchard Park, NY, the home of the Buffalo Bills. There were 6 touchdowns scored in the Bills' home-opening 31-20 loss to the Chargers, and all 6 were by players with dreads. Unfortunately even though I really tried, I couldn't find clear shots of most of the touchdowns, so you're going to have to use your imagination a bit (or just watch the video at the end of the last photo).
28. After going scoreless during his injury-shortened rookie season in 2017, Mike Williams makes his 1st career TD catch on, what else, a jump ball in the back of the end zone on 2nd and 7, with S Jordan Poyer and CB Vontae Davis trying their best but failing to stop him. The 10-yard TD catch for the first points of the day capped a 3-play, 38-yard drive on the Chargers' second possession of the game .....
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30. After the Bills kicked a FG to make it 14-3, the Chargers strike right back quickly, driving 75 yards in 5 plays, with Melvin Gordon going the final 9 for a TD nearly as easy as his first one. On 2nd and 5 Gordon runs an out route out of the backfield and easily beats LB Tremaine Edmunds, making the catch at the 6 and scoring (left photo). Photographers had a clear view of this TD, so it's disappointing there wasn't a photo of Melvin crossing the goal line with Edmunds trailing behind him. In the right photo Gordon celebrates his TD with Williams .....
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31. Not done yet, Gordon finishes the Chargers' next drive with his 3rd TD of the game. And there almost was a photo of it. On 3rd and goal from the 2 on the first play after the 2-minute warning Melvin has LB Matt Milano beat as the pass approaches him (left photo) and, after juggling the ball, gets control of it in time before Milano futilely tackles him in the end zone.
That made it 28-3, and from there the Chargers put it in cruise control. After racking up 17 first downs in the 1st half, they made only 4 in the 2nd half .....
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33. The 6th and last TD of the day came in garbage time, but it still counts. On the next play after Chris Ivory nearly scored on a 30-yard catch and run to the 3-yard line, WR Kelvin Benjamin make the catch on a slant route in the end zone and gets both feet down in time before being clobbered by S Adrian Phillips and Trevor Williams (left photo). It's hard to see the ball in this shot; but if you save it, it's large enough that you can see him cradling it against his body just below his chin strap. After being shaken up momentarily Kelvin manages a smile (right photo) after being the recipient of the 1st TD pass in the career of rookie QB Josh Allen (#17). So even though it only made the score 31-20 with 38 seconds remaining, it was a big deal for Allen.
Gordon was the only player to make the dread stars list. Even though he gained only 66 total yards, he made it thanks to his 3 TD. The 3 TD are at the 1:45, 3:53, and 4:53 marks of the game highlight video (link below). Williams' TD is at 0:14, Ivory's at 6:42, and Benjamin's at 10:37.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvRkva4Ru6M
Rather unbelievably these were the only touchdowns of the season for both Ivory and Benjamin. And they might be the last TD of their careers, as they both remain unsigned free agents at the start of the 2019 season.
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There are plenty more house calls to come, but right now this next section of the dread gallery is all about the defense.
SACKS
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35. Cameron Jordan's gain was Demarcus Lawrence's loss. Lawrence, a DE for the Cowboys, was #1 in sacks among players with dreads in 2017 with a career high 14.5. But he had just 10.5 in 2018 to finish tied for 2nd. These are shots of the first of 3 sacks he had in the Week 4 home game against the Lions, as he drags down Matthew Stafford at the Detroit 36-yard line for a loss of 9 on 1st and 10 with 1:09 remaining in the 1st half. The Lions punted 3 plays later. I included Lawrence on the Week 4 dread stars list, as he tied for the team lead with 8 tackles (6-2) in the Cowboys' last-second 26-24 win over the Lions.
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36. After recording 10.5 sacks in his 4 seasons with the Raiders, DT Denico Autry opens his sack account with the Colts on this play midway through the 1st quarter in Week 4, first dropping into coverage on 1st and 10 before moving forward and tripping up Texans QB Deshaun Watson in the open field at the Indy 44-yard line for a loss of 5. The Texans punted 3 plays later. Autry, who missed the previous 2 games due to an ankle injury he suffered in practice, didn't exactly ease his way back into action. Including special teams, he played a career high 87 snaps and made the dread stars list, finishing with 9 tackles (7-2), 4 TFL, and 2 sacks. But he wasn't the only D-lineman in the game to make the dread stars list .....
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With 9 sacks apiece, Autry and Clowney finished tied for 5th place (along with Michael Bennett of the Eagles) in sacks among players with dreads.
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41. On 3rd and 13 midway through the 2nd quarter, after the Titans again had dared to cross into Ravens' territory, Za'Darius Smith goes past G Quinton Spain (#67) like he's not even there and is on top of Mariota before he even has a chance to set up. Z goes for the ball this time and knocks it out of the QB's hand, but Mariota is able to recover it at the Ravens' 47 and prevent the turnover. Smith's 2nd sack of the game was good for a loss of 7, and the Titans punted on the next play: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNkoW6bS93s .....
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Some of the numbers of the Titans' futility are mind boggling. They gained only 106 total yards, made just 7 first downs, and punted on all 9 of their possessions. Their deepest penetration on offense was the Ravens' 37-yard line, and on the 7 snaps they had in Ravens' territory they were sacked on 5 of them. They converted just 1 of 10 times on 3rd down, and of the 9 times they tried to pass on 3rd down they were sacked on 7 of them. It doesn't get much more futile than that.
After he finished with a team high 5 tackles (4-1), 3 sacks, and 1 FF, Smith was named AFC defensive player of the week.
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43. Sacking the Panthers QB is easier said than done, but DE Takk McKinley is able to take down 6-5, 245-pound Cam Newton for a 5-yard loss on 2nd and 10 on the last play before the 2-minute warning during the 1st half in Week 2. For the record McKinley is listed at 6-2, 265. The Panthers punted 2 plays later. Takk finished with 2 tackles (2-0) in the Falcons' 31-24 home win over Carolina.
With his 7 sacks for the season, McKinley was the leader of Cameron Jordan's supporting cast as the NFC South's players with dreads recorded 48 sacks in 2018, the most of any division.
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44. LB De'Vondre Campbell's 1st sack of the season - and his only solo sack - comes with an asterisk ..... because it should not have counted. Per NFL rules you are not allowed to even breathe on the quarterback's head, let alone grab it, as Campbell is here just before he sacks Aaron Rodgers of the Packers midway through the 2nd quarter in Week 14. No flag was thrown, however, and De'Vondre will take it. The sack on 3rd and 7 moved the Packers back 9 yards to the 32-yard line, and on the next play they settled for a FG and a 10-7 lead. Campbell, who led the Falcons with 94 tackles for the season, had 5 (3-2) in this one as the Falcons hit their low point of the season, dropping to 4-9 with a 34-20 road loss to Green Bay.
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46. It just wouldn't be Thanksgiving in Detroit without a sack by DE Ziggy Ansah. Here he makes the tackle from behind, tripping up QB Chase Daniel as Daniel tries to escape the pocket and scramble for the first down on 3rd and 8 early in the 3rd quarter in Week 12. The sack didn't lose any yards, but it came at the Lions' 40-yard line and kept the Bears out of FG range. They punted on the next play. Ansah finished with 3 tackles (2-1), but the Lions dropped to 4-7 with the 23-15 loss to the Bears. During an injury-plagued season in which he missed 9 games this was Ziggy's 4th and last sack of the season. During his 6 seasons with the Lions he had at least one sack in 5 of their Thanksgiving Day games.
47. DE Markus Golden gets his final sack in a Cardinals uniform, dropping QB Matt Ryan for a 5-yard loss on the 4th play of the Falcons' game-opening drive at Atlanta in Week 15. The Falcons punted 3 plays later. It was one of his 2 tackles (2-0) in the Cardinals' 40-14 defeat. Coming back from the torn ACL he suffered in 2017, Golden had just 2.5 sacks in 11 games, and the Cardinals decided not to bring him back for 2019. He signed as a free agent with the N.Y. Giants.
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48. For the 2nd straight season DT Sheldon Day recorded 2 sacks, but unfortunately in 2018 both of them came when he had his long dreads reduced. The first of the two was on this play during the 3rd quarter in Week 4. After beating G Dan Feeney (#66) on 2nd and 5, Day tackles QB Philip Rivers at the LA 37-yard line for an 8-yard loss. The Chargers punted two plays later. This was Sheldon's only tackle of the game in the 49ers' 29-27 road loss to the Chargers.
Day was not the only 49er with his long dreads reduced to get a sack in 2018 .....
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49. CB Richard Sherman (of all people) didn't have an interception during his 1st season in a 49ers uniform; but he did have this sack, only the 2nd of his career and his first since 2012 - which evidently LB Malcolm Smith (#51), his former teammate with the Seahawks, found very amusing. During the 2nd quarter in Week 8 the Cardinals decide not to block Sherman, and he comes in and drops QB Josh Rosen for a 7-yard loss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gO4ye_VaFuo .... The Cardinals converted on 3rd and 12 two plays later, but the drive eventually ended with a punt. Along with teammate Fred Warner and Markus Golden of the Cardinals Richard was one of the game's leading tacklers, finishing with a season high 7 (7-0) and 1 PBU. In a battle of 1-6 teams, the 49ers took over last place in the NFC West, blowing a 15-3 lead in the 4th quarter and losing to the Cardinals 18-15.
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51. Rookie LB and former Virginia Tech star Tremaine Edmunds had sacks against the Miami Hurricanes in 2016 and 2017, and he got this one of the highlight reel variety against the Miami Dolphins in Week 17 of 2018. After recording his 1st NFL sack on opening day, Edmunds went without another one until this play midway through the 4th quarter of the final game of the season, destroying RB Kenyan Drake's attempt to block him and wrapping up QB Ryan Tannehill for a 4-yard loss on 3rd and 4. The Dolphins punted on the next play. Stay tuned. A little later we'll take another look at Edmunds from this game.
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Unfortunately this wasn't the start of something big for Williams. 2018 turned out to be just as disappointing as 2017. He had 2 sacks in the first 4 games but none after that and eventually was benched entirely during the Ravens' late-season stretch drive.
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54. 8 teams had more total sacks by players with dreads than the Panthers in 2018, but no team had more players with dreads with sacks than the Panthers. 6 different players with dreads (the Chargers also had 6) combined to record 12 sacks for Carolina, and the least likely of the six was none other than 180-pound rookie CB Donte Jackson. On 2nd and 10 during the 2nd quarter in Week 8 the Ravens decide to double-team DE Julius Peppers, and that allows Jackson to come in unblocked and get his 1st career sack, as he tackles QB Joe Flacco for a loss of 8. The Ravens punted 2 plays later. Donte had 3 tackles (2-1) and 1 PBU as the Panthers whipped the Ravens 36-21 .....
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PICKS
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Although Donte did not make the All-Rookie team for 2018, he did have more interceptions than any other rookie, finishing the season with 4. The 4 INT were also the most by any player with dreads, although he had some company at the top of that list .....
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59. The Redskins were the only team to reach double figures in interceptions by players with dreads in 2018. 10 of the team's 15 INT were by players with dreads, with CB Josh Norman contributing 3 picks to the cause. The second of the 3 came in Week 10 on a play on which Norman landed on his back twice. The Buccaneers' game-opening drive ends on its 8th play as Norman makes a leaping interception of a pass intended for RB Shaun Wilson that was overthrown on 2nd and 7. Then after beginning his return at the goal line, Norman makes it to the Washington 31-yard line before being dragged down by WR Chris Godwin - a tackle that likely kept Josh from taking it to the house: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7L9p5mzc14 ..... The Buccaneers did the nearly impossible, racking up 501 total yards but scoring only 3 points. Blame that on 2 missed field goals and 4 turnovers. Besides the INT Norman's only other stat was 1 tackle (1-0) as the Redskins picked up the road win 16-3.
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60. One week later the Buccaneers made two more contributions to the total of interceptions by players with dreads. After Curtis Riley picked up his 2nd INT of the season in the 3rd quarter, CB B.W. Webb gets his 1st (and only) with 13 seconds remaining in the game to seal the victory for the Giants. The Bucs scored touchdowns on 4 straight drives to cut a 24-7 deficit to 38-35, but they began their final drive with just 23 seconds to play; and Webb, with those long reduced dreads of his lifting up to reveal the name on his jersey, easily picks off QB Jameis Winston's desperation heave 50 yards downfield that is intended for WR DeSean Jackson but is overthrown. Webb finished with 7 tackles (6-1) and 1 PBU along with his INT as the Giants won their 2nd in a row to improve to 3-7.
Thanks to the Redskins' 10 INT and 7 by the Giants the NFC East easily was the leader among the 8 divisions in interceptions by players with dreads with a total of 21.
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61. In his 2nd NFL season CB Shaquill Griffin started all 16 games and led the Seahawks in defensive snaps played with 941. Remarkably his only 2 INT of the season came in a span just 6 snaps apart on back-to-back possessions by the Bears in the 2nd quarter in Week 2. On the first of the two Griffin has WR Allen Robinson blanketed on a deep right sideline route, but QB Mitchell Trubisky throws the pass anyway. Shaquill says thank you very much, high-pointing the ball for a picturesque pick at the Seattle 24-yard line. Shaquill made his only appearance on the dread stars list, finishing the Monday night game with 4 tackles (4-0) and 1 PBU along with the 2 INT, but the Seahawks lost to the Bears 24-17. If you don't mind the reduced dreads, here's a video of Griffin's highlights from the game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVPvy0RB0T8
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62. CB Trae Waynes' only INT of 2018 was a gift courtesy of Jets WR Charone Peake. With the Vikings leading by 17 in the 4th quarter in Week 7, a short pass on 2nd and 10 deflects off of Peake's hands and into the air, and Waynes easily makes the grab and takes the return 24 yards to the NY 22-yard line, setting up the final points of the game. In addition to his pick Trae finished with 3 tackles (0-3) and tied his career high with 3 PBU in Minnesota's 37-17 road win.
Waynes was one of three Viking DBs with dreads to record interceptions on the season, along with rookie CB Holton Hill (who also had an INT in this game) and .....
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63. ..... S Anthony Harris. After going without an interception in his first 3 seasons, Harris finally gets his 1st late in the 3rd quarter in Week 6, cutting in front of WR Larry Fitzgerald on 3rd and 6 and grabbing QB Josh Rosen's short pass. Anthony gets up and goes about 5 yards on the return (right photo) but is ruled down by contact (with Fitzgerald) back where he caught the ball at the Minnesota 47-yard line. Harris had 2 tackles (1-1) and 1 PBU in addition to the INT as the Vikings won at home over the Cardinals 27-17.
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64. One day later, on Monday night of Week 6, Packers 2nd year CB Kevin King gets his 1st career INT; and it's a big one, coming late in the 4th quarter of a tie game. With 1:13 to play the 49ers are at the Green Bay 46-yard line and need only 3 yards on 3rd down. But QB C.J. Beathard for some reason goes deep, and King has WR Marquise Goodwin well covered and turns around just in time to get the INT at the 10-yard line. The Packers then went 81 yards in 11 plays and kicked a FG on the final play of the game. King also had 4 tackles (4-0) and 1 FR in the game as the Packers, a 9-point favorite at home, barely beat the 49ers 33-30. This was Kevin's only INT of the season, as he injured his hamstring 3 weeks later and missed the last 8 games of the season.
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65. Also getting the first interception of his career in 2018 was Chargers DE Melvin Ingram. In his first 6 NFL seasons Ingram had broken up 18 passes, but not until this play late in the 3rd quarter in Week 5 did he actually pick one off. On 1st and goal at the 1-yard line the Raiders fake a handoff to RB Marshawn Lynch instead of giving it to him and pay for it, as Ingram fools QB Derek Carr by dropping back into coverage to easily pick off the pass intended for TE Derek Carrier 4 yards deep in the end zone. Not satisfied with only getting the INT, Melvin wants to take the return to the house but only makes it to the LA 4-yard line before being tackled. Lynch was so disgusted after the play that he wanted to throw his helmet (probably at whoever called the play) before thinking better of it: https://www.chargers.com/video/melvin-ingram-picks-off-derek-carr-in-end-zone ..... The Chargers then went 96 yards on the ensuing drive to go up 26-3. Ingram also had a team high 7 tackles (5-2), 2 TFL, and 1 sack in the game, as the Chargers hung on to win 26-10.
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66. LB C.J. Mosley's only INT of the season was a season saver for the Ravens, although it should be noted that since it was 4th down, just breaking up the pass would have sufficed. With 1:06 on the clock and the Browns one first down away from moving into FG range, the Ravens were on the brink of being eliminated from the playoff race with a Week 17 home loss for the 2nd year in a row. But this time the defense got the job done. Under heavy pressure on 4th and 10 QB Baker Mayfield has to unload quickly, and Mosley leaps and tips the pass intended for RB Duke Johnson to himself and secures possession before he goes to the ground at the 39-yard line: https://www.baltimoreravens.com/video/highlight-c-j-mosley-makes-game-winning-interception
..... Mosley also had a team high 6 tackles (3-3), 1 TFL, and 1 PBU in the game. The Ravens, who missed out on the 2017 playoffs due to their Week 17 home loss to Cincinnati, made the 2018 playoffs and clinched the AFC North division crown with the 26-24 win over the Browns.
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67. Staying in the AFC North, here is the 1st career INT for rookie (1st round draft pick) S Terrell Edmunds. During the 2nd quarter at Tampa on Monday night in Week 3 the Buccaneers turn the ball over for their 3rd straight possession, as QB Ryan Fitzpatrick's pass on 1st and 10 sails way over the head of WR Mike Evans and into the hands of Edmunds at the Pittsburgh 30-yard line. Terrell brings the return back 35 yards to the Tampa Bay 35, but the Steelers fail to score on the ensuing possession. Edmunds finished the night with 1 tackle (1-0) fot his only other stat in the game as the Steelers picked up their 1st win of the season, defeating the Buccaneers 30-27.
Of course, Terrell was not the only member of the Edmunds family to get an INT in 2018 .....
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68. ..... LB Tremaine Edmunds, also picked in the 1st round of the 2018 Draft (taken 12 picks before Terrell), did his older brother one better, finishing the season with 2 INT. As promised a little earlier .... in the same game in Week 17 in which he got his 2nd sack of the season, Tremaine gets his 2nd INT of the season. On the 3rd play of the Dolphins' opening drive QB Ryan Tannehill tries to hit WR Danny Amendola on 2nd and 13 but finds Edmunds instead at the Miami 35-yard line. After throwing on the brakes, Tremaine gets himself turned around and headed in the right direction (left photo) at the 40 and rumbles to the 18 for a 17-yard return. The Bills scored on the next play to up their lead to 14-0. Tremaine had a big finish to his rookie season, big enough for me to include him on the Week 17 dread stars list. In addition to his INT and sack he had a season high 12 tackles (11-1) as the Bills trounced the Dolphins 42-17.
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69. For the 2nd year in a row CB Stephon Gilmore's 1st INT of the year came in a Patriots home game vs. the Texans. But while the one in Week 3 of 2017 came right to him, he had some competition for this one in the 2018 season opener. On 2nd and 3 from the New England 42-yard line during the 2nd quarter QB Deshaun Watson goes for the quick strike; and WR Vyncint Smith, CB Eric Rowe, and Gilmore all converge where the pass comes down, with Stephon gaining possession inbounds before falling out of the back of the end zone to keep the Patriots' lead at 14-6. Of course, Rowe would probably tell you that he had Smith well covered by himself and that Gilmore ranged over and robbed him of an INT; but that's between the two of them, I guess. Gilmore finished with a team high 8 tackles (7-1) and 1 PBU along with his pick and helped hold DeAndre Hopkins to 8 catches for 78 yards and no TD. After leading 24-6, the Patriots held on to defeat the Texans 27-20.
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70. Stephon Gilmore had 2 of the 5 interceptions by players with dreads during the playoffs, and this one was the biggest of them all. In the 4th quarter of Super Bowl 53, after the Patriots finally scored the first touchdown of the game to take a 10-3 lead on the preceding possession, the Rams drove from their 25-yard line to the Patriots' 27 in 5 plays. Then here on 2nd and 10 a blitz forces QB Jared Goff to unload before he wants to and before WR Brandin Cooks finishes running his route, and Gilmore leaps up to easily intercept the pass at the 4-yard line with 4:17 to play, ending the Rams' threat.
Of course, Rams fans will remind you that on 1st and 10 on the play right before this one Cooks had Gilmore beat deep and that Gilmore interfered with him to break up the pass and prevent a TD. No penalty was called even though one should have been. But then Saints fans will remind Rams fans that the Rams wouldn't even have been in the Super Bowl if the Rams hadn't gotten away with PI late in the NFC Championship game.
Gilmore finished the game with 5 tackles (5-0), 1 INT, 2 PBU, and 1 FF (but the ball went out of bounds) in the Patriots' 13-3 victory. It was the 6th championship for the Patriots but the first for Stephon, who played with the Bills for 5 seasons before signing with New England in 2017.
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71. Ravens CB Brandon Carr's only two interceptions of the season were months apart. He had one in Week 16 and this one during the 3rd quarter of the season opener, as he jumps WR Kelvin Benjamin's lazy slant route on 3rd and 11 and easily picks off the pass at the Buffalo 33-yard line and heads for the end zone. Brandon made a strong bid for his 3rd career TD but was tackled just short of the end zone at the 1. The Ravens scored on the next play to up their lead to 40-0. Carr began his final season with dreads with 3 tackles (3-0) and 2 PBU in addition to the INT as the Ravens spanked the Bills 47-3.
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In his 6 seasons with the Chargers Jahleel was on the field for 4,071 snaps on defense and came up with only 2 interceptions. These days he and his long dreads and hanging out in a Houston Texans uniform .....
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..... Unfortunately for Tre the Cardinals' offense went backward on the ensuing drive and did not add to their 14-3 lead. Boston had 7 tackles (5-2) and 1 PBU in addition to the pick in the Cardinals' 16-14 home loss to the Bears.
The leader in interceptions by players with dreads in 2017 with 5 for the Chargers, Boston had 3 INT in his only season with the Cardinals. These dreads his dreads are swinging in a Carolina Panthers uniform.
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Unless some team is in the market for an old (now 36 years old), slow safety, we can close the book on Reggie's career. In 12 NFL seasons (all with dreads) he had 38 career interceptions.
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MORE HOUSE CALLS
75. You'll have to squint to see the dreads in these shots, but I decided to include them anyway (You'll also have to click on the photos and then save them in order to see them at their largest). With the sun illiminating his green dread tips from behind (left photo), CB Bashaud Breeland prances into the end zone with his 2nd career pick six. At Green Bay in Week 14 Breeland jumps an out route by Falcons TE Austin Hooper on 3rd and 4, picks off the pass by QB Matt Ryan, and takes it 22 yards to the house to up the Packers' lead to 17-7 with 6:01 remaining in the 2nd quarter. You can see Bashaud's dreads a little better as he gets a lift from S Kentrell Brice (right photo) while celebrating his TD. Breeland also had 1 tackle (1-0) and 1 FR in the game as the Packers rolled over the Falcons 34-20.
Out of work until signing with the Packers in late September. Breeland missed 4 games with two separate injuries but managed to finish with 2 INT in 7 games in his only season in Green Bay. He's with the Chiefs now.
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76. In photo #67 earlier we saw the Buccaneers' 3rd straight drive end with a turnover, and now here's their 4th straight turnover, as QB Ryan Fitzpatrick's pass intended for RB Jacquizz Rodgers on 2nd and 10 is overthrown and intercepted (his 3rd interception thrown in a span of barely more than 5 minutes) by LB Alvin Dupree, better known as Bud Dupree, who takes his 1st career INT 10 yards to the house for his 1st career TD to up the Steelers' lead to 23-7 with 2:50 remaining until halftime. Dupree also had 3 tackles (2-1) and 1 sack in the game. The Steelers upped their lead further to 30-10 at halftime and then barely held on to defeat the Buccaneers 30-27 on Monday night in Week 3.
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Jaylon's 1st career TD increased the Cowboys' lead to 14-3. He also finished with 10 tackles (5-5) and 2 PBU in the game as the Cowboys defeated the Buccaneers 27-20 to improve to 9-6 and clinch the NFC East division crown.
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78. With the 0-4 Cardinals clinging to a 14-12 lead on the road with less than 5 minutes to play in Week 5, LB Josh Bynes picks a great time to score his 1st career TD. On 2nd and 11 from the 49ers' 41-yard line, QB C.J. Beathard sets up to pass but has the ball knocked out of his hand by LB Haason Reddick; and the next thing he knows he's looking at the back of Bynes' dreads, after Josh scoops up the fumble at the 23-yard line. Bynes runs untouched on his way to the end zone, making the score 21-12 with 4:33 remaining. Josh also had 11 tackles (9-2), 1 sack, and 1 PBU in the game as the Cardinals picked up their 1st win, defeating the 49ers 28-18 .....
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79. Another NFC West LB scored his 1st career TD against the 49ers in 2018. Early in the 2nd quarter at the Coliseum in Week 17, QB Nick Mullens thinks he has WR Richie James open on a slant on 3rd and 4, but actually he doesn't. Cory Littleton drops back and cuts in front of James and easily gets his 2nd INT of the day and then even more easily cruises 19 yards to the house, upping the Rams' lead to 21-3. Not only his 1st career NFL TD, it was Littleton's first ever touchdown at any level; and he was more the happy to talk about it after the game: https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2018/12/31/nfl-rams-49ers-cory-littleton-pick-six-touchdown/ .....
Thanks to his 2 interceptions, I included Cory on the dread stars list for Week 17. He also had 4 tackles (3-1) in the game. Thanks to 4 turnovers by the 49ers on their first 5 possessions of the game, the Rams built a 28-3 lead in the 2nd quarter and then held on to win 48-32 to finish at 13-3 and clinch a 1st round playoff bye.
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80. 34 seconds after the Dolphins scored a TD to pull within 21-17 of the Texans during the 3rd quarter in Week 8 the Texans regain their 11-point advantage. On 2nd and 8 WR Will Fuller blows by CB Bobby McCain (#28) on a go route, and S Reshad Jones doesn't bother to come over and help McCain, allowing Fuller to make the catch at the 25-yard line and ease into the end zone. The 73-yard TD was the longest receptiion of Fuller's career. He finished the night with 5 catches for 124 yards in the Texans' 42-23 victory.
This was Fuller's 4th TD of the season - and his last unfortunately. While trying for his 2nd TD catch of the game in the 4th quarter, Will got bumped by McCain and landed awkwardly on his leg and tore an ACL in his knee, ending his season.
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81. Back in photo #6 we saw WR Robby Anderson's 1st TD of the season. His next two came in Week 5 vs. the Broncos, and this is the second of them. After being toasted by Anderson for a 76-yard TD earlier in the 2nd quarter, CB Bradley Roby has good coverage this time; but it doesn't matter, because QB Sam Darnold's pass on 1st and 10 is perfect, hitting Anderson in stride just inside the left sideline in the end zone. Anderson's 35-yard reception upped the Jets' lead to 21-10 with 1:13 remaining until halftime. Roby finished the game with 1 PBU and 0 tackles. Robby made the first of his two appearances on the dread stars list, finishing with 3 catches for 123 yards as the Jets got the home win 34-16.
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Aaron more than doubled his touchdown total from his rookie season, improving from 4 TD in 2017 to 9 TD in 2018 and serving as a solid sidekick to Davante Adams as the Packers led the NFC with 26 TD scored by players with dreads.
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..... It was the 6th career kickoff return TD for Patterson, and it was the beginning of a 31-7 Patriots run that propelled them to the victory. The Patriots won 38-31, dealing the Bears their only home L of the regular season.
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In addition to this TD and the kickoff return TD, Patterson had 3 TD catches in 2018, giving him 5 TD in his only season with the Patriots. They were the only 5 TD scored by anyone with dreadsfor the Patriots all season.
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87. After the Rams take a 7-0 lead in the battle of LA in Week 3 at Coliseum, the Chargers strike back quickly, driving 60 yards in 3 plays. RB Melvin Gordon accounted for the first 18 yards of the drive, and then WR Mike Williams accounts for the rest, beating CB Marcus Peters deep on 2nd and 12 and making a beautiful diving catch in the end zone of QB Philip Rivers' perfect pass. The 42-yard TD would have tied the game with 4:42 remaining in the 1st quarter had the Chargers not missed the extra point. After scoring his 1st NFL TD a week earlier (see photo #28) Williams added 2 more in this one and tied his season high with 81 yards receiving (on 4 catches). But the Chargers' defense was no match for the Rams' offense, which racked up 521 total yards in their 35-23 win over the Chargers.
With his 11 TD for the season Williams tied for 8th place in the league in TD scored by players with dreads; but he was only second best on his team .....
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88. ..... And that was because he was on the same team as Melvin Gordon, who scored a career high 14 times in 2018. Here are 2 of the 9 that he scored on the road. On 1st and goal in Week 6 Gordon gets hit by CB Denzel Ward at the 3-yard line but drags him into the end zone (left photo) while also getting a welcome but unnecessary boost from teammate Russell Okung: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfnDv5ggzdM ..... The 4-yard TD run capped LA's 5-play, 57-yard opening drive and was the start of a big day for Melvin. He finished with 152 total yards, including a season high 132 yards rushing, and 3 TD in the 38-14 win over the Browns.
Then in Week 10 Gordon takes one to the house at Oakland (right photo) for the 3rd year in a row. The Raiders blitz on 2nd and 10, leaving him uncovered in the left flat. After catching the pass and making the first defender miss just past the line of scrimmage, Melvin fakes out S Reggie Nelson at the 45-yard line and has clear sailing the rest of the way for a 66-yard TD, by far his longest TD of the season: https://www.chargers.com/video/melvin-gordon-turns-on-the-jets-for-a-66-yard-td-run ..... It was Melvin's 8th TD of the season, and it upped the Chargers' lead to 17-3 early in the 3rd quarter. He finished with 93 yards rushing on 18 carries and 5 catches for 72 yards in the 20-6 win over the Raiders.
In most years the Chargers' total of 27 TD scored by players would have been enough to lead the league; but in 2018 it was enough to be a distant second, because .....
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HAIL TO THE CHIEFS
89. Only when WR Tyreek Hill had his dreads unleashed completely were they long enough to be visible with his helmet on, and even then just barely; so there weren't a lot of options when it came to photos of his touchdowns where you could see them. One of the instances where you could see them was on his 1st TD reception against the Cardinals in Week 10, as he breezes through the end zone after making the catch in stride at the 10-yard line and scoring easily on the 3rd play from scrimmage. The Chiefs' opening drive took all of 56 seconds, with Hill accounting for all 75 yards - a 38-yard catch on the 1st play and then the 37-yard TD on 2nd and 10 to give the Chiefs a quick 7-0 lead. He added another TD catch in the 2nd quarter and had a punt return TD nullified by penalty in the 4th quarter. He finished with 7 catches for 117 yards and 20 yards rushing on 1 carry in the Chiefs' 26-14 home win over the Cardinals.
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Hill's touchdowns mostly came in bunches - 3 in Weeks 1 and 6; 2 in Weeks 10, 11, and 17. He ended up with a career high 14 TD, which tied him for the team lead with .....
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91. ..... Kareem Hunt, the now former Chiefs RB. Before he was released on Dec. 1 Hunt was having his 2nd straight prolific season and was making house calls so frequently that he probably would have led the league in touchdowns had he played the whole season.
After being held out of the end zone in the season opener, Hunt opens his account for 2018 late in the 1st quarter at Pittsburgh in Week 2 (left photo). After making the catch in the left flat on 3rd and goal, Kareem finds himself one-on-one against S Terrell Edmunds; and thanks to a stiff stiff-arm he easily gets past Edmunds and into the end zone. The 5-yard TD upped KC's lead to 21-0. This was his only reception of the game, to go along with 75 yards rushing on 18 carries. The Chiefs blew the 21-0 lead but eventually won 42-37, their first win over the Steelers in Pittsburgh in 32 years, snapping a string of 6 straight losses over that span.
Back home - his home - against the Browns in Week 9 Hunt, a native of suburban Cleveland, scores on a 10-yard run (right photo) on 1st and goal midway through the 3rd quarter for his 3rd TD of the day. He finished with 91 yards and 2 TD rushing on 17 carries and went for a 50-yard TD on his only reception as the Chiefs defeated the Browns 37-21: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_2WDXxXIpE
..... It was his 3rd career game with 3 touchdowns .....
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Hunt's ability to break tackles makes him special, and making him even more valuable is that he's a good receiver coming out of the backfield. For his total of 14 touchdowns he had 7 rushing TD and 7 TD catches. Too bad the rest of his career won't be with the Chiefs .....
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93. ..... Also coming in the Week 7 blowout of the Bengals was the Chiefs' only defensive TD of the season by a player with dreads, with S Ron Parker doing the honors. Early in the 3rd quarter and 9 seconds after Kareem Hunt's 3rd TD of the night made the score 31-7, Parker makes it 38-7, intercepting QB Andy Dalton's pass intended for WR A.J. Green and returning it 33 yards to the house, going the last 10 yards with the ball raised above his head. Playing in the 96th game of his career, it was Parker's 1st career TD.
The Chiefs dominated the Bengals in total yards 551-239, and the 35-point margin of victory was their largest of the season.
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94. One other player contributed to the Chiefs' league-leading tally of 33 touchdowns by players with dreads. 3rd year WR Demarcus Robinson made the first 4 regular season TD catches of his career. With Sammy Watkins and Chris Conley injured late in the season, Robinson was next man up and scored in each of the last 3 games of the season. On Thursday night in Week 15 he caps the Chiefs' 49-yard opening drive with this 5-yard TD catch. With Patrick Mahomes rolling right and waiting for someone to get open on 2nd and goal, Robinson runs all the way across the end zone from left to right before making the catch near the sideline and then strutting his stuff in celebration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBk9FX5JwuE
..... Demarcus had just 2 catches for 7 yards as the Chiefs suffered their only regular season home loss, falling to the Chargers 29-28. And, of course, there'll be more from this game a little later.
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DOUBLE THE PLEASURE, DOUBLE THE FUN
95. Colts WR T.Y. Hilton had 2 games with 2 TD catches, the last of which was here in Week 11, when he had a big game - mostly at the expense of Titans CB Adoree Jackson. On 1st and 10 midway through the 2nd quarter Hilton beats Jackson deep and catches QB Andrew Luck's pass in stride at the 25-yard line (left photo) before falling across the goal line (right photo) for his 5th TD of the season. The 68-yard reception was his longest of the season, and it upped the Colts' lead to 17-0 .....
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With 6 games still to go, T.Y. seemed to have a good chance to surpass his career high of 8 TD, which he set during his rookie season in 2012. But he made no house calls during those games and finished the season with 6.
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97. Another AFC South WR with dreads had a pair of games with 2 TD catches, with DeAndre Hopkins pulling it off in Week 8 against Miami and here in Week 15 vs. the Jets. Midway through the 2nd quarter CB Daryll Roberts thinks the deep pass is headed to the corner on 2nd and 9 and leaves Hopkins by himself to make the 45-yard reception in the middle of the end zone (left photo) for the 1st TD of the game, increasing the Texans' lead to 13-3. Then late in the 4th quarter with the Texans threatening to lose the game, Hopkins battles press coverage by CB Morris Claiborne and wins, making the catch in the front left corner of the end zone (right photo) on 1st and 10 to finish a 75-yard drive. DeAndre accounted for 41 of the yards, with the 14-yard TD putting the Texans back in front 26-22 with 2:15 to play. He finished with 10 catches for a season high 170 yards as the Texans improved to 10-4, barely escaping MetLife Stadium with a 29-22 win over the Jets.
Despite 28 targets in the last two weeks of the season, DeAndre had no more TD catches and finished the season with 11 TD, 2 short of the career high 13 he scored in 2017.
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98. And you can include Davante Adams too on the list of WRs with dreads with a pair of games with a pair of TD catches. A month after he had 2 TD vs. the 49ers (one of them in photo #21) he had 2 in the Week 10 home win over the Dolphins. After Aaron Jones did the heavy lifting, accounting for 47 yards on 4 touches on the first 8 plays of the Packers' opening drive, Adams finishes the drive, faking an out route against Bobby McCain on 1st and goal then beating him on a slant and making the 7-yard TD catch for a 7-0 lead .....
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99. ..... Then midway through the 3rd quarter Adams scores the Packers' 4th and last TD of the game - all 4 by players with dreads (Jones had the other 2). On 2nd and 23, after an illegal crackback block against Adams on 1st and 10 moved the ball back to the 25-yard line, Davante makes up for it, finding the open space in the Dolphins' zone defense, making the catch at the 5 and leaping across the goal line before LB Kiko Alonso can stop him. The 25-yard TD with Adams' 9th of the season, and it made the score 28-12. Other than the 2 TD it was a quiet day for Davante. He finished 57 yards on a season low 4 catches in the 31-12 victory.
One week later .....
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TRIPLE THREAT
Although his dreads certainly weren't at their best, Mike Williams the player absolutely was at his best in Week 15. In a game the Chargers had to win to keep their division title hopes alive, Williams almost single-handedly led them to a thrilling road win over the Chiefs and in the process earned AFC offensive player of the week honors.
102. After the Chargers quickly fell behind 14-0, Williams gets the comeback started with this TD catch. After starting the 75-yard drive with a 38-yard reception, he finishes it 11 plays later, leaping higher than the defender (as always) to make the catch and then hanging on as he is tackled in the end zone by CB Steven Nelson. The 3-yard TD on 2nd and goal brought the Chargers to within 14-7 with 9:43 remaining in the 2nd quarter .....
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Williams' 3rd TD of the game would have tied the score, except the Chargers decided to go for 2 and the win instead of kicking the extra point. And .....
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104. ..... The Chiefs suffer a costly blown coverage on the 2-point conversion, as two defenders cover WR Tyrell Williams on the goal line and leave Mike Williams all alone in the end zone, even though he's been killing them all night. Literally there's no defender within 5 yards of Mike as he makes the catch and then begins to run back toward the middle of the field to celebrate with his teammates after giving the Chargers the win 29-28. Here's the video of "Every Mike Williams Play" from the game, even the two passes to him that were incomplete: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4TIyaLcICw .....
Mike finished with 7 catches for 76 yards along with the 19-yard TD on his only rushing attempt and made the dread stars list for the only time all season. The win not only left the Chargers and Chiefs tied at 11-3, it was the Chargers' first win over KC since Week 17 of 2013, ending a streak of 9 straight losses.
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Williams' big night in Week 15 was the last of 14 times a player with dreads scored at least 3 touchdowns in one game. On one (and only one) of those 14 instances did that player do one better .....
FOUR SCORE
That player was Titans RB Derrick Henry. Through the first 13 weeks of the season Henry hadn't rushed for more than 58 yards in any one game. But that all changed on Thursday night in Week 14, when the Jaguars came to town and took the field with their pants already pulled down ready to take their spanking. Derrick had the best game of his career (so far) and became the only player with dreads to make 4 house calls in one game in 2018.
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And then on his very next carry, coming on the first play of the Titans' next drive after a turnover by the Jaguars .....
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Derrick actually had a chance to score a 5th TD and probably would have had he not been such a humble person. Early in the 4th quarter after an 11-yard run to the 3-yard line he took himself out of the game, preferring to let a teammate score. Then after practically having to be dragged back onto the field on 3rd down, the Jaguars' defense finally showed some fight, stopping him for a 1-yard loss on his finally carry of the game. Roll the highlights please: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjeLOrojZwE .....
For the night Derrick rushed for 238 yards on just 16 carries to set a new franchise record for yards rushing in a game, breaking the mark of 228 set by Chris Johnson in 2009. The Titans won 30-9, defeating the Jaguars at home for the 5th year in a row.
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GAME WINNERS
109. After scoring 18 points in the 4th quarter to overcome a 35-20 deficit in Week 16, the Packers defeat the Jets in overtime, driving 75 yards in 8 plays on the opening possession in OT. On 1st and goal from the 16-yard line (after a holding penalty) WR Davante Adams beats CB Morris Claiborne on a post route and catches QB Aaron Rodgers' pass in the back of the end zone, literally a couple of steps in front of the post, to give Green Bay the win. The 16-yard reception was the longest of the afternoon for Adams, who finished with 11 catches (on 18 targets) for only 71 yards as the Packers defeated the Jets at MetLife Stadium 44-38 for their first and only road win of the season. This was Davante's 13th and last TD of the season.
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110. With the Saints trailing the Panthers 7-6 early in the 4th quarter on Monday night in Week 15 and with the balaclava on his head obscuring his dreads a bit, RB Alvin Kamara scores the Saints' only TD of the night, taking a run off tackle 16 yards to the house on 2nd and 3 to cap an 84-yard drive. Following the TD the Panthers scored a defensive 2-point conversion, but the Saints held on to win 12-9. For Kamara this was his 16th TD of the season. He finished with 103 total yards (67 rushing, 36 receiving) on 21 touches to make his 7th (of 8) appearance on the dread stars list.
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LASTS
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The Chiefs had a bye in Week 12, and then a couple of days later the now infamous video showing him kicking a woman months earlier during the offseason came to light. That incident was sad enough. And just as disappointing was that he thought he could get away with it. If he had just admitted his mistake and told the truth to the Chiefs in the first place, they could have just suspended him but wouldn't have had to release him. But after the Chiefs found out he lied to them, they really had no choice but to send him out the door. And that was a shame because it messed up something really great he and the Chiefs had going.
After doing their investigation the NFL suspended Kareem for the first 8 games of the 2019 season, a suspension which is just now about to end. He scored 25 TD in his 27 games with the Chiefs, but from now on it looks like he'll be making his house calls in a Browns uniform after they signed him back in February.
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And finally .....
115. ..... A Christmas gift to Raiders fans, courtesy of WR Dwayne Harris. On Monday night in Week 16, which happened to be Christmas Eve, Harris scores his 1st TD in a Raiders uniform and the last of the 6 TD scored by players with dreads for the Raiders in 2018. After the Broncos' opening drive ends with a punt on 4th and 12, rookie CB Isaac Yiadom beautifully keeps the ball from going into the end zone but fails to down it completely; and Dwayne sneaks back, scoops up the ball (photo above), eludes a couple of (prematurely) celebrating Broncos players and runs down the sideline in front of the Broncos' bench 99 yards untouched to the house: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qG7ZRXgLvOc
..... After a play like that, it was no surprise that Harris was named AFC special teams player of the week. The TD started a 17-0 run for the Raiders, and they went on to win 27-14. It was the 4th career punt return TD for Dwayne, who had 2 while he was with the Cowboys and 1 while with the Giants.
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