Deacons in the NFL - Weeks 13-14
12/15/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 15, 2010
By Currie McFayden, WakeForestSports.com
In Weeks 13 and 14, the two dominant teams in each conference finally emerged: New England in the AFC and Atlanta in the NFC. Unless these teams collapse in the final three weeks of the regular season, they will each likely hold home-field advantage in the playoffs.
For former Demon Deacons, the solid play that has defined this season continued, but two players also went down with injuries and were placed on injured reserve. Brandon Ghee's groin injury in Week 11 ultimately forced Cincinnati to end his season, and the breakout player of the season, Alphonso Smith, was placed on the reserve list after re-injuring his right shoulder during Week 13.
Here is a player-by-player look at how the Deacons fared in Weeks 13 and 14.
OT Tyson Clabo, Atlanta Falcons
The five-year veteran has continued his high-end play as the Falcons' mainstay at right tackle in the last two weeks. In a crucial division game against Tampa Bay during Week 13, Clabo and his fellow linemen did not surrender a sack. Although they gave up two sacks against the Panthers in Week 14, they also opened huge running lanes for RB Michael Turner, who ran for 112 yards and a season-high three touchdowns. The Falcons (11-2) still hold first place in the NFC South but have a looming showdown against the Saints on December 27 that could decide which team clinches home-field advantage for the playoffs.
TE Desmond Clark, Chicago Bears
Clark did not play in either of Chicago's last two games. Barring a comeback for the final three weeks of the season, his one catch this year will be his fewest since his rookie season with Denver in 1999. Poised for free agency at the end of the season, his history alone could draw interest from teams looking for veteran leadership. The Bears (9-4) lead the NFC North and appear to be headed for the playoffs for the first time since their Super Bowl run in 2006-07.
LB Aaron Curry, Seattle Seahawks
With his great play in Weeks 13 and 14, Curry has statistically performed at a higher level than during his rookie season. In the two games (a 31-14 win over Carolina and a 40-21 loss to the 49ers), the second-year linebacker notched 14 tackles and a sack, giving him 62 tackles and four sacks on the season. By starting both games, he has also started all 13 games this season, one more start than he had in 2009-10. Under coach Pete Carroll, Curry has evolved from a solid outside linebacker to a true leader of Seattle's defense with the ability to rush the passer and make the explosive plays that so many have expected of him. Seattle (6-7) remains tied with St. Louis atop the NFC West but would not win the division at this point due to a loss earlier in the season to the Rams.
OG Chris DeGeare, Minnesota Vikings
The combination of Coach Leslie Frazier taking the reins of the team and long-time starter Steve Hutchinson going down with an injury gave DeGeare his first two career starts against Buffalo (a 38-14 win) and the New York Giants (a 21-3 defeat). As a unit, the Vikings allowed only a single sack against the Bills. The team was thrown into disarray against New York, though, as QB Brett Favre missed his first start since 1992. The offensive line gave up four sacks to a strong Giants pass rush, and the offense could not get rolling with Tarvaris Jackson under center. Overall, DeGeare has done an excellent job filling in for a future Hall of Famer under these circumstances. Minnesota (5-8) holds third place in the NFC North but is statistically eliminated from the playoff picture.
CB Eric King, Cleveland Browns
King was inactive for Cleveland's Week 13 victory over Miami but returned to action during the Browns' 13-6 loss to the Bills. Playing strictly on the kickoff coverage team, he did not make any tackles in Week 14. The Browns (5-8) are all but eliminated from playoff contention in the strong AFC but are positioned well for next season and into the future with players like RB Peyton Hillis and QB Colt McCoy.
FB Ovie Mughelli, Atlanta Falcons
The fullback has broken out of his usual pattern of blocking over the past two weeks, rushing once for three yards and catching three passes for 48 yards and a touchdown. That reception marked just the fifth touchdown of his seven-year career. The more versatile role did not limit Mughelli's typical blocking impact either. He remains one of the most underrated players on the entire Falcons team and has played an important role in their success so far this season.
LB Calvin Pace, New York Jets
Despite the disaster in Week 13's 45-3 loss to New England and another close defeat, 10-6, against Miami, Pace has maintained his solid level of play. He recorded four tackles in each game, giving him 41 in just nine games this season. He also had a sack and a forced fumble on the same play against the Dolphins. The forced fumble was his first of the season, and the sack gave him a total of 4.5 on the year. With tough games against Pittsburgh and Chicago in the next two weeks, the Jets (9-4) would need at least two losses by the Patriots to win the AFC East, but New York remains in a good position to grab one of the wild card playoff spots.
DT Fred Robbins, St. Louis Rams
Robbins's two sacks in the Week 13 win, 19-6, over Arizona gave him five for the season, and the four-sack showing by the Rams' defense forced the Cardinals to turn to rookie QB John Skelton to finish the game after Robbins sacked Max Hall and forced a fumble, his first of the season. Although the veteran was unable to carry the momentum into Week 14's 31-13 defeat at New Orleans, he showed that he is still very capable of anchoring a defensive line. The Rams (6-7) lead the NFC West and hold the tiebreaker over the Seahawks.
OG Steve Vallos, Cleveland Browns
Vallos was active and saw playing time in each of Cleveland's games and has now played in four games this season, with all of them coming in the past four weeks. The fourth-year veteran has come off the bench in each game, as the Browns have gone 2-2 during the stretch.
LS Joe Zelenka, Atlanta Falcons
Zelenka continues to anchor Atlanta's kicking game, and kicker Matt Bryant continues to deliver. He attempted just one field goal, a successful 39-yarder, in the last two games but converted all eight of his extra point attempts. His field goal percentage (89.3 percent) is the highest in his career for seasons in which he has kicked 10 or more field goals.
Players on NFL Practice Squads
LB John Russell, Buffalo Bills
Players on Injured Reserve (out for the season)
LB Stanley Arnoux, New Orleans Saints
CB Brandon Ghee, Cincinnati Bengals
CB Alphonso Smith, Detroit Lions
LB Jyles Tucker, San Diego Chargers
S Chip Vaughn, Indianapolis Colts
