Hard to believe we’re already through 12 weeks of the NFL season. This season has certainly looked different with a lack of fans, COVID protocols and multiple game postponements, but there’s still been some really entertaining games.
Speaking of 12, there are 12 former Penn Staters up for Pro Bowl voting:
- Packers safety Adrian Amos
- Giants linebacker Cam Brown
- Titans defensive end Jack Crawford
- Jets kicker Sam Ficken
- Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki
- Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin
- 49ers kicker Robbie Gould
- Titans defensive tackle DaQuan Jones
- Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson II
- Eagles running back Miles Sanders
- Rams special teams ace Nick Scott
- Buccaneers offensive tackle Donovan Smith
Robbie Gould, K, San Francisco 49ers
Don’t look now, but the 49ers are still in the thick of it in the NFC playoff picture.
Former Nittany Lion Robbie Gould nailed the game-winning kick for San Francisco in Sunday’s important win over division foe Los Angeles.
Gould continues to excel at a high level in his 16th season in the NFL and made all three of his field goal attempts.
Cam Brown, LB, New York Giants
In Saquon Barkley’s absence, a Penn Stater has still shined for the first-place (yes, at 4-7) New York Giants. Cam Brown has been an excellent special teams contributor for the Giants this season and made another important play in Sunday’s narrow win over the Bengals.
With his team holding on to a slim lead, Brown made a potentially game-saving tackle on a punt return for Cincinnati by the narrowest of margins.
The tackle might have prevented a score for the Bengals and kept the Giants’ lead in tact.
Mike Gesicki, TE, Miami Dolphins
It’s been a quiet few weeks for Gesicki, and while he didn’t have his most productive in Sunday’s win over the Jets, he got back into the end zone on a 13-yard pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick.
It marked his first touchdown reception since Week Three.
It was only one of two touchdowns in the game and kept Miami within reaching distance of division leaders Buffalo.
Trace McSorley, QB, Baltimore Ravens
Trace McSorley has had to remain patient to get his chance in the NFL. He has after all, sitting behind reigning MVP Lamar Jackson and Robert Griffin III on the depth chart for the Baltimore Ravens.
But this is a strange season that has created strange circumstances. With multiple players out of Wednesday’s game between the Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers, including Jackson, McSorley was suddenly the back up to Griffin III.
RGIII left the game with an injury in the fourth quarter and Trace got his chance. Like he’s done his entire career, he took advantage of the opportunity and gritted out an impressive showing that included his first NFL touchdown pass.
McSorley connected with Hollywood Brown down the sideline and the wide receiver did the rest on a 70 yard pitch and catch.
The Steelers emerged victorious 19-14, but McSorley proved he can hang at the NFL level.
Nittany Lions In The NFL
Baltimore Ravens (1): Trace McSorley
Buffalo Bills (1): Ryan Bates
Carolina Panthers (2): Yetur Gross-Matos, Shareef Miller
Chicago Bears (2): Jordan Lucas, Allen Robinson II
Dallas Cowboys (2): Sean Lee, Connor McGovern
Denver Broncos (2): DaeSean Hamilton, KJ Hamler
Detroit Lions (3): Jason Cabinda, Jesse James, Amani Oruwariye
Green Bay Packers (1): Adrian Amos
Houston Texans (1): John Reid
Indianapolis Colts (1): Robert Windsor
Kansas City Chiefs (1): Stefen Wisniewski
Las Vegas Raiders (2): Nick Bowers, Carl Nassib
Los Angeles Rams (1): Nick Scott
Miami Dolphins (1): Mike Gesicki
Minnesota Vikings (1): Dan Chisena
New Orleans Saints (1): Blake Gillikin
New York Giants (3): Saquon Barkley, Cam Brown, Austin Johnson
New York Jets (1): Sam Ficken, Chris Hogan, Ross Travis
Philadelphia Eagles (2): Miles Sanders, Shareef Miller
Pittsburgh Steelers (1): Marcus Allen
San Francisco 49ers (2): Kevin Givens, Robbie Gould
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3): Chris Godwin, A.Q. Shipley, Donovan Smith
Tennessee Titans (2): Jack Crawford, DaQuan Jones
Washington Football Team (1): Troy Apke
Nittany Lions On NFL Coaching Staffs
Matt Rhule – Carolina Panthers Head Coach
Tom Bradley – Pittsburgh Steelers DBs Coach
Bobby Engram – Baltimore Ravens TEs Coach
Al Golden – Cincinnati Bengals LBs Coach
D’Anton Lynn – Houston Texans Secondary Coach
Mike Munchak – Denver Broncos OL Coach
Jeff Nixon – Carolina Panthers Senior Offensive Assistant
The Football Letter Blog 