Wolverine Watch: NFL Week 14

It was a rematch the entire NFL world waited all season for. The Patriots facing the Chiefs ten months after the Patriots upset the top seeded Chiefs in Kansas City last January en route to winning the Super Bowl. In a game that featured three former Wolverines, one stood tall above the rest as Kansas City clinched its fourth consecutive AFC West division championship.

Clark’s sack of Brady late in the first half was a highlight on a day where he finished with four total tackles including the sack and another tackle for a loss. The story becomes even greater when you learn the circumstances Clark played under this week. Per Peter Schrager of Fox Sports, Clark suffered from a terrible stomach virus this week that saw him spend time in the hospital and drop 12 pounds during the week. Twelve. Pounds.

By the time the game went final and the Chiefs celebrated, Clark provided a different perspective, and a quote that could become a rallying cry for a rejuvenated Chiefs defense as Kansas City challenges for AFC supremacy after falling just short of a Super Bowl last year.

For his achievements on the field, and his quotables off it, Frank Clark earns the Wolverine Watch helmet sticker for this week, his third on the season.

On the opposite side of the ball, it was another terrible, no good, very bad outing for Patriots QB Tom Brady in what’s been an off year for one of the best of all time. Brady went 19 for 36 with 169 passing yards with one touchdown and one interception. He and the Patriots will seek a rebound performance against the listless Cincinnati Bengals in Week 15.

Mason Cole saw extended action for the Arizona Cardinals in their home loss to the Steelers. With starting guard J.R Sweezy battling illness, Cole stepped in, and finished the game as the Cardinals highest rated offensive player according to Pro Football Focus. Graham Glasgow started for the Detroit Lions in the Motor City Kitties 20-7 loss in Minneapolis. Glasgow played 87% of the offensive snaps but the Lions found little success in rushing and passing the ball against the Vikings defense. Michael Schofield III played every snap in the Chargers demolition of the Jaguars in Jacksonville. Los Angeles racked up 525 total yards on offense in the 45-10 victory. Patrick Omameh started a second consecutive game for the New Orleans Saints at left tackle. Omameh played all 50 offensive snaps but the Saints lost a heartbreaker at home to the 49ers, losing 48-46 as San Francisco hit a buzzer beating field goal.Taylor Lewan made the start in the Titans road win over the Raiders. Perhaps the highlight of his day was getting to greet his podcast co-host, Raiders linebacker Will Compton, after the game.

In addition to Frank Clark’s sack of Tom Brady, Raiders defensive tackle Maurice Hurst made a play that every football fan loves: a big man interception. He picked off Titans QB Ryan Tannehill early in the first quarter thanks to a batted ball by former Eastern Michigan defensive lineman Maxx Crosby.

Unfortunately for Hurst, he ran out of steam before he was able to become the fifth Michigan defensive product to score a touchdown on the season (Bush, Lewis, Peppers, Winovich.) Chris Wormley finished with two tackles as the Ravens edged the Bills 24-17 in Buffalo. Chase Winovich collected two tackles in the Patriots home loss to the Chiefs. Brandon Graham had just one tackle on Monday Night Football in the Eagles wild 23-17 overtime win against the Giants.

Rashan Gary led all former Wolverine linebackers on the week. The Green Bay Packers rookie had three tackles including one for a loss. It was a quiet week for fellow rookie Devin Bush, the potential defensive rookie of the year notched just two tackles for the Steelers in Pittsburgh’s road win over Arizona.

Jourdan Lewis continued his recent trend of making highlight plays for the Dallas Cowboys. After collecting two sacks and a pass breakup on Thanksgiving, Lewis intercepted Bears QB Mitch Trubisky at the goal line on Thursday Night Football with an athletic play that saw him dragging his feet to stay in bounds.

The interception was Lewis’ second on the season and first since week six against the Jets. Jarrod Wilson collected five tackles and broke up a pass in the Jacksonville Jaguars 45-10 home loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Inactives/DNP/No Stats

Taco Charlton (Healthy Scratch) - Miami Dolphins - Charlton being inactive was a “game plan decision” according to Dolphins coach Brian Flores.

Zach Gentry (Healthy Scratch) - Pittsburgh Steelers

Ben Gedeon - Minnesota Vikings - After suffering a second concussion on the year, the Vikings placed Gedeon on injured reserve Saturday, ending his 2019 season.

Lano Hill - Seattle Seahawks - Hill did not log any stats in the Seahawks loss to the Rams but did see decent playing time in passing packages.

David Long (healthy scratch) - Los Angeles Rams

Jabrill Peppers (back) New York Giants - Peppers missed his second game of the season as the Giants lost in Philadelphia.

Brandon Watson - Jacksonville Jaguars - Watson did not record any stats in the Jags loss to the Chargers.

WW Helmet Sticker Count:

Offense:

G. Glasgow- 2

M. Cole - 1

Defense:

D. Bush - 3

F. Clark - 3

J. Lewis - 3

B. Graham - 2

J. Peppers - 2

C. Winovich - 2

T. Charlton - 1

R. Gary - 1