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NFL Owls – Week 15
12/24/2020 11:02:00 AM | Football
BOCA RATON, Fla. – FAUSports.com is proud to update our fans on the exploits of all of the former Owls who are lacing their cleats up each week in the NFL. Here's a rundown of how each performed during the 15th week of the 2020 NFL season:
(All gametimes listed below are Eastern)
Active Owls (10)
#51 Azeez Al-Shaair | LB | San Francisco 49ers
- Al-Shaair played a combined 50 snaps on Sunday. He had all four of his tackles – two solo and two assists – among his 21 snaps at linebacker, and was in on a season-high 29 special teams plays, or 76%. In a high-scoring affair, the 49ers lost to Dallas, 41-33.
49ers' Record: 5-9
Next game: at Arizona – Saturday, 4:30 p.m. (Amazon Prime Video)
#88 Harrison Bryant | TE | Cleveland Browns
- Bryant caught both of his targets, for 19 yards, as the Browns got to double digits in wins for the first time since 2007 by defeating the Giants, 20-6. His catches were for 10 and nine yards, respectively, with one first down, on 30 offensive snaps (plus three on special teams).
Browns' record: 10-4 (Second place in AFC North, just a game behind Pittsburgh. Would be No. 5 seed in AFC if season ended today)
Next game: at New York Jets (and Coley) – Sunday, 1 p.m. (CBS)
-- Trevon Coley | DL | New York Jets
- Coley did not play on Sunday, but the Jets are undefeated with him on the roster, after they topped the Rams, 23-20.
Jets' record: 1-13
Next game: vs. Cleveland (and Bryant) – Sunday, 1 p.m. (CBS)
#91 Trey Hendrickson | DE | New Orleans Saints
- Hendrickson matched his season high with two sacks of Pat Mahomes, among five quarterback hits, in a 32-29 loss to the Chiefs. On one such hit (below), he forced a fumble that led to a Saints' touchdown three plays later. The fourth-year pro is now just a half-sack off the NFL lead.
Saints' record: 10-4 (First place in NFC South. Would be No. 2 seed, currently having the tiebreaker over Seattle)
Next game: vs. Minnesota – Friday, 4:30 p.m. (FOX/NFL Network)
#38 Buddy Howell | RB | Houston Texans
- Howell carried the ball five times for 22 yards, twice recording a long of seven, on 10 of his 24 total snaps Sunday (the other 14 coming on special teams). The Texans were edged out in their AFC South matchup against the Colts, 27-20.
Texans' record: 4-10
Next game: vs. Cincinnati – Sunday, 1 p.m. (FOX)
#41 Alfred Morris | RB | New York Giants
- Morris was called on for seven carries and posted 39 rushing yards, with three going for first downs. He had rushes of 14, 12 and eight in a limited 13 snaps.
Giants' record: 5-9 (Still just a game out of first in the NFC East, and two games behind the final playoff spot for Wild Card teams)
Next game: at Baltimore – Sunday Night Football, 1 p.m. (FOX)
#41 Sharrod Neasman | S | Atlanta Falcons
- In his 55th career game, Neasman recorded his first career sack – of Tom Brady no less – among eight tackles, the second most in his career (11 being the most, on Dec. 23, 2018). He started and played 66 of 68 snaps at safety, 97%, plus more than half – 17 more or 52% – on special teams. Tampa Bay won the contest, 31-27.
Falcons' record: 4-10
Next game: at Kansas City – Sunday, 1 p.m. (FOX)
#42 James Pierre | DB | Pittsburgh Steelers
- Pierre made it six straight games playing more than half of Pittsburgh's special teams snaps, 17 of 32, or 53%. However, the Steelers were upset on Monday night by Cincinnati, 27-17, and have now lost three straight.
Steelers' record: 11-3 (Have dropped to No. 3 seed, on tiebreakers, to Buffalo, but are one of just six teams guaranteed to have a playoff slot)
Next game: vs. Indianapolis – Sunday, 1 p.m. (CBS)
#26 Devin Singletary | RB | Buffalo Bills
- On the ground, Singletary had eight carries for 68 yards, including the below 51-yard scamper and score; he added three receptions for 16 yards in a 48-19 romp over Denver. The Bills clinched the AFC East for the first time since 1995 and moved ahead of Pittsburgh for the No. 2 seed in the conference right now, based on tiebreakers.
Bills' record: 11-3 (AFC East Champions, would be the AFC's No. 2 seed if season ended today)
Next game: at New England – Monday Night Football, 8:15 p.m. (ESPN/ABC)
#57 Adarius Taylor | LB | Carolina Panthers
- Taylor played 71% of Carolina's special teams snaps, 20 of 28, his second highest mark of the season both number- and percentage-wise. The Panthers fell to the Packers in a primetime matchup, 24-16.
Panthers' record: 4-10
Next game: at Washington – Sunday, 4:05 p.m. (CBS)
Owls on Reserve/IR (3)
#5 John Franklin III | WR | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
#34 Cre'von LeBlanc | CB | Philadelphia Eagles
#14 Kerrith Whyte Jr. | WR/RB | Detroit Lions
Owls on Practice Squads (5, 3 protected)
#74 Brandin Bryant | DT | Buffalo Bills
#1 Greg Joseph | PK | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (*)
#36 Herb Miller | CB | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (*)
#53 Rashad Smith | LB | Philadelphia Eagles (*)
#62 Brandon Walton | OT | Pittsburgh Steelers
Note: Practice squads have been expanded to 16 per team this season, and each week, up to four are chosen as "protected" members, barred from being signed by other teams to their active roster before that week's games are played. Those protected are designated above with an asterisk.
Each Thursday, check back here on FAUSports.com to see how each Owl did each week, along with a preview of their respective team's next game.
(All gametimes listed below are Eastern)
Active Owls (10)
#51 Azeez Al-Shaair | LB | San Francisco 49ers
- Al-Shaair played a combined 50 snaps on Sunday. He had all four of his tackles – two solo and two assists – among his 21 snaps at linebacker, and was in on a season-high 29 special teams plays, or 76%. In a high-scoring affair, the 49ers lost to Dallas, 41-33.
49ers' Record: 5-9
Next game: at Arizona – Saturday, 4:30 p.m. (Amazon Prime Video)
#88 Harrison Bryant | TE | Cleveland Browns
- Bryant caught both of his targets, for 19 yards, as the Browns got to double digits in wins for the first time since 2007 by defeating the Giants, 20-6. His catches were for 10 and nine yards, respectively, with one first down, on 30 offensive snaps (plus three on special teams).
Browns' record: 10-4 (Second place in AFC North, just a game behind Pittsburgh. Would be No. 5 seed in AFC if season ended today)
Next game: at New York Jets (and Coley) – Sunday, 1 p.m. (CBS)
-- Trevon Coley | DL | New York Jets
- Coley did not play on Sunday, but the Jets are undefeated with him on the roster, after they topped the Rams, 23-20.
Jets' record: 1-13
Next game: vs. Cleveland (and Bryant) – Sunday, 1 p.m. (CBS)
#91 Trey Hendrickson | DE | New Orleans Saints
- Hendrickson matched his season high with two sacks of Pat Mahomes, among five quarterback hits, in a 32-29 loss to the Chiefs. On one such hit (below), he forced a fumble that led to a Saints' touchdown three plays later. The fourth-year pro is now just a half-sack off the NFL lead.
Saints' record: 10-4 (First place in NFC South. Would be No. 2 seed, currently having the tiebreaker over Seattle)
Next game: vs. Minnesota – Friday, 4:30 p.m. (FOX/NFL Network)
Strip sack! @Saints take over. #Saints
— NFL (@NFL) December 21, 2020
📺: #KCvsNO on CBS
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/4dWJuGxOxQ pic.twitter.com/5H2caLLKps
#38 Buddy Howell | RB | Houston Texans
- Howell carried the ball five times for 22 yards, twice recording a long of seven, on 10 of his 24 total snaps Sunday (the other 14 coming on special teams). The Texans were edged out in their AFC South matchup against the Colts, 27-20.
Texans' record: 4-10
Next game: vs. Cincinnati – Sunday, 1 p.m. (FOX)
#41 Alfred Morris | RB | New York Giants
- Morris was called on for seven carries and posted 39 rushing yards, with three going for first downs. He had rushes of 14, 12 and eight in a limited 13 snaps.
Giants' record: 5-9 (Still just a game out of first in the NFC East, and two games behind the final playoff spot for Wild Card teams)
Next game: at Baltimore – Sunday Night Football, 1 p.m. (FOX)
#41 Sharrod Neasman | S | Atlanta Falcons
- In his 55th career game, Neasman recorded his first career sack – of Tom Brady no less – among eight tackles, the second most in his career (11 being the most, on Dec. 23, 2018). He started and played 66 of 68 snaps at safety, 97%, plus more than half – 17 more or 52% – on special teams. Tampa Bay won the contest, 31-27.
Falcons' record: 4-10
Next game: at Kansas City – Sunday, 1 p.m. (FOX)
First career sack for @sneakyneas‼️
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 20, 2020
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/dhv2V51gTd
#42 James Pierre | DB | Pittsburgh Steelers
- Pierre made it six straight games playing more than half of Pittsburgh's special teams snaps, 17 of 32, or 53%. However, the Steelers were upset on Monday night by Cincinnati, 27-17, and have now lost three straight.
Steelers' record: 11-3 (Have dropped to No. 3 seed, on tiebreakers, to Buffalo, but are one of just six teams guaranteed to have a playoff slot)
Next game: vs. Indianapolis – Sunday, 1 p.m. (CBS)
#26 Devin Singletary | RB | Buffalo Bills
- On the ground, Singletary had eight carries for 68 yards, including the below 51-yard scamper and score; he added three receptions for 16 yards in a 48-19 romp over Denver. The Bills clinched the AFC East for the first time since 1995 and moved ahead of Pittsburgh for the No. 2 seed in the conference right now, based on tiebreakers.
Bills' record: 11-3 (AFC East Champions, would be the AFC's No. 2 seed if season ended today)
Next game: at New England – Monday Night Football, 8:15 p.m. (ESPN/ABC)
Icing on the cake. 😎
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) December 20, 2020
📺 #BUFvsDEN: https://t.co/9ooueWDTYu pic.twitter.com/IE8FWdLHdw
#57 Adarius Taylor | LB | Carolina Panthers
- Taylor played 71% of Carolina's special teams snaps, 20 of 28, his second highest mark of the season both number- and percentage-wise. The Panthers fell to the Packers in a primetime matchup, 24-16.
Panthers' record: 4-10
Next game: at Washington – Sunday, 4:05 p.m. (CBS)
Owls on Reserve/IR (3)
#5 John Franklin III | WR | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
#34 Cre'von LeBlanc | CB | Philadelphia Eagles
#14 Kerrith Whyte Jr. | WR/RB | Detroit Lions
Owls on Practice Squads (5, 3 protected)
#74 Brandin Bryant | DT | Buffalo Bills
#1 Greg Joseph | PK | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (*)
#36 Herb Miller | CB | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (*)
#53 Rashad Smith | LB | Philadelphia Eagles (*)
#62 Brandon Walton | OT | Pittsburgh Steelers
Note: Practice squads have been expanded to 16 per team this season, and each week, up to four are chosen as "protected" members, barred from being signed by other teams to their active roster before that week's games are played. Those protected are designated above with an asterisk.
Each Thursday, check back here on FAUSports.com to see how each Owl did each week, along with a preview of their respective team's next game.
Players Mentioned
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