We have reached the last week of the NFL's regular season. In a year marked with challenges, the NFL found a way to play all of their scheduled games, and with that, it gave plenty of opportunities for former Buckeyes to shine.
Let's take a look at some of the best performances from Week 17.
Dobbins Scores in Sixth Straight Game
After a cold start to the year, J.K. Dobbins turned it up when it mattered most. Dobbins capped off his impressive second half with a career-high 160 yards and two touchdowns, setting a franchise record for touchdowns by a rookie in the process.
After his first touchdown of the game, Dobbins hit an "O-H," a homage to the crowd in Cincinnati (which, in fact, is in Ohio, contrary to the belief of some!)
J.K. Dobbins scores a touchdown in the sixth-straight game and he hits that "O-H celebration. pic.twitter.com/39lCpliRAr
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) January 3, 2021
In addition to his personal record, Dobbins helped the Ravens set a new franchise record with a whopping 404 rushing yards.
Dobbins and the Ravens clinched a playoff berth with their win over the Bengals, setting a date with the Tennessee Titans in Nashville next week.
Malcolm Jenkins and Marshon Lattimore Record Interceptions
The Saints have been known for the last few years for the number of Buckeyes on their roster, and as such, a lot of their big plays are made by former Buckeyes!
Sunday was no different, as Marshon Lattimore and Malcolm Jenkins both snagged interceptions (two of five total for the Saints in the game) in New Orleans' blowout win over the Carolina Panthers.
There goes @MalcolmJenkins
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) January 3, 2021
47 yards the other way! | : Fox pic.twitter.com/ZxjudbDZud
LATTY #SAINTS ball! | : Fox pic.twitter.com/zQSNOD1Aj4
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) January 3, 2021
Ironically, the tackle on Jenkins' interception was made by former Buckeye Curtis Samuel, who was also the target on the Lattimore interception.
McLaurin, Young Help Washington Clinch NFC East
Terry McLaurin and Chase Young are two of the best young players in the NFL, and they showed it last night, as Washington defeated Philadelphia to clinch the NFC East and therefore a playoff berth.
McLaurin recorded seven catches for 40 yards and this touchdown, which proved to be the game winner as the score was just 20-14.
The touchdown cool, but watch Terry McLaurin breakout the Al "Pool Boy" Johnson
— Stadium (@Stadium) January 4, 2021
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/iJC0wDXsOq
The touchdown also put McLaurin over 2,000 yards for his career in just two seasons, becoming the second player in franchise history to achieve that feat.
On the other side of the ball, Chase Young continued his impressive rookie season with a sack, three QB hits, and a pivotal fumble recovery.
He has proven to be a leader for Washington in just his rookie season, and was enjoying the result after the game.
Chase Young, who had three QB hits, two tackles, one for a loss, one sack and one fumble recovery, taking the moment in at Lincoln Financial.
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) January 4, 2021
Came back out the tunnel after everyone was long gone and hung out on FaceTime enjoying the final result. pic.twitter.com/3bx2BTBtKW
Washington will host Tampa Bay next week in the first round of the playoffs.
| Player | Pos | Team | Week 5 Stats | Season Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NICK BOSA | DE | 49ERS | OUT FOR SEASON (TORN ACL) | 6 TACKLES, 1 FORCED FUMBLE, 1 QB HIT |
| TED GINN JR. | WR | BEARS | RELEASED | 3 CATCHES, 40 YARDS; 5 PUNT RETURNS, 24 YARDS |
| VONN BELL | S | BENGALS | 3 TACKLES | 82 TACKLES |
| SAM HUBBARD | DE | BENGALS | 5 TACKLES, 1 QB HIT | 59 TACKLES, 5 TFL, 2 SACKS, 9 QB HITS |
| MICHAEL JORDAN | OG | BENGALS | PLAYED ON SPECIAL TEAMS | 11 STARTS |
| BILLY PRICE | OL | BENGALS | PLAYED ON OFFENSE AND SPECIAL TEAMS | 14 GAMES PLAYED, 1 START |
| DRE'MONT JONES | DT | BRONCOS | 6 TACKLES, 1.5 SACK, 2 QB HITS | 41 TACKLES, 10 QB HITS, 6.5 SACKS |
| NICK VANNETT | TE | BRONCOS | PLAYED ON OFFENSE | 13 CATCHES, 89 YARDS, 1 TD |
| DENZEL WARD | CB | BROWNS | INACTIVE (COVID-19) | 46 TACKLES, 2 INT, 16 PASS DEFLECTIONS |
| MIKE NUGENT | K | CARDINALS | 0-1 FG, 1-1 XP | 7-8 FG, 7-8 XP |
| JOEY BOSA | DE | CHARGERS | INACTIVE (CONCUSSION) | 38 TACKLES, 14 TFL, 7.5 SACKS, 27 QB HITS |
| K.J. HILL | WR | CHARGERS | PLAYED ON SPECIAL TEAMS | 6 CATCHES, 64 YARDS; 9 PUNT RETURNS, 73 YARDS |
| PARRIS CAMPBELL | WR | COLTS | INJURED RESERVE (KNEE) | 6 CATCHES, 71 YARDS, 1 TD; 2 CARRIES, 16 YARDS |
| MALIK HOOKER | S | COLTS | INJURED RESERVE (ACHILLES) | 7 TACKLES |
| TYQUAN LEWIS | DT | COLTS | PLAYED ON DEFENSE AND SPECIAL TEAMS | 24 TACKLES, 4 SACKS |
| NOAH BROWN | WR | COWBOYS | PLAYED ON OFFENSE AND SPECIAL TEAMS | 9 CATCHES, 99 YARDS |
| EZEKIEL ELLIOTT | RB | COWBOYS | 14 CARRIES, 42 YARDS, 1 TD; 3 CATCHES, 19 YARDS | 244 CARRIES, 979 YARDS, 6 TD; 50 CATCHES, 326 YARDS, 2 TD |
| JEROME BAKER | LB | DOLPHINS | 4 TACKLES | 100 TACKLES, 5 TFL, 7 SACKS, 2 FORCED FUMBLE, 2 PASS DEFLECTIONS, 10 QB HITS |
| CAMERON JOHNSTON | P | EAGLES | 5 PUNTS, 45.2 AVG, 2 INSIDE 20 | 66 PUNTS, 48.9 YARDS PER PUNT, 25 PUNTS INSIDE 20 |
| KENDALL SHEFFIELD | CB | FALCONS | 5 TACKLES | 50 TACKLES, 3 PASS DEFLECTIONS |
| NATE EBNER | S | GIANTS | 1 TACKLE | 7 TACKLES |
| AUSTIN MACK | WR | GIANTS | 1 CATCH, 9 YARDS | 7 CATCHES, 91 YARDS |
| DAVON HAMILTON | DT | JAGUARS | INJURED RESERVE (KNEE) | 30 TACKLES, 1 SACK, 3 QB HITS |
| ANDREW NORWELL | OG | JAGUARS | STARTED AT LEFT GUARD | 14 STARTS |
| PAT ELFLEIN | OG | JETS | STARTED AT LEFT GUARD | 6 STARTS |
| TAYLOR DECKER | OT | LIONS | STARTED AT LEFT TACKLE | 16 STARTS |
| JONAH JACKSON | OG | LIONS | STARTED AT LEFT GUARD | 16 STARTS |
| JEFF OKUDAH | CB | LIONS | INJURED RESERVE (SHOULDER) | 40 TACKLES, 3 TFL, 1 INT |
| COREY LINSLEY | C | PACKERS | STARTED AT CENTER | 12 STARTS |
| ELI APPLE | CB | PANTHERS | RELEASED | 4 TACKLES |
| CURTIS SAMUEL | WR | PANTHERS | 3 CARRIES, 3 YARDS; 7 CATCHES, 118 YARDS | 77 CATCHES, 851 YARDS, 3 TD; 41 CARRIES, 200 YARDS, 2 TD'S |
| RASHOD BERRY | DE | PATRIOTS | 1 TACKLE | 1 TACKLE |
| JOHN SIMON | DE | PATRIOTS | 1 TACKLE | 49 TACKLES, 2 SACKS, 4 QB HITS |
| DAMON ARNETTE | CB | RAIDERS | 3 TACKLES, 1 TFL | 35 TACKLES, 2 PASS DEFLECTIONS |
| JOHNATHAN HANKINS | DT | RAIDERS | 7 TACKLES | 45 TACKLES, 2 QB HITS, 1 SACK |
| RAEKWON MCMILLAN | LB | RAIDERS | 4 TACKLES, 1 PASS DEFENSED | 22 TACKLES, 1 TFL |
| JORDAN FULLER | S | RAMS | 5 TACKLES | 60 TACKLES, 3 INTERCEPTIONS |
| JAKE MCQUAIDE | LS | RAMS | PLAYED ON SPECIAL TEAMS | 14 GAMES PLAYED |
| J.K. DOBBINS | RB | RAVENS | 13 CARRIES, 160 YARDS, 2 TD | 134 CARRIES, 805 YARDS, 9 TD; 18 CATCHES, 103 YARDS |
| MALIK HARRISON | LB | RAVENS | 1 TACKLE | 33 TACKLES, 1 PASS DEFLECTION |
| MALCOLM JENKINS | S | SAINTS | 4 TACKLES, 1 INT | 87 TACKLES, 6 TFL, 2.5 SACKS, 9 PASS DEFLECTIONS, 3 INT |
| MARSHON LATTIMORE | CB | SAINTS | 1 INTERCEPTION | 60 TACKLES, 2 TFL, 2 INT |
| MICHAEL THOMAS | WR | SAINTS | INJURED RESERVE (ANKLE) | 37 CATCHES, 383 YARDS |
| CARLOS HYDE | RB | SEAHAWKS | INACTIVE (REST) | 81 CARRIES, 356 YARDS, 3 TDS; 16 CATCHES, 93 YARDS |
| JAMARCO JONES | OL | SEAHAWKS | INJURED RESERVE (GROIN) | 9 GAME APPEARANCES, 1 START |
| CAM HEYWARD | DE | STEELERS | INACTIVE (REST) | 43 TACKLES, 3 SACKS, 1 INT, 1 PASS DEFLECTION, 12 QB HITS |
| GAREON CONLEY | CB | TEXANS | INJURED RESERVE (ANKLE) | HAS NOT PLAYED |
| BRADLEY ROBY | CB | TEXANS | SUSPENDED (PED'S) | 37 TACKLES, 1 INT, 7 PASS DEFLECTIONS |
| JALYN HOLMES | DE | VIKINGS | INACTIVE (GROIN) | 34 TACKLES, 2 TFL, 1 PASS DEFLECTION, 5 QB HITS |
| MARCUS BAUGH | TE | WASHINGTON | PRACTICE SQUAD | 1 CATCH, 2 YARDS |
| DWAYNE HASKINS | QB | WASHINGTON | RELEASED | 148/241 PASSING, 1439 YARDS, 12 TD, 14 INT; 16 CARRIES, 58 YARDS, 1 TD |
| TERRY MCLAURIN | WR | WASHINGTON | 7 CATCHES, 40 YARDS, 1 TD | 87 CATCHES, 1,118 YARDS, 4 TDS; 1 CARRY, 3 YARDS |
| CHASE YOUNG | DE | WASHINGTON | 2 TACKLES, 1 SACK, 1 RECOVERED FUMBLE | 39 TACKLES, 11.5 TFL, 6.5 SACKS, 4 FORCED FUMBLES, 1 TD |
