Wake Forest Athletics
#ProDeacs: Week 12 Recap
11/30/2023 1:10:00 PM | Football
Jessie Bates III wins his second NFC Defensive Player of the Week award of the season.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – With just six weeks remaining of the NFL regular season, the playoff picture is beginning to take shape with multiple Demon Deacons playing a major role in the race for the postseason. Here is how our #ProDeacs performed during the slate of week 12 matchups.
Bates III Wins NFC Defensive Player of the Week
For the second time this season, Jessie Bates III took home player of the week honors after his stellar performance in the 24-15 win over division rival New Orleans Saints. Bates III led the team with 12 tackles in addition to two forced turnovers in the red zone. Late in the first quarter, he picked off New Orleans quarterback Derek Carr and ran it back for a 92-yard pick-six to give Atlanta a 7-3 lead. Then, at the end of the third quarter, he punched the ball loose from Taysom Hill before it was recovered by the Falcons at the five-yard line. The offense took advantage on the following drive and went up 21-12.
Bates III became the first player since 2000 to have multiple games of 10-plus tackles, an interception and forced fumble in a single season. He also led the team with a 91.7 ProFootballFocus (PFF) grade.
He became the first player this season to win NFC Defensive Player of the Week twice (Week 1) and just the third player in Falcons history to do so. Additionally, he's the second Wake Forest player to win the award multiple times along with Michael McCrary.
This season, Bates III leads the team in tackles (85), interceptions (four), pass deflections (six), defensive touchdowns (one) and forced fumbles (three). He ranks 25th in the NFL and fourth out of all safeties in tackles. He's also tied for third in the league in interceptions. His 90.5 PFF grade is the fifth-highest in the NFL and second out of all safeties.
Demon Deacons Meet in Phoenix
On Sunday, a pair of Demon Deacons went head-to-head at State Farm Stadium as Kobie Turner's Los Angeles Rams took on Greg Dortch and the Arizona Cardinals. Turner recorded four tackles in the 37-14 victory, including a career-high two sacks, which led the team. Both sacks came on third down for losses of six and 14 yards. The NFL All-Rookie team hopeful also posted his third-highest PFF grade of the season (75.0). He also ranks fourth on the team with four sacks this year. Out of all rookies this season that have played at least 50 percent of their teams' snaps, he has the fourth-highest PFF grade at 73.1, which also ranks second out of rookie defensive lineman.
On the other side of the ball, Dortch continued to have an increased role in the Arizona offense as he hauled in three receptions for 27 yards and a touchdown. With five minutes to go in the fourth quarter, he picked up his first touchdown of the season and third of his career. It was his first score since week 7 of last season.
#ProDeacs Results and Week 13 Slate (All times eastern)
Bates III Wins NFC Defensive Player of the Week
For the second time this season, Jessie Bates III took home player of the week honors after his stellar performance in the 24-15 win over division rival New Orleans Saints. Bates III led the team with 12 tackles in addition to two forced turnovers in the red zone. Late in the first quarter, he picked off New Orleans quarterback Derek Carr and ran it back for a 92-yard pick-six to give Atlanta a 7-3 lead. Then, at the end of the third quarter, he punched the ball loose from Taysom Hill before it was recovered by the Falcons at the five-yard line. The offense took advantage on the following drive and went up 21-12.
Best safety in the league 🫡#ProDeacs 🎩
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) November 27, 2023
pic.twitter.com/mC9nZbvZcS
Bates III became the first player since 2000 to have multiple games of 10-plus tackles, an interception and forced fumble in a single season. He also led the team with a 91.7 ProFootballFocus (PFF) grade.
He became the first player this season to win NFC Defensive Player of the Week twice (Week 1) and just the third player in Falcons history to do so. Additionally, he's the second Wake Forest player to win the award multiple times along with Michael McCrary.
This season, Bates III leads the team in tackles (85), interceptions (four), pass deflections (six), defensive touchdowns (one) and forced fumbles (three). He ranks 25th in the NFL and fourth out of all safeties in tackles. He's also tied for third in the league in interceptions. His 90.5 PFF grade is the fifth-highest in the NFL and second out of all safeties.
Demon Deacons Meet in Phoenix
On Sunday, a pair of Demon Deacons went head-to-head at State Farm Stadium as Kobie Turner's Los Angeles Rams took on Greg Dortch and the Arizona Cardinals. Turner recorded four tackles in the 37-14 victory, including a career-high two sacks, which led the team. Both sacks came on third down for losses of six and 14 yards. The NFL All-Rookie team hopeful also posted his third-highest PFF grade of the season (75.0). He also ranks fourth on the team with four sacks this year. Out of all rookies this season that have played at least 50 percent of their teams' snaps, he has the fourth-highest PFF grade at 73.1, which also ranks second out of rookie defensive lineman.
The Conductor, @TurnerKobie 🎵
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) November 26, 2023
📺: NFL Sunday Ticket On YouTube https://t.co/PSFWWmI8Kk pic.twitter.com/C3c9xEfQij
On the other side of the ball, Dortch continued to have an increased role in the Arizona offense as he hauled in three receptions for 27 yards and a touchdown. With five minutes to go in the fourth quarter, he picked up his first touchdown of the season and third of his career. It was his first score since week 7 of last season.
Whoa go get it, @_GDortch 🔥
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) November 27, 2023
📺: NFL Sunday Ticket On YouTube https://t.co/PSFWWmI8Kk pic.twitter.com/oJLlK9sPOY
#ProDeacs Results and Week 13 Slate (All times eastern)
- Phil Haynes - SEA (6-5)
- This Week: Seattle Seahawks at Dallas Cowboys (Thursday, 8:15 p.m., PRIME)
- Last Week: San Francisco 49ers 31 at Seattle Seahawks 13
- Ja'Sir Taylor and Essang Bassey - LAC (4-7)
- This Week: Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots (Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS)
- Last Week: Baltimore Ravens 20 at Los Angeles Chargers 10
- AT Perry - NO (5-6)
- This Week: Detroit Lions at New Orleans Saints (Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX)
- Last Week: New Orleans Saints 15 at Atlanta Falcons 24
- Zach Tom - GB (5-6)
- This Week:
- Last Week: Green Bay Packers 29 at Detroit Lions 22
- Jessie Bates III - ATL (5-6)
- This Week: Atlanta Falcons at New York Jets (Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX)
- Last Week: New Orleans Saints 15 at Atlanta Falcons 24
- Greg Dortch and Blake Whiteheart - ARI (2-10)
- This Week: Arizona Cardinals at Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS)
- Last Week: Los Angeles Rams 37 at Arizona Cardinals 14
- Alex Bachman - HOU (6-5)
- This Week: Denver Broncos at Houston Texans (Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS)
- Last Week: Jacksonville Jaguars 24 at Houston Texans 21
- Justin Strnad - DEN (6-5)
- This Week: Denver Broncos at Houston Texans (Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS)
- Last Week: Cleveland Browns 12 at Denver Broncos 29
- Luiji Vilain - CAR (1-10)
- This Week: Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sunday, 4:05 p.m., CBS)
- Last Week: Carolina Panthers 10 at Tennessee Titans 17
- John Wolford - TB (4-7)
- This Week: Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sunday, 4:05 p.m., CBS)
- Last Week: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20 at Indianapolis Colts 27
- Kobie Turner - LAR (5-6)
- This Week: Cleveland Browns at Los Angeles Rams (Sunday, 4:25 p.m., FOX)
- Last Week: Los Angeles Rams 37 at Arizona Cardinals 14
- Nate Gilliam - CIN (5-6)
- This Week: Cincinnati Bengals at Jacksonville Jaguars (Monday, 8:15 p.m., ABC/ESPN)
- Last Week: Pittsburgh Steelers 16 at Cincinnati Bengals 10
- Carlos "Boogie" Basham Jr. - NYG (4-8)
- This Week: BYE
- Last Week: New England Patriots 7 at New York Giants 10
- Luke Masterson and Justin Herron - LV (5-7)
- This Week: BYE
- Last Week: Kansas City Chiefs 31 at Las Vegas Raiders 17
- Scotty Washington - BAL (9-3)
- This Week: BYE
- Last Week: Baltimore Ravens 20 at Los Angeles Chargers 10
Players Mentioned
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