Deacons in the NFL - Weeks 13 and 14
12/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 14, 2011
By Currie McFayden, WakeForestSports.com
With three weeks remaining in the regular season, the playoff race in both conferences remains just as jumbled as ever. Undefeated Green Bay is all but locked in for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs in the NFC, but four teams in the AFC share a conference-best 10-3 record, meaning that byes and division championships could go undecided through the final week of the season. All but two of the Deacons currently on active rosters play for teams that would currently make the playoffs or that sit just a single game out of a spot.
The last two weeks for the former Deacons were highlighted by the re-emergence of Alphonso Smith, whose two-interception performance helped Detroit to clinch a win against Minnesota in Week 14. Tyson Clabo enjoyed a solid two weeks as well, as Atlanta's offensive line helped to give former Boston College QB Matt Ryan a career day in a win over the Panthers last week.
Here is a player-by-player look at how the former Deacons fared in Weeks 13 and 14.
OT Tyson Clabo, Atlanta Falcons
Despite taking a 17-10 loss in Week 13 to the Texans, the Falcons bounced back this past Sunday with a big win over Carolina, 31-23. Clabo and the offensive line struggled a bit against the Panthers' strong pass rush, surrendering three sacks, but have still posted outstanding protection numbers for the season. They have allowed only 12 sacks in their last 10 games, a stretch in which the team has gone 7-3. Ryan tossed a career-best four touchdowns against Carolina and is well on pace for the first 4,000-yard season of his pro career. Atlanta (8-5) is in second place in the NFC South and trails New Orleans by two games, but would earn a wild-card spot for the playoffs if the season ended today. They will travel to Florida to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-9) in Week 15's Thursday night matchup, marking the third time this season that the weeknight game features at least one former Deacon.
LB Aaron Curry, Oakland Raiders
Playing without several key pieces on offense, including star RB Darren McFadden, the Raiders have suffered back-to-back losses against Miami (34-14) and Green Bay (46-16). Curry notched five tackles, including one for a loss, in the matchup with the Dolphins, but was held to just a single takedown against the Packers. With the tackle for loss, the third-year linebacker tied his career-high mark as it was his fifth on the season, all five of which have come since he was acquired by Oakland after Week 5. The Raiders (7-6), whose postseason drought looked to be all but over through Week 12, suddenly find themselves in second place, a game behind Denver in the AFC West. With a visit from the Detroit Lions (8-5) late Sunday afternoon, Oakland will look to turn its fortunes around with a victory.
CB Brandon Ghee, Cincinnati Bengals
While Ghee has been active for Cincinnati's last two games, he has played only on special teams and did not record any statistics. The Bengals could not solve Pittsburgh's defense in Week 13, falling to their division rivals by a final score of 35-7. Last week, they suffered a heartbreaker at the hands of the Texans and rookie QB T.J. Yates, as the North Carolina product threw a touchdown as time expired to cap a 20-19 victory for Houston. Cincinnati (7-6) remains very much in the AFC playoff hunt as they sit just a game behind the Jets for the final wild-card spot. They will travel to St. Louis to face the Rams (2-11) in one of this Sunday's early afternoon tilts.
LB Calvin Pace, New York Jets
New York is trending in the right direction with the season drawing to a close by winning their last three games, including a 34-19 win on the road against Washington and a 37-10 victory over Kansas City in the last two weeks. Pace has continued his high level of play as well, racking up 10 tackles, a half-sack and a pass breakup in those two games. The 2003 first-rounder now has at least four tackles in each of his last five games, his second-longest such streak since arriving in New York in 2008. For the season, Pace has 60 tackles, good for third on the team, and his 4.5 sacks trail only Aaron Maybin. The Jets (8-5) currently hold the final wild-card spot in the AFC and will travel to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles (5-8) in Week 15.
DT Fred Robbins, St. Louis Rams
Robbins made one tackle in the Rams' 26-0 loss to San Francisco in Week 13 before being inactive due to injury in Week 14 as St. Louis fell to Seattle, 30-13. That was the first game that Robbins has missed since the 2008 season when he was still a member of the Giants. Regardless, even at the age of 34, he has provided excellent defense along the interior of the line, plugging up holes to allow for the speedier defensive ends to reach the opposing quarterback. St. Louis (2-11) has been eliminated from the playoff picture but could easily play a spoiler role as their remaining three games come against Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and a rematch with the 49ers, all teams which are attempting to make or improve their seeding in the playoffs.
CB Alphonso Smith, Detroit Lions
More than a year removed from his last interception, Smith has burst back onto the scene in the last two weeks thanks to injuries in Detroit's secondary. He recorded three tackles and a pass breakup in a 31-17 loss to New Orleans two weeks ago, but perhaps his best game as a professional came against Minnesota last Sunday as he dominated defensively with five tackles, three pass breakups, and two interceptions, one of which was returned for a 30-yard touchdown, the second defensive score of Smith's career. The third-year cornerback has proven that he can be a playmaker in his first two seasons in Detroit, something that bodes well for his future in the league. The Lions (8-5) will face off with Oakland and Smith's former teammate Aaron Curry in Week 15.
OT Steve Vallos, Cleveland Browns
The veteran offensive lineman has been inactive for the Browns' last two games: losses to Baltimore (24-10) and Pittsburgh (14-3). Of his 40 career appearances, just one has come this year as he was called into action following Alex Mack's appendectomy in Week 6. Vallos remains a key reserve for this Browns squad that, like the Rams, has a chance to spoil the playoff hopes of their final three opponents. Cleveland (4-9) will face Arizona, Baltimore and Pittsburgh over the final three weeks in potential must-win games for those teams to secure a playoff spot.
LS Joe Zelenka, Atlanta Falcons
Zelenka's great run with Atlanta's special teams unit continued over the last two weeks with his reliable long snapping. Kicker Matt Bryant missed only his second kick of the season against the Panthers, a 46-yarder late in the third quarter. Luckily, the Falcons managed to pull out a victory despite the missed field goal. Still, Bryant's 91.3 percent success rate is the highest of his career for seasons in which he has attempted at least 10 kicks. In 34 games with Atlanta, he is 56-of-64 (87.5 percent) and has been one of the top kickers in the league over that span.
Deacons on Injured Reserve (out for the season)
FB Ovie Mughelli, Atlanta Falcons
Deacons on NFL Practice Squads
OG Chris DeGeare, Minnesota Vikings
