Teddy Bridgewater capped off his potential Rookie of the Year campaign with another fine outing, as did Preston Brown.
Here’s a quick look at what those two, and the other Louisville natives and University of Louisville products, did in Week 17 of the NFL season.
Louisville natives
Brandon Dunn (Chicago): The rookie defensive tackle, a Pleasure Ridge Park High School graduate and UofL product, was inactive for the Bears’ 13-9 loss at Minnesota on Sunday. Dunn finished the season with one tackle in three games for Chicago (5-11).
Corey Peters (Atlanta): The fifth-year defensive tackle, a Central High School graduate and former University of Kentucky standout, tallied three tackles in the Falcons’ 34-3 loss to Carolina on Sunday afternoon. Peters totaled 26 tackles, including two sacks, in 15 games this season for Atlanta, which finished 6-10.
Alfonso Smith (San Francisco): The fifth-year running back, a Waggener High School graduate and former UK standout, had one rush for -1 yard and one catch for 2 yards in the 49ers’ 20-17 win over visiting Arizona on Sunday. Smith finished the season with seven carries for 19 yards and three receptions for 11 yards in six games for San Francisco (8-8).
C.J. Spillman (Dallas): The sixth-year defensive back and special teams standout, a Central grad and former Marshall University standout, tallied two tackles in the Cowboys’ 44-17 win at Washington on Sunday. Spillman finished the regular season with 16 tackles for Dallas (11-5), which hosts Detroit at 4:40 p.m. this coming Sunday in an NFC wild-card playoff game.
Former UofL players
Gary Barnidge (Cleveland): The seventh-year tight end played, but didn’t have a catch in the Browns’ 20-10 loss at Baltimore on Sunday afternoon. He finished the season with 13 receptions for 156 yards in 13 games, including two starts, for Cleveland (7-9).
Josh Bellamy (Chicago): The rookie wideout played, but didn’t register a reception in the Bears’ 13-9 loss at Minnesota on Sunday afternoon. Bellamy played in four games, but didn’t have a catch this season for Chicago, which finished 5-11.
Bridgewater (Minnesota): The rookie quarterback completed 17 of 25 passes for 209 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the Vikings’ 13-9 win over visiting Chicago on Sunday. Bridgewater made a strong case for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year this season (although Odell Beckham Jr. and Mike Evans might have something to say about that), completing 259 of 402 passes (a 64.4 completion percentage) for 2,919 yards with 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 13 games (which included 12 starts). He also rushed for 209 yards and one TD for Minnesota, which finished 7-9. Bridgewater seemed to be at his best at the end of the season. Over the final five games he completed an extremely accurate 101 of 140 passes (a 72.1 completion percentage) for eight touchdowns against five interceptions as the Vikings went 3-2.
Brown (Buffalo): The rookie inside linebacker tallied five tackles, including one for a loss, in the Bills’ 17-9 win at New England on Sunday afternoon. Brown finished the season with a team-high 109 tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery in 16 games, including 14 starts, for Buffalo (9-7).
Harry Douglas (Atlanta): The sixth-year wide receiver had five catches for 28 yards in the Falcons’ 34-3 loss to visiting Carolina on Sunday afternoon. Douglas finished the season with 51 receptions for 556 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games, including six starts, for Atlanta (6-10).
Elvis Dumervil (Baltimore): The outside linebacker, who is in his ninth season, tallied five tackles in the Ravens’ 20-10 win over visiting Cleveland on Sunday afternoon. Dumervil finished the regular season with 37 tackles, including 17 sacks (third-best in the league), and two forced fumbles for Baltimore (10-6), which will play at Pittsburgh at 8:15 p.m. this coming Saturday night in an AFC wild-card playoff game.
William Gay (Pittsburgh): The cornerback, who is in his eighth season, tallied three tackles for the Steelers in their 27-17 win over visiting Cincinnati on Sunday night to claim the AFC North title. Gay finished the regular season with 69 tackles and three interceptions in 16 games (including 13 starts) for Pittsburgh (11-5), which hosts Baltimore at 8:15 p.m. this coming Saturday night in an AFC wild-card playoff game.
Breno Giacomini (New York Jets): The seventh-year starting offensive tackle and the Jets won 37-24 at Miami on Sunday afternoon. Giacomini started all 16 games this season for New York (4-12), which fired coach Rex Ryan on Monday.
Senorise Perry (Chicago): The rookie running back was active, but didn’t register a carry or tackle in the Bears’ 13-9 loss at Minnesota on Sunday. Perry had one reception for -1 yard in 16 games this season for Chicago, which finished 5-11.
Bilal Powell (New York Jets): The fourth-year running back had one carry for 0 yards in the Jets’ 37-24 win at Miami on Sunday afternoon. Powell finished the season with 33 carries for 141 yards and one touchdown and 11 receptions for 92 yards for New York (4-12).
Calvin Pryor (New York Jets): The rookie free safety tallied five tackles for the Jets in their 37-24 win at Miami on Sunday afternoon. Pryor finished the season with 60 tackles, including half a sack, for New York, which finished 4-12.
Marcus Smith (Philadelphia): The rookie linebacker was inactive for the Eagles in their 34-26 win at the New York Giants on Sunday afternoon. Smith, a first-round draft pick, finished a very disappointing rookie season with 0 tackles in eight games for Philadelphia (10-6).
Byron Stingily (Tennessee): The fourth-year offensive tackle started for the Titans in their 27-10 loss to Indianapolis on Sunday afternoon. Stingily played in 10 games, starting five, for Tennessee (2-14), which finished the season on a 10-game losing streak to earn the No. 2 pick in next spring’s NFL Draft.
Eric Wood (Buffalo): The sixth-year center made his 79th consecutive start for the Bills in their 17-9 win at New England on Sunday afternoon. Wood started all 16 games for the second consecutive season for Buffalo (9-7).
Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings Facebook Page
