Crimson Tide in the NFL Spotlight: Week 17
1/6/2021 12:28:00 PM | Football
Former Alabama players shine in the 17th week of the 2020 NFL season
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The final week of the 2020-21 season in the National Football League wrapped up on Sunday. Below is a look at some of the highlights from week 17 by former Crimson Tide players currently in the NFL.
As the NFL heads into postseason play, Alabama is represented by 32 players across the 14 playoff teams in the 2020-21 NFL Playoffs. Of that group, 25 are on an active roster. The Crimson Tide will be well-represented with at least one former player on 12 of the 14 teams in the postseason.
Derrick Henry capped off the regular season with one of his most impressive performances yet. Henry helped the Tennessee Titans clinch the division title, rushing for 250 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries against the Texans. With his Week 17 performance against Houston, Henry clinched the NFL rushing title for a second consecutive year, leading the league in rushing yards (2,027), attempts (378) and rushing touchdowns (17). The former Heisman winner became the eighth player in the NFL to reach the 2,000-yard mark in one season.
Joining Henry with an impressive outing at running back was Josh Jacobs. The Las Vegas Raiders rusher topped off his season with 15 carries for 89 yards and two touchdowns. Jacobs finished eighth in the league in rushing yards and fourth in rushing touchdowns. Two former Tide receivers also had big performances on Sunday. Jerry Jeudy caught five balls for 140 yards and one touchdown in the finale of his rookie campaign. In addition, Calvin Ridley capped off another impressive season. The Atlanta Falcons wideout hauled in eight catches for 52 yards and one touchdown.
Alabama was also well-represented on the defensive side of the ball in Week 17. In the secondary, Xavier McKinney intercepted the first pass of his NFL career to halt a game-winning drive by the Dallas Cowboys. McKinney also recorded eight tackles, including one tackle for loss, in the New York Giants' winning effort.
Two more former Tide defensive backs provided solid performances on Sunday. Kareem Jackson recorded three tackles, intercepted one pass, broke up one pass and recovered a fumble for the Denver Broncos. Cleveland safety Ronnie Harrison returned to the field to record six tackles and a pass breakup in the Browns' win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Thanks in part to Harrison's performance, the Browns clinched a spot in the postseason for the first time since 2002.
Rounding out the defensive group was Johnathan Allen. In the trenches, Allen recorded six tackles and helped lead Washington to a win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With the win, the Washington Football Team clinched a playoff berth out of the NFC East.
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