NFL Spotlight: Week 3
9/23/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones scored a pair of touchdowns in a 56-14 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to highlight performances in week three from Alabama players in the National Football League.
Jones finished the Thursday Night Football matchup with nine catches with the most yards (161) of any NFL receiver in week three. The Foley, Ala., native leads the NFL in receiving yardage (365) and plays of 20 or more yards (9), while tying for third in receptions (23) and for fourth in touchdown catches (3).
Veterans Rashad Johnson and Jarret Johnson led all former Tide defensive players with eight tackles apiece. Both players' efforts helped their teams to victory, as Jarret's San Diego Chargers claimed a 22-10 victory over the Buffalo Bills, and Rashad's Arizona Cardinals knocked off the San Francisco 49ers with a 23-14 win.
In his third game as an NFL safety, the Green Bay Packers' Ha Ha Clinton-Dix reeled in the first interception of his career, returning Matthew Stafford's pass for nine yards. Clinton-Dix wrapped up his day with a solo tackle.
Indianapolis Colts running back Trent Richardson rushed for 57 yards on 14 carries and caught three passes for 23 yards in a 44-17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The third-year back has emerged as a reliable pass-catching option out of the backfield this season, ranking in the top-15 in receiving yards (70) among NFL running backs.
Week 3 Stats
| Player | Team | Stats |
| Mark Barron | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 7 tackles (6 solo) |
| Ha Ha Clinton-Dix | Green Bay Packers | 1 solo tackle; 1 INT, 9 ret yds |
| Marcell Dareus | Buffalo Bills | 5 tackles (3 solo) |
| Quinton Dial | San Francisco 49ers | 1 solo tackle |
| Wallace Gilberry | Cincinnati Bengals | 2 assisted tackles |
| Roman Harper | Carolina Panthers | 5 tackles (2 solo) |
| Don't'a Hightower | New England Patriots | 7 tackles (3 solo) |
| Kareem Jackson | Houston Texans | 2 solo tackles, 1 PBU |
| Jarret Johnson | San Diego Chargers | 8 tackles (6 solo) |
| Rashad Johnson | Arizona Cardinals | 8 solo tackles |
| Julio Jones | Atlanta Falcons | 9 rec, 161 yds, 2 TD |
| Dre Kirkpatrick | Cincinnati Bengals | 1 solo tackle |
| Eddie Lacy | Green Bay Packers | 11 car, 36 yds; 1 rec, 9 yds |
| C.J. Mosley | Baltimore Ravens | 6 tackles (4 solo) |
| Trent Richardson | Indianapolis Colts | 14 car, 57 yds; 3 rec, 23 yds |
| DeMeco Ryans | Philadelphia Eagles | 3 tackles (2 solo) |
| Courtney Upshaw | Baltimore Ravens | 5 tackles (3 solo), 1 sack, 1 PBU |
