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2021 NFL Owls – Week 17
1/6/2022 8:26:00 PM | 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 next-to-last week of the 2021 NFL regular season (All game times listed below are Eastern):
Active Owls (7)
#51 Azeez Al-Shaair | LB | San Francisco 49ers
- Al-Shaair did not play in the 49ers' 23-7 win over Houston, but that victory does keep the team in the thick of the NFC playoff race. San Francisco clinches a postseason berth Sunday with a win or tie, OR a New Orleans loss or tie.
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' Record: 9-7 (Third in the NFC West, remained sixth in the NFC playoff seeding)
Next Game: at L.A. Rams (and Howell) – Sunday, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
#88 Harrison Bryant | TE | Cleveland Browns
- Make it three straight games with a touchdown for Bryant, and for the second straight week, it was a one-yard touchdown, his only reception of the game. He played 19 offensive snaps, and 17 – or 55% – on special teams, his second most of the season. The Browns were eliminated from the postseason with a 26-14 loss to Pittsburgh.
Season Stats: In 15 games/3 starts, 20 receptions for 224 yards (11.2 per catch with a long of 41), 14 first downs and three touchdowns
Browns' Record: 7-9
Next Game: vs. Cincinnati (and Hendrickson) – Sunday, 1 p.m. (FOX)
#91 Trey Hendrickson | DE | Cincinnati Bengals
- Hendrickson was held without a sack for the first time since Week 4, and for only the third time this year. He did register two quarterback hits and three QB pressures, while playing 79% of the team's defensive snaps. And most importantly, the Bengals pulled off a 34-31 comeback win over Kansas City (the AFC's No. 1 seed coming into the day), clinching the AFC North title and a postseason berth.
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' Record: 9-6 (AFC North champions, third in the AFC playoff seeding)
Next Game: vs. Baltimore – Sunday, 1 p.m. (CBS)
#38 Buddy Howell | RB/ST | Los Angeles Rams
- Howell played 13 of 23 special teams snaps in the Rams' 20-19 win over Baltimore, moving the team into second place in the NFC playoff standings.
Season Stats: In 9 games, has five carries for 11 yards. Also has two special teams tackles and two kick returns for 34 yards, while collectively playing 60% of the team's ST snaps
Rams' Record: 12-4 (First in the NFC West, has clinched a playoff berth. Can clinch the division title with a win/tie OR Arizona loss/tie)
Next Game: vs. San Francisco (and Al-Shaair) – Sunday, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
#1 Greg Joseph | K | Minnesota Vikings
- Joseph has had three straight flawless weeks, as he was good on a 51-yard field goal and his only extra point attempt Sunday night. He booted one of his two kickoffs into the end zone as well, for a touchback. The Packers eliminated the Vikings from the postseason with a 37-10 win.
Season Stats: Playing all 16 games, has set career highs in every category: 32-for-37 on field goals with a long of 55 (and 7-of-9 from 50 yards or longer), 32-of-36 on extra points, 80.9% touchbacks and an average of 63.9 yards, 128 points (sixth most in the NFL). His 32 FG is also fifth most among NFL kickers
Vikings' Record: 7-9
Next Game: vs. Chicago – Sunday, 1 p.m. (FOX)
#42 James Pierre | CB | Pittsburgh Steelers
- Pierre was in on 20 special teams snaps, or 65%, with each of those figures his second highest of the season. Pittsburgh remained alive for the postseason, defeating Cleveland, 26-14.
Season Stats: In 16 games/4 starts, 46 tackles (37 solo/nine assists), his first career interception, has a 61.5 completion % against, four pass deflections and three forced fumbles (ninth most in the NFL)
Steelers' Record: 8-7-1 (Ninth in the AFC playoff standings, a half-game behind three teams in sixth, seventh and eighth. The Steelers have to win Sunday, along with an Indianapolis loss, to earn a playoff spot)
Next Game: at Baltimore – Sunday, 1 p.m. (CBS)
#26 Devin Singletary | RB | Buffalo Bills
- Singletary continued to have a tremendous back end of the season, with season highs in carries (23), rushing yards (110) and two touchdowns, the first time he's rushed for two scores in a game in the NFL. They were the only two scores of the second half for either team – from six and four yards out, respectively – turning a halftime deficit to Atlanta into a 29-15 Bills' win, clinching a playoff slot in the process. He recorded seven first downs, twice had a long of 20, and 77 yards came after contact.
Season Stats: In 16 games/15 starts, 169 carries for 782 yards – a new career high – 4.6 yards per attempt (10th-highest in the NFL), six rushing touchdowns, fifth in the NFL with 11.8% of his rushes gaining zero or negative yards, seventh in missed tackles forced (42), 38 catches for 204 yards and 49 total first downs (40 rushing/nine receiving)
Bills' Record: 10-6 (Still holds the tiebreaker for first in the AFC East, and currently slots fourth in the AFC playoff standings)
Next Game: vs. N.Y. Jets (and Neasman) – Sunday, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Injured/Reserve (2)
#97 Trevon Coley | DT | Tennessee Titans
#35 Sharrod Neasman | S | New York Jets
Season Stats: In 11 games/1 start, 14 tackles (12 solo/two assists), two TFL, his first career interception for a 13-yard return, has a 25.0 completion % against and three pass deflections
Practice Squad (6)
#90 Brandin Bryant | DT | Buffalo Bills
Season Stats: Two solo tackles and one QB hit in two games played
#34 Cre'von LeBlanc | DB | Houston Texans
- Was on the active roster Sunday against San Francisco, but inactive for the game
#29 Herb Miller | CB | Cleveland Browns
Season Stats: In 8 games/4 starts, has recorded five tackles (four solo/one assist). When he's active, he plays 65% of the team's ST snaps
#59 Rashad Smith | LB | Atlanta Falcons
#73 Brandon Walton | OT | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
#34 Kerrith Whyte | RB/ST | Green Bay Packers
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.
Active Owls (7)
#51 Azeez Al-Shaair | LB | San Francisco 49ers
- Al-Shaair did not play in the 49ers' 23-7 win over Houston, but that victory does keep the team in the thick of the NFC playoff race. San Francisco clinches a postseason berth Sunday with a win or tie, OR a New Orleans loss or tie.
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' Record: 9-7 (Third in the NFC West, remained sixth in the NFC playoff seeding)
Next Game: at L.A. Rams (and Howell) – Sunday, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
#88 Harrison Bryant | TE | Cleveland Browns
- Make it three straight games with a touchdown for Bryant, and for the second straight week, it was a one-yard touchdown, his only reception of the game. He played 19 offensive snaps, and 17 – or 55% – on special teams, his second most of the season. The Browns were eliminated from the postseason with a 26-14 loss to Pittsburgh.
Season Stats: In 15 games/3 starts, 20 receptions for 224 yards (11.2 per catch with a long of 41), 14 first downs and three touchdowns
Browns' Record: 7-9
Next Game: vs. Cincinnati (and Hendrickson) – Sunday, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Browns score with 1:10 remaining to make it a 5-point game. #Browns
— NFL (@NFL) January 4, 2022
📺: #CLEvsPIT on ESPN
📱: https://t.co/cgTGrVtr6i pic.twitter.com/OjQFWOub22
#91 Trey Hendrickson | DE | Cincinnati Bengals
- Hendrickson was held without a sack for the first time since Week 4, and for only the third time this year. He did register two quarterback hits and three QB pressures, while playing 79% of the team's defensive snaps. And most importantly, the Bengals pulled off a 34-31 comeback win over Kansas City (the AFC's No. 1 seed coming into the day), clinching the AFC North title and a postseason berth.
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' Record: 9-6 (AFC North champions, third in the AFC playoff seeding)
Next Game: vs. Baltimore – Sunday, 1 p.m. (CBS)
#38 Buddy Howell | RB/ST | Los Angeles Rams
- Howell played 13 of 23 special teams snaps in the Rams' 20-19 win over Baltimore, moving the team into second place in the NFC playoff standings.
Season Stats: In 9 games, has five carries for 11 yards. Also has two special teams tackles and two kick returns for 34 yards, while collectively playing 60% of the team's ST snaps
Rams' Record: 12-4 (First in the NFC West, has clinched a playoff berth. Can clinch the division title with a win/tie OR Arizona loss/tie)
Next Game: vs. San Francisco (and Al-Shaair) – Sunday, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
#1 Greg Joseph | K | Minnesota Vikings
- Joseph has had three straight flawless weeks, as he was good on a 51-yard field goal and his only extra point attempt Sunday night. He booted one of his two kickoffs into the end zone as well, for a touchback. The Packers eliminated the Vikings from the postseason with a 37-10 win.
Season Stats: Playing all 16 games, has set career highs in every category: 32-for-37 on field goals with a long of 55 (and 7-of-9 from 50 yards or longer), 32-of-36 on extra points, 80.9% touchbacks and an average of 63.9 yards, 128 points (sixth most in the NFL). His 32 FG is also fifth most among NFL kickers
Vikings' Record: 7-9
Next Game: vs. Chicago – Sunday, 1 p.m. (FOX)
#42 James Pierre | CB | Pittsburgh Steelers
- Pierre was in on 20 special teams snaps, or 65%, with each of those figures his second highest of the season. Pittsburgh remained alive for the postseason, defeating Cleveland, 26-14.
Season Stats: In 16 games/4 starts, 46 tackles (37 solo/nine assists), his first career interception, has a 61.5 completion % against, four pass deflections and three forced fumbles (ninth most in the NFL)
Steelers' Record: 8-7-1 (Ninth in the AFC playoff standings, a half-game behind three teams in sixth, seventh and eighth. The Steelers have to win Sunday, along with an Indianapolis loss, to earn a playoff spot)
Next Game: at Baltimore – Sunday, 1 p.m. (CBS)
#26 Devin Singletary | RB | Buffalo Bills
- Singletary continued to have a tremendous back end of the season, with season highs in carries (23), rushing yards (110) and two touchdowns, the first time he's rushed for two scores in a game in the NFL. They were the only two scores of the second half for either team – from six and four yards out, respectively – turning a halftime deficit to Atlanta into a 29-15 Bills' win, clinching a playoff slot in the process. He recorded seven first downs, twice had a long of 20, and 77 yards came after contact.
Season Stats: In 16 games/15 starts, 169 carries for 782 yards – a new career high – 4.6 yards per attempt (10th-highest in the NFL), six rushing touchdowns, fifth in the NFL with 11.8% of his rushes gaining zero or negative yards, seventh in missed tackles forced (42), 38 catches for 204 yards and 49 total first downs (40 rushing/nine receiving)
Bills' Record: 10-6 (Still holds the tiebreaker for first in the AFC East, and currently slots fourth in the AFC playoff standings)
Next Game: vs. N.Y. Jets (and Neasman) – Sunday, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Devin Singletary .... ANGRY RUNS 🤬🤬😡😡🤬🤬
— X - ToddJClausen (@ToddJClausen) January 3, 2022
23/110. 2 TDs #GoBills @KyleBrandt pic.twitter.com/k4tN4YaBCR
Every touch by #Bills' Devin Singletary from 2-TD game vs. #Falcons (video): https://t.co/KQeEXj3zvt
— TheBillsWire (@TheBillsWire) January 5, 2022
Devin Singletary's ranks among RBs since Week 15:
— Adam Pfeifer (@APfeifer24) January 4, 2022
Attempts: 57 (6th)
Yards: 235 (9th)
Fantasy points: 58.4 (2nd)
TDs: 4 (2nd)
Yards after contact: 188 (6th)
Missed tackles forced: 10 (9th)#BillsMafia
Injured/Reserve (2)
#97 Trevon Coley | DT | Tennessee Titans
#35 Sharrod Neasman | S | New York Jets
Season Stats: In 11 games/1 start, 14 tackles (12 solo/two assists), two TFL, his first career interception for a 13-yard return, has a 25.0 completion % against and three pass deflections
Practice Squad (6)
#90 Brandin Bryant | DT | Buffalo Bills
Season Stats: Two solo tackles and one QB hit in two games played
#34 Cre'von LeBlanc | DB | Houston Texans
- Was on the active roster Sunday against San Francisco, but inactive for the game
#29 Herb Miller | CB | Cleveland Browns
Season Stats: In 8 games/4 starts, has recorded five tackles (four solo/one assist). When he's active, he plays 65% of the team's ST snaps
#59 Rashad Smith | LB | Atlanta Falcons
#73 Brandon Walton | OT | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
#34 Kerrith Whyte | RB/ST | Green Bay Packers
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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