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2021 NFL Owls – End of Regular Season
1/13/2022 9:16:00 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 final week of the 2021 NFL regular season.
Ten of the 15 pro Owls have moved on to the postseason; in fact, every single Wild Card game this weekend will have FAU representation (and both No. 1 seeds that have earned byes to the following week each have an Owl on the roster as well). All gametimes – shown in the Eastern time zone – follow each player, but here is a list of every game and every Owl:
Las Vegas at Cincinnati – Trey Hendrickson (CIN)
New England at Buffalo – Cre'von LeBlanc (NE), Brandin Bryant and Devin Singletary (BUF)
Philadelphia at Tampa Bay – Brandon Walton (TB)
San Francisco at Dallas – Azeez Al-Shaair (SF)
Pittsburgh at Kansas City – James Pierre (PIT)
Arizona at L.A. Rams – Buddy Howell (LAR)
Byes: AFC – Tennessee – Trevon Coley; NFC – Green Bay – Kerrith Whyte
Active Owls (7)
#51 Azeez Al-Shaair | LB | San Francisco 49ers
- Al-Shaair did not suit up for the second straight week, but the 49ers pulled through in a must-win game, 27-24 over the Rams in overtime, to clinch the No. 6 seed in the NFC. He returned to practice Tuesday in a limited capacity with the hopes of playing in the team's Wild Card game this weekend.
Final Regular Season Stats: In 13 games/13 starts, career-best 102 tackles (58 solo/44 assists), nine TFL, 2.0 sacks, 1 interception for 24 yards, five passes defended, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries for 12 yards
49ers' Final Record: 10-7 (NFC's No. 6 seed)
Next Game: at Dallas – Sunday, 4:30 p.m. (CBS)
#88 Harrison Bryant | TE | Cleveland Browns
- Bryant was targeted three times, making a nine-yard catch, as the Browns finished the season off with a 21-16 win against Cincinnati. He matched his season high playing 52% of snaps on offense, plus added 44% on special teams.
Final Regular Season Stats: In 16 games/3 starts, 21 receptions for 233 yards (11.1 per catch with a long of 41), 14 first downs and three touchdowns
Browns' Final Record: 8-9
#91 Trey Hendrickson | DE | Cincinnati Bengals
- Hendrickson did not play in the Bengals' season finale, a 21-16 loss to Cleveland. He has since been reinstated to the active roster ahead of the AFC North champions' home game this Saturday.
Final Regular Season Stats: In 16 games/14 starts, career-high 14.0 sacks (fifth-most in the NFL), 34 tackles (21 solo/13 assists), 12.0 TFL, 25 quarterback hits, 42 quarterback pressures (sixth in NFL), 75 total pressures (tied for third in the NFL) and three forced fumbles
Bengals' Final Record: 9-7 (AFC North champions, No. 4 seed in the conference)
Next Game: vs. Las Vegas – Saturday, 4:30 p.m. (NBC)
#38 Buddy Howell | RB/ST | Los Angeles Rams
- Howell was in on eight special teams snaps Sunday. While the Rams fell to San Francisco, 27-24, in overtime, the squad still won the NFC West.
Final Regular Season Stats: In 10 games, recorded five carries for 11 yards. Also had two special teams tackles and two kick returns for 34 yards, while collectively playing 57% of the team's ST snaps
Rams' Final Record: 12-5 (NFC West champions, No. 4 seed in the conference)
Next Game: vs. Arizona – Monday Night Football, 8:15 p.m. (ESPN/ABC/ESPN+)
#1 Greg Joseph | K | Minnesota Vikings
- Joseph finished off the regular season with four straight perfect weeks. In Sunday's 31-17 win over Chicago, he had a 39-yard field goal while making all four of his extra point attempts. Four of his five touchbacks went into the end zone.
Final Regular Season Stats: Playing all 17 games, set career highs in every category: 33-for-38 on field goals with a long of 55 (and 7-of-9 from 50 yards or longer), 36-of-40 on extra points, 80.9% touchbacks and an average of 63.9 yards, and 135 points (sixth most in the NFL). His 33 FG finished as fifth most among NFL kickers
Vikings' Final Record: 8-9
#42 James Pierre | CB | Pittsburgh Steelers
- Pierre played 21 special teams snaps, downing a punt and combining for a tackle on a third quarter kickoff. The Steelers' 16-13 win over Baltimore, coupled with multiple other results, was just enough to put them into the postseason.
Final Regular Season Stats: In 17 games/4 starts, 47 tackles (37 solo/10 assists), his first career interception, has a 61.5 completion % against, four pass deflections and three forced fumbles
Steelers' Final Record: 9-7-1 (Earned the seventh and final seed in the AFC)
Next Game: at Kansas City – Sunday Night Football, 8:15 p.m. (NBC)
#26 Devin Singletary | RB | Buffalo Bills
- Singletary totaled 112 total yards and made it into the end zone for the fourth straight week, and in the fourth straight Buffalo win: a 27-10 romp over the Jets. He rushed for 88 yards on 19 carries (4.6 per tote with a long of 40 and four first downs), and caught both of the targets intended for him for 24 yards (both were first downs, the first going for 19). He had a score both ways, each coming in the fourth quarter, a one-yard rush and a five-yard catch to cap the scoring.
Final Regular Season Stats: In 17 games/16 starts, 188 carries for 870 yards – a new career high – 4.6 yards per attempt (10th-highest in the NFL), seven rushing touchdowns, seventh in missed tackles forced (45), 40 catches for 228 yards and a touchdown, and 55 total first downs (44 rushing/11 receiving)
Bills' Final Record: 11-6 (AFC East champions, No. 3 seed in the conference)
Next Game: vs. New England – Saturday Night Football, 8:15 p.m. (CBS)
Injured/Reserve (2)
#97 Trevon Coley | DT | Tennessee Titans
Titans' Final Record: 12-5 (AFC South champions, No. 1 seed in the conference)
Next Game: After a first round bye, the Titans play the lowest seed to advance from the Wild Card round on either Saturday, Jan. 22 or Sunday, Jan. 23
#35 Sharrod Neasman | S | New York Jets
Jets' Final Record: 4-13
Final Regular Season Stats: In 11 games/1 start, 14 tackles (12 solo/two assists), two TFL, his first career interception for a 13-yard return, a 25.0 completion % against and three pass deflections
Practice Squad (6)
#90 Brandin Bryant | DT | Buffalo Bills
Final Regular Season Stats: Two solo tackles and one QB hit in two games played
Bills' Final Record: 11-6 (AFC East champions, No. 3 seed in the conference)
Next Game: vs. New England – Saturday Night Football, 8:15 p.m. (CBS)
#-- Cre'von LeBlanc | DB | New England Patriots
- After spending most of the season with, but not playing for, the 4-13 Houston Texans, LeBlanc was signed Tuesday to the Patriots' practice squad and will now be part of a postseason roster.
Patriots' Final Record: 10-7 (AFC's No. 6 seed)
Next Game: at Buffalo – Saturday Night Football, 8:15 p.m. (CBS)
#29 Herb Miller | CB | Cleveland Browns
- Miller suited up in the team's regular season finale, matching his season high of 19 special teams snaps, or 76%, in the Browns' victory.
Final Regular Season Stats: In 9 games/4 starts, has recorded five tackles (four solo/one assist). When active, played 66% of the team's ST snaps
Browns' Final Record: 8-9
#59 Rashad Smith | LB | Atlanta Falcons
Falcons' Final Record: 7-10
#73 Brandon Walton | OT | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bucs' Final Record: 13-4 (NFC South champions, No. 2 seed in the conference)
Next Game: vs. Philadelphia – Sunday, 1 p.m. (FOX)
#34 Kerrith Whyte | RB/ST | Green Bay Packers
Packers' Final Record: 13-4 (NFC North champions, No. 1 seed in the conference)
Next Game: After a first round bye, the Packers play the lowest seed to advance from the Wild Card round on either Saturday, Jan. 22 or Sunday, Jan. 23
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.
Ten of the 15 pro Owls have moved on to the postseason; in fact, every single Wild Card game this weekend will have FAU representation (and both No. 1 seeds that have earned byes to the following week each have an Owl on the roster as well). All gametimes – shown in the Eastern time zone – follow each player, but here is a list of every game and every Owl:
Las Vegas at Cincinnati – Trey Hendrickson (CIN)
New England at Buffalo – Cre'von LeBlanc (NE), Brandin Bryant and Devin Singletary (BUF)
Philadelphia at Tampa Bay – Brandon Walton (TB)
San Francisco at Dallas – Azeez Al-Shaair (SF)
Pittsburgh at Kansas City – James Pierre (PIT)
Arizona at L.A. Rams – Buddy Howell (LAR)
Byes: AFC – Tennessee – Trevon Coley; NFC – Green Bay – Kerrith Whyte
Active Owls (7)
#51 Azeez Al-Shaair | LB | San Francisco 49ers
- Al-Shaair did not suit up for the second straight week, but the 49ers pulled through in a must-win game, 27-24 over the Rams in overtime, to clinch the No. 6 seed in the NFC. He returned to practice Tuesday in a limited capacity with the hopes of playing in the team's Wild Card game this weekend.
Final Regular Season Stats: In 13 games/13 starts, career-best 102 tackles (58 solo/44 assists), nine TFL, 2.0 sacks, 1 interception for 24 yards, five passes defended, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries for 12 yards
49ers' Final Record: 10-7 (NFC's No. 6 seed)
Next Game: at Dallas – Sunday, 4:30 p.m. (CBS)
#88 Harrison Bryant | TE | Cleveland Browns
- Bryant was targeted three times, making a nine-yard catch, as the Browns finished the season off with a 21-16 win against Cincinnati. He matched his season high playing 52% of snaps on offense, plus added 44% on special teams.
Final Regular Season Stats: In 16 games/3 starts, 21 receptions for 233 yards (11.1 per catch with a long of 41), 14 first downs and three touchdowns
Browns' Final Record: 8-9
#91 Trey Hendrickson | DE | Cincinnati Bengals
- Hendrickson did not play in the Bengals' season finale, a 21-16 loss to Cleveland. He has since been reinstated to the active roster ahead of the AFC North champions' home game this Saturday.
Final Regular Season Stats: In 16 games/14 starts, career-high 14.0 sacks (fifth-most in the NFL), 34 tackles (21 solo/13 assists), 12.0 TFL, 25 quarterback hits, 42 quarterback pressures (sixth in NFL), 75 total pressures (tied for third in the NFL) and three forced fumbles
Bengals' Final Record: 9-7 (AFC North champions, No. 4 seed in the conference)
Next Game: vs. Las Vegas – Saturday, 4:30 p.m. (NBC)
#38 Buddy Howell | RB/ST | Los Angeles Rams
- Howell was in on eight special teams snaps Sunday. While the Rams fell to San Francisco, 27-24, in overtime, the squad still won the NFC West.
Final Regular Season Stats: In 10 games, recorded five carries for 11 yards. Also had two special teams tackles and two kick returns for 34 yards, while collectively playing 57% of the team's ST snaps
Rams' Final Record: 12-5 (NFC West champions, No. 4 seed in the conference)
Next Game: vs. Arizona – Monday Night Football, 8:15 p.m. (ESPN/ABC/ESPN+)
#1 Greg Joseph | K | Minnesota Vikings
- Joseph finished off the regular season with four straight perfect weeks. In Sunday's 31-17 win over Chicago, he had a 39-yard field goal while making all four of his extra point attempts. Four of his five touchbacks went into the end zone.
Final Regular Season Stats: Playing all 17 games, set career highs in every category: 33-for-38 on field goals with a long of 55 (and 7-of-9 from 50 yards or longer), 36-of-40 on extra points, 80.9% touchbacks and an average of 63.9 yards, and 135 points (sixth most in the NFL). His 33 FG finished as fifth most among NFL kickers
Vikings' Final Record: 8-9
#42 James Pierre | CB | Pittsburgh Steelers
- Pierre played 21 special teams snaps, downing a punt and combining for a tackle on a third quarter kickoff. The Steelers' 16-13 win over Baltimore, coupled with multiple other results, was just enough to put them into the postseason.
Final Regular Season Stats: In 17 games/4 starts, 47 tackles (37 solo/10 assists), his first career interception, has a 61.5 completion % against, four pass deflections and three forced fumbles
Steelers' Final Record: 9-7-1 (Earned the seventh and final seed in the AFC)
Next Game: at Kansas City – Sunday Night Football, 8:15 p.m. (NBC)
#26 Devin Singletary | RB | Buffalo Bills
- Singletary totaled 112 total yards and made it into the end zone for the fourth straight week, and in the fourth straight Buffalo win: a 27-10 romp over the Jets. He rushed for 88 yards on 19 carries (4.6 per tote with a long of 40 and four first downs), and caught both of the targets intended for him for 24 yards (both were first downs, the first going for 19). He had a score both ways, each coming in the fourth quarter, a one-yard rush and a five-yard catch to cap the scoring.
Final Regular Season Stats: In 17 games/16 starts, 188 carries for 870 yards – a new career high – 4.6 yards per attempt (10th-highest in the NFL), seven rushing touchdowns, seventh in missed tackles forced (45), 40 catches for 228 yards and a touchdown, and 55 total first downs (44 rushing/11 receiving)
Bills' Final Record: 11-6 (AFC East champions, No. 3 seed in the conference)
Next Game: vs. New England – Saturday Night Football, 8:15 p.m. (CBS)
The Bills are 8-2* when Devin Singletary has at least 10 carries this season #BillsMafia
— MereKat (@MereKatKat) January 10, 2022
pic.twitter.com/HZU3kiqoOu https://t.co/CGlb8yrIEI
Devin Singletary with another score.
— Buffalo Bills PR (@BuffaloBillsPR) January 10, 2022
Singletary is now the first Bill with consecutive multi-TD games since Fred Jackson in 2010. pic.twitter.com/CyKvSjgucY
Reach for it, @motorsingletary!
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 10, 2022
📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/F4VpeXwpEX
Injured/Reserve (2)
#97 Trevon Coley | DT | Tennessee Titans
Titans' Final Record: 12-5 (AFC South champions, No. 1 seed in the conference)
Next Game: After a first round bye, the Titans play the lowest seed to advance from the Wild Card round on either Saturday, Jan. 22 or Sunday, Jan. 23
#35 Sharrod Neasman | S | New York Jets
Jets' Final Record: 4-13
Final Regular Season Stats: In 11 games/1 start, 14 tackles (12 solo/two assists), two TFL, his first career interception for a 13-yard return, a 25.0 completion % against and three pass deflections
Practice Squad (6)
#90 Brandin Bryant | DT | Buffalo Bills
Final Regular Season Stats: Two solo tackles and one QB hit in two games played
Bills' Final Record: 11-6 (AFC East champions, No. 3 seed in the conference)
Next Game: vs. New England – Saturday Night Football, 8:15 p.m. (CBS)
#-- Cre'von LeBlanc | DB | New England Patriots
- After spending most of the season with, but not playing for, the 4-13 Houston Texans, LeBlanc was signed Tuesday to the Patriots' practice squad and will now be part of a postseason roster.
Patriots' Final Record: 10-7 (AFC's No. 6 seed)
Next Game: at Buffalo – Saturday Night Football, 8:15 p.m. (CBS)
#29 Herb Miller | CB | Cleveland Browns
- Miller suited up in the team's regular season finale, matching his season high of 19 special teams snaps, or 76%, in the Browns' victory.
Final Regular Season Stats: In 9 games/4 starts, has recorded five tackles (four solo/one assist). When active, played 66% of the team's ST snaps
Browns' Final Record: 8-9
#59 Rashad Smith | LB | Atlanta Falcons
Falcons' Final Record: 7-10
#73 Brandon Walton | OT | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bucs' Final Record: 13-4 (NFC South champions, No. 2 seed in the conference)
Next Game: vs. Philadelphia – Sunday, 1 p.m. (FOX)
#34 Kerrith Whyte | RB/ST | Green Bay Packers
Packers' Final Record: 13-4 (NFC North champions, No. 1 seed in the conference)
Next Game: After a first round bye, the Packers play the lowest seed to advance from the Wild Card round on either Saturday, Jan. 22 or Sunday, Jan. 23
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.
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