Buckeyes in the NFL – Week 17

The Veteran

Before Sunday’s division-clinching win over the Giants, SAF Malcolm Jenkins told his Eagles team to “take what’s ours.” The veteran took those words to heart by forcing a fumble, deflecting a late third-down pass, recording a team-high seven total tackles, and contributing a tackle for loss. In his 11th NFL season, he played every single one of Philly’s defensive snaps. Buckeye Nation should expect to see the Walter Payton Man of the Year Nominee on the field every time his Eagles D takes the field next week, when they host Seattle in the NFC Wild Card round. (Image courtesy: philadelphiaeagles.com)

Malcolm Jenkins and Fletcher Cox come up big for Eagles D!

Leads to Eagles going up 27 to 17

@Eagles
pic.twitter.com/LoBowGZRzs

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) December 30, 2019

Malcolm Jenkins almost had a pick! pic.twitter.com/eMZDpiL9di

— DIE-HARD Fans (@Eaglesfans9) December 30, 2019

Malcolm Jenkins played all 1,034 defensive snaps for the #Eagles this season. It’s his second straight season playing every snap.

Since the 2017 playoffs began, Jenkins has played 2,420 consecutive defensive snaps.

— Dave Zangaro (@DZangaroNBCS) December 30, 2019

The Coach

After Week Six, the Mike Vrabel-led Tennessee Titans owned a 2-4 record and rested toward the bottom of the AFC South. Fast forward to Week 17, when the Titans busted up Houston to earn a Wild Card spot in the AFC, and out comes a natural question. What changed? For starters, the starting quarterback. Vrabel benched former Heisman Trophy winner and second-overall pick Marcus Mariota and inserted veteran Ryan Tannehill. Tennessee went 7-3 following that decision. The Buckeye-turned-signal caller also improved the Titans’ run game, which after 17 weeks ranks third in the NFL. Sunday, when his team needed a W to ensure a playoff berth, Vrabel dialed up a league-leading 245 rushing yards, and his running back Derrick Henry won the rushing title. As the AFC’s sixth seed, Tennessee travels to New England next weekend, and when the Coach of the Year is decided in a few more weeks, don’t be surprised if this former Buckeye receives a few votes. (Image courtesy: titansonline.com)

“You are playing meaningful games in January.”@Bose Victory Speech #TENvsHOU pic.twitter.com/KF7xmRoRDb

— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) December 30, 2019

Vrabel told Henry “you got two carries” to get the rushing title. He went 53 yards on next carry.

— John Glennon (@glennonsports) December 30, 2019

Derrick Henry’s run actually made Mike Vrabel crack a smile, truly incredible. pic.twitter.com/40jAOcDPLP

— NFLonCBS (@NFLonCBS) December 30, 2019

The #Titans brought Mike Vrabel in to make the playoffs and advance the franchise. It’s taken a quarterback change, a steamrolling running back and an unbelievable rookie wide receiver to do it but they’re officially back in the Playoffs. Now Vrabel can advance the franchise.

— Zach Bingham (@Bada_Bingham) December 30, 2019

The Exclamation Point

An Eagles victory officially eliminated Dallas from playoff contention, but that didn’t stop RB Ezekiel Elliott from punctuating his season with an exclamation point. The Cowboys walloped Washington, thanks in large part to Zeke’s efforts on the ground. He earned 122 yards on 18 carries and found the end zone once. He also contributed in the pass game. Though he did finish the contest with a measly two receiving yards, he hauled in a 13-yard TD, giving Elliott his second game this season with both a rushing and receiving score. After Sunday’s performance, Zeke hopped up to second on the 2019 NFL rushing leaders list and finishes his season with 1,357 yards. (Image courtesy: dallascowboys.com)

ZEKE IS FEASTIN’ #FeedZeke @EzekielElliott | #WASvsDAL pic.twitter.com/NiAIvDiJ1f

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) December 29, 2019

With that rushing touchdown, Ezekiel Elliott becomes the fifth Cowboys player to reach 40 in a career.

— Dallas Cowboys Public Relations (@DallasCowboysPR) December 29, 2019

Makes it look EZ@EzekielElliott | #WASvsDAL pic.twitter.com/RPvibAtt0R

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) December 29, 2019

The Steady Force

Because of the Bengals’ underwhelming season, you probably didn’t hear that DE Sam Hubbard earned 8.5 sacks, 10 TFL, and 76 total tackles. During Sunday’s W over the Browns, his team’s second win of the year, Hubbard registered 1.5 sacks, a TFL, and six tackles (three solo and three assisted), maintaining his impact on games as a part of the Bengals D. The Cincinnati native finishes his second pro season ranked second on the team in sacks and TFL as well as fourth in total tackles. (Image courtesy: bengals.com)

Applying pressure and getting sack with my guy Captain America @Sam_Hubbard_ aka Sauce God. They cut his Ohio St celebration short. I had no clue what I was taking picture of anyway ? pic.twitter.com/06DH7OLbDp

— Carlos Dunlap (@Carlos_Dunlap) December 30, 2019

Sam Hubbard threw up the O-H after the sack @Sam_Hubbard_ @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/LIgkID5h3u

— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) December 29, 2019

The Warden

On the other side of the Battle for Ohio, Cleveland CB Denzel Ward turned in an impressive performance. By adding an INT Sunday, he’s now intercepted two passes this season. Both against the Bengals. His first pick against them ended in his first defensive TD as a pro. On Sunday, Ward led the Browns in tackles for the game with six solo stops, marking a season-high for solo tackles in a game. He started the final 10 weeks of the Browns’ season after missing time due to injury and finishes 2019 with 44 tackles, 11 passes defended, a tackle for loss, and a fumble recovery in 12 games played. (Image courtesy: browns.com)

.@denzelward with the takeaway pic.twitter.com/K3lvomV3mf

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 29, 2019

John Ross is a burner yet Denzel Ward ran that route as if he was the receiver. Great work by 21.

— Scott @ WFNY (@WFNYScott) December 29, 2019

PLAYOFFS?!

Playoffs! 20 former Buckeyes are represented in the postseason, and 17 of them are preparing for Wild Card weekend. Buckeyes are missing from only the Titans’ and Ravens’ rosters. The defending champs face Buckeye-turned-Patriot-turned-Titans coach Vrabel. The loaded and Buckeye-laden Saints host Minnesota, and the 10-win Bills travel to Houston. Jenkins and his 9-7 Eagles welcome Seattle. The Ravens and Chiefs rank Nos. 1 and 2 in the AFC and get a bye, just like the experienced Packers and Nick Bosa’s 49ers in the NFC.