Crimson Tide in the NFL Spotlight: Week 15
12/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Below is a look at some of the highlights from last week by former Crimson Tide players currently in the NFL. Julio Jones also earned his third career Pro Bowl selection this week after a career year thus far in Atlanta, while Eddie Lacy and Amari Cooper were chosen as alternates for the game.
Jones reeled in seven catches for 118 yards and a touchdown to lead the Falcons past the Jacksonville Jaguars, 23-17. He caught a 12-yard pass in the third quarter to break Atlanta's single-season franchise record for receptions that was set by Roddy White in 2010 (115). For the season, Jones has 118 catches for 1,544 yards and seven touchdowns. Among wideouts, he currently ranks first in catches, second in yards and third in yards after the catch (510) to help him earn Pro Bowl accolades.
Mark Barron helped lead the St. Louis defense to a 31-23 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He recorded eight tackles, including one for a loss, and added one pass breakup. Barron continues to flourish after transitioning from safety to linebacker, as he leads the Rams with 105 tackles this season.
Landon Collins once again led the Giants in stops, notching 10 and breaking up one pass in a 38-35 loss to the Carolina Panthers. Collins leads New York in tackles with 96, a total that leads all rookie defenders.
Amari Cooper caught six passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns in the Oakland Raiders' 30-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers. For the season, he has 68 receptions for 1,040 yards and six touchdowns, making him the first Oakland Raider to cross the 1,000-yard mark since Randy Moss did so in 2005. The first-year standout leads all rookie receivers in catches, yards and touchdowns to help him a spot as an alternate in this year's Pro Bowl.
Former Tide offensive linemen Arie and Cyrus Kouandjio faced off against each other for the first time ever, with the elder, Arie, getting the best of his younger brother as the Washington Redskins beat the Buffalo Bills, 35-25.
In his first career start, AJ McCarron guided the Cincinnati Bengals past the San Francisco 49ers, 24-14, to secure the Bengals a spot in the playoffs. He completed 15-of-21 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. He will hold the position of starting quarterback for at least one more week, and will attempt to clinch the divisional title on Monday Night Football against the Denver Broncos.
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