Cal Football in the NFL, week 12: Jordan Feasts on Thanksgiving Night
Former Cal football star Cameron Jordan ate well on Thanksgiving night, leading former Bears who took the field in the NFL in week 12.
On Thanksgiving, former Cal football standout Cameron Jordan feasted on his favorite meal: Falcon. The Saints defensive end made life very difficult for Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan, something he has done many times in the past.
Facing their NFC South rivals, the Saints won their 10th straight game and Jordan had plenty to do with another strong defensive performance. He totaled four tackles against Atlanta, three of which went for losses, and sacked Ryan twice. Jordan’s three tackles for loss resulted in 14 yards lost for the Falcons’ offense.
On Atlanta’s opening drive, Jordan snuffed out an outside run, dropping Tevin Coleman for a five-yard loss. His first sack came in the second quarter after Ryan was able to escape some earlier pressure, and Jordan dropped Ryan again in the fourth quarter for a seven-yard loss. Both of Jordan’s sacks came on third down.
For the year, Jordan has 13 tackles for loss (tied for fourth in the NFL) and eight sacks (tied for 14th). Jordan is the Saints’ all-time leader with 93 tackles for loss, and is tied for fourth with 67.5 sacks. Thursday marked his 13th career two-sack game, and his fifth such game against the Falcons. He’s sacked Matt Ryan 14 times, by far his most against a single quarterback.
Zo Train
Lorenzo Alexander had another big day for the Bills on Sunday. The 35-year-old Alexander picked up eight tackles, seven solo stops, and two tackles for loss. He also recorded a sack and two pass defenses as Buffalo beat the Jaguars.
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On Jacksonville’s second play of their second drive, Alexander batted a Blake Bortles pass down at the line. In the third quarter, Alexander tackled Carlos Hyde for a one-yard loss at the goal line, keeping him out of the endzone and forcing Jacksonville to eventually settle for a field goal attempt, which was no good. On the Jags’ final drive, he batted another pass at the line and recorded his sack.
Sunday marked Alexander’s 170th game in the NFL, and he now has 30 sacks. 21 of those sacks have come with Buffalo, 15th-most in franchise history. He also has 38 tackles for loss, tying him with Tyson Alualu for sixth-most by a Golden Bear in the NFL.
Charging Ahead
As Philip Rivers set records by completing his first 25 passes of Sunday’s game against the Cardinals, Chargers receiver Keenan Allen had another great day. He caught seven passes for 72 yards, including a touchdown. He’s caught at least six passes in four straight games, and has a touchdown in three straight games for the third time in his career.
Through 11 games, Allen has 69 receptions and 848 yards, putting him on pace for his second consecutive 100-reception, 1,000-yard season. Within the next couple weeks, Allen should surpass 400 career catches and 5,000 career yards. His 26 receiving touchdowns also moves him past Sean Dawkins for sixth-most by a former Bear in the NFL.
Tough Day for Green Bay
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Things aren’t going too well in Green Bay. Former Cal QB Aaron Rodgers is still leading the Packers, but it’s a depleted group that has players getting hurt in every position group. The Packers lost again on Sunday night, this time to the Vikings, despite Rodgers’ best efforts. He went 17-for-28 passing for 198 yards and a touchdown, but it wasn’t enough.
Rodgers still isn’t turning the ball over, though. Despite an offensive line and receiving group that have both been hit by injuries, Rodgers has thrown one interception in 413 pass attempts this year. His 0.24% interception rate is on pace to be the lowest over a full season in NFL history.
One of those injured Packers from Sunday night was special teams ace Trevor Davis. He had a 13-yard punt return in the first quarter and made a beautiful tackle as a gunner on a Green Bay punt, but that all came in the first half. He did not return to the game in the second half, dealing with a hamstring injury. A former Golden Bear as well, Davis was just activated off injured reserve ahead of the Packers’ previous game.
Davis joins the growing list of injured Bears in the NFL. Lions receiver Marvin Jones was placed on injured reserve on Monday because of a knee injury, becoming the fourth Golden Bear on IR. Bucs safety Chris Conte, Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch, and Patriots lineman Brian Schwenke are also stuck on IR. Davis and Richard Rodgers (Eagles) were on IR as well, but have been activated in recent weeks.
Next. Pro Bears, week 11: Rams, Goff Win Shootout. dark
Cowboys long snapper L.P. Ladouceur played his 216th consecutive game on Thursday, eight shy of the record for a long snapper. His 216 games in a Cowboys uniform are the fourth-most in Dallas history, just one behind safety Bill Bates. Ladouceur also surpassed 2,000 career snaps on kicks and punts.