Photo by: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
#FromStateToSundays: Week 8 Update
November 01, 2022 | Football
STARKVILLE – Former Mississippi State standout Jeffery Simmons was the highest-rated defensive player in the NFL during Week 8 according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).
The defensive tackle received a 92.8 overall defensive grade, recording two tackles for loss and a sack in the Tennessee Titans' 17-10 win at the Houston Texans. Simmons' sack resulted in a 12-yard loss on third down and gives him 5.5 sacks on the year.
It marked the third consecutive game that Simmons has recorded a sack in and ups his career total to 19 sacks.
Domination. @GrindSimmons94
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) October 30, 2022
📺: Watch #TENvsHOU on @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/RH6IsGWmME
Martin Emerson had a strong Monday Night Football debut. Emerson finished second on the Cleveland Browns with nine tackles and played all but one defensive snap in a 32-13 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Emerson ranks fifth among rookies with a 76.2 overall defensive grade this season.
the rook shining under the bright lights ✨@budlight | #BudLightCelly pic.twitter.com/nVsbcTPZ0C
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 1, 2022
Emerson, however, wasn't the only former Bulldog cornerback racking up tackles in Week 8. Cameron Dantzler led Minnesota with nine stops and helped the Vikings improve to 6-1 on the year.
Fletcher Cox and Preston Smith each added a tackle for loss for the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers respectively.
Great drive to start the day.
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) October 30, 2022
A little trickery from @dak to finish it off! 🪄
📺: @NFLonFOX | #CHIvsDAL pic.twitter.com/O2F3uh3rHz
Dak Prescott led the Dallas Cowboys to their second straight win since returning from a fractured right thumb. Prescott completed 21 of 27 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for another score.
Prescott guided the Cowboys to four straight scoring drives to start the game, the first time Dallas has done that since 2014. His 7-yard touchdown run on the opening drive as the 26th of his career.
.@dak ➡️ @_CeeDeeThree = chef's kiss.
— NFL (@NFL) October 30, 2022
📺: #CHIvsDAL on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/QMxVpZl61r pic.twitter.com/FmciwvSAfN
Prescott posted a 114.5 quarterback rating in the win over the Chicago Bears and his 91.7 overall offensive grade from PFF was second among quarterbacks during Week 8.
Gabe Jackson returned to the Seattle Seahawks' offensive line and earned season-high grades in run blocking (79) and overall offense (81.6).
Come for the @jqfergy11 TD. Stay for the rodeo celly! 🤠
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) October 30, 2022
📺: @NFLonFOX | #CHIvsDAL pic.twitter.com/6hZLFiKflx
Logan Cooke continued his strong season punting for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Cooke punted six times and pinned four inside the red zone. He also boomed a season-long 63-yarder.
Starkville native Kobe Jones was activated from the Packers' practice squad last Saturday and made his NFL debut the following day. Jones played 14 snaps against the Buffalo Bills – seven on defense and seven more on special teams.
The Bears signed Gerri Green to their practice squad on Oct. 27.
BIG JEFF BLEW THIS PLAY UP! @GrindSimmons94
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) October 30, 2022
📺: Watch #TENvsHOU on @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/UJHeuEKM2g
JOHNATHAN ABRAM | LAS VEGAS RAIDERS – S | AT MSU: 2017-18
Season: 7 G, 6 GS, 30 TKL, 11 AST, 41 TT, 2 QBH, 1 PD
Last Week: 1 AST, 1 TT at New Orleans Saints (L, 0-24)
DENICO AUTRY | TENNESSEE TITANS – DT/DE | AT MSU: 2012-13
Season: 7 G, 3 GS, 8 TKL, 7 AST, 15 TT, 5.0 SK, 4.0 TFL, 10 QBH, 2 PD, 1 FF
Last Week: 2 QBH at Houston Texans (W, 17-10)
- Helped the Titans defense allow just 161 yards, its lowest total since Sept. 19, 2010 (127, Pittsburgh)
- Tennessee's defense has now held three of its last four opponents to fewer than 50 rushing yards
Season: 8 G, 26 Punts, 1,297 YDS, 49.9 AVG, LONG 63, 2 TB, 9 In-20, 44.3 NET AVG
Last Week: 6 Punts, 287 YDS, 47.8 AVG, LONG 63 vs. Denver Broncos (L, 17-21)
- Booted a season-long 63-yard punt in the fourth quarter
- Landed four punts inside the 20, which is a season high and one shy of his career best set twice last year
- Ranks second in the NFL in net yards over average (4.282)
Season: 7 G, 7 GS, 5 TKL, 10 AST, 15 TT, 3.0 SK, 2 TFL, 7 QBH, 1 FF, 1 FR
Last Week: 1 GS, 1 TKL, 1 AST, 2 TT, 1.0 TFL vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (W, 35-13)
- Philadelphia remains the only undefeated team in the NFL as it is the franchise's second 7-0 start (2004)
- The Eagles' seven-game winning streak is the longest since a franchise-record 9-game streak in 2017
- Has now played 163 career regular-season games for Philadelphia, which ranks ninth in franchise history and fourth among defensive players
Season: 8 G, 8 GS, 19 Pressures Allowed, 1 FR
Last Week: 1 GS, 3 Pressures Allowed vs. New York Giants (W, 27-13)
- Ranks seventh among rookie offensive linemen with a 66.0 pass rush grade from PFF this season
Season: 7 G, 7 GS, 40 TKL, 3 AST, 43 TT, 2.0 TFL, 4 PD, 1 FF, 1 FR
Last Week: 1 GS, 9 TKL, 9 TT vs. Arizona Cardinals (W, 34-26)
GREG EILAND (PS) | SEATTLE SEAHAWKS – OT | AT MSU: 2016-20
Season: Practice Squad
Last Week: DNP vs. New York Giants (W, 27-13)
MARTIN EMERSON JR. | CLEVELAND BROWNS – CB | AT MSU: 2019-21
Season: 8 G, 3 GS, 32 TKL, 4 AST, 36 TT, 1.0 SK, 1.0 TFL, 1 QBH, 6 PD
Last Week: 1 GS, 6 TKL, 3 AST, 9 TT, 2 PD vs. Cincinnati Bengals (W, 32-13)
- Played all but one defensive snap
- Ranks third in the NFL this season with eight forced incompletions per PFF, which accounts for tight coverage along with breakups and interceptions
- Boasts the No. 5 overall defensive grade (76.2) and No. 6 coverage grade (79.3) among rookies this season per PFF
Season: 3 G, 3 GS, 12 TKL, 12 AST, 24 TT, 0.5 SK, 2.0 TFL, 2 QBH, 2 PD
Last Week: BYE
J.T. GRAY | NEW ORLEANS SAINTS – DB | AT MSU: 2014-17
Season: 8 G, 1 TKL, 2 AST, 3 TT, 1.5 SK, 1 QBH, 7 ST TKL
Last Week: 1 ST TKL vs. Las Vegas Raiders (W, 24-0)
- Tied for seventh in the NFL with seven total special teams tackles
- Tied for eighth in the league in pass rush grade (90.9) this season per PFF
Season: Practice Squad
Last Week: DNP at Dallas Cowboys (W, 49-29)
KYLIN HILL | GREEN BAY PACKERS – RB | AT MSU: 2017-20
Season: PUP
Last Week: DNP at Buffalo Bills (L, 17-27)
GABE JACKSON | SEATTLE SEAHAWKS – OG | AT MSU 2009-13
Season: 6 G, 6 GS, 15 Pressures Allowed
Last Week: 1 GS, 1 Pressure Allowed vs. New York Giants (W, 27-13)
- Posted a season-high 81.6 offensive grade and 79.0 run blocking grade per PFF
Season: 5 G, 5 GS, 12 Pressures Allowed
Last Week: DNP at Buffalo Bills (L, 17-27)
CHRIS JONES | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS – DT | AT MSU: 2013-15
Season: 7 G, 7 GS, 10 TKL, 3 AST, 13 TT, 5.0 SK, 6.0 TFL, 8 QBH, 3 PD, 2 FF, 1 FR
Last Week: BYE
- Remains tied for the top overall defensive grade in the NFL (92.9) and the No. 3 pass rush grade (92.3) this season per PFF
Season: 1 G
Last Week: 14 Total Snaps at Buffalo Bills (L, 17-27)
- Made his NFL debut after being activated from the practice squad
- Played seven defensive snaps and seven special teams snaps on both punt and kick returns
Season: 2 G, 1 GS, 6 Pressures Allowed
Last Week: 1 GS, 2 Pressures Allowed at Seattle Seahawks (L, 13-27)
MAKAI POLK (PS)| NEW YORK GIANTS – WR | AT MSU: 2021
Season: Practice Squad
Last Week: DNP at Seattle Seahawks (L, 13-27)
DAK PRESCOTT | DALLAS COWBOYS – QB | AT MSU: 2011-2015
Season: 3 G, 3 GS, 54-81, 591 YDS, 3 TD, 90.1 QBR, 10 RUSH, 45 YDS, LONG 25
Last Week: 1 GS, 21-27, 250 YDS, 2 TD, 114.5 QBR, 5 RUSH, 34 YDS, LONG 25 vs. Chicago Bears (W, 49-29)
- Led the Dallas offense to a touchdown on each of its first four offensive possessions, marking the first time the Cowboys had scored on their first four drives since Dec. 12, 2014 (Indianapolis)
- Dallas posted a season-high 442 yards of total offense and six touchdowns, which was half of its season total entering the game
- Broke a season-long 25-yard run, which is the third-longest of his career and longest since a career-long 42-yard run in 2019 (at Washington)
- Ran for his 26th career rushing touchdown
- Turned in a 90.3 passing grade per PFF, which ranked third in the NFL, and a 91.7 overall offensive grade that was second among league quarterbacks
Season: 7 G, 7 GS, 13 TKL, 13 AST, 26 TT, 5.5 SK, 6.0 TFL, 9 QBH, 3 PD, 1 FF
Last Week: 1 GS, 2 TKL, 2 TT, 1.0 SK, 2.0 TFL, 1 QBH at Houston Texans (W, 17-10)
- Recorded a 12-yard sack in the third quarter on third down
- Made a tackle for a loss of three yards on a 2nd-and-20 that led to a punt in the first quarter
- Posted a league-leading 92.8 overall defensive grade per PFF in Week 8, highlighted by a 91.7 pass rush grade and seven total pressures, both of which ranked third
- Ranks fourth in the NFL this season in overall defensive grade (90.9) and No. 10 in pass rush grade (90.7)
- Tied for 13th in the NFL with 5.5 sacks and tied for 11th in sack yardage (44)
- Now has 19.0 career sacks and has gone three straight games with a sack for the first time in his career
- Helped the Titans defense allow just 161 yards, its lowest total since Sept. 19, 2010 (127, Pittsburgh)
- Tennessee's defense has now held three of its last four opponents to fewer than 50 rushing yards
Season: 7 G, 7 GS, 15 TKL, 6 AST, 21 TT, 3 IN, 8 PD
Last Week: 1 GS, 1 TKL, 1 AST, 2 TT, 1 PD vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (W, 35-13)
- Philadelphia remains the only undefeated team in the NFL as it is the franchise's second 7-0 start (2004)
- The Eagles' seven-game winning streak is the longest since a franchise-record 9-game streak in 2017
- Tied for sixth in the NFL with three interceptions and eight pass defenses
- Leads all NFL players with 127 pass defenses since his rookie season in 2013
Season: 8 G, 8 GS, 18 TKL, 10 AST, 28 TT, 3.5 SK, 5.0 TFL, 9 QBH
Last Week: 1 GS, 4 TKL, 1 AST, 5 TT, 1.0 TFL at Buffalo Bills (L, 17-27)
- Made a tackle for a loss of four yards in the fourth quarter
Season: 8 G, 8 GS, 16 TKL, 10 AST, 26 TT, 3.0 SK, 6.0 TFL, 16 QBH, 1 PD
Last Week: 1 GS, 2 AST, 2 TT, 2 QBH at Indianapolis Colts (W, 17-16)
- Tied for second in the league with 16 QB hits this season
- Has totaled 32 pressures per PFF, which is tied for eighth in the league
- Ranks 15th in the NFL this season in overall defensive grade (88.6) per PFF and holds the No. 10 run defense grade (87.6)
DARRYL WILLIAMS (PS) | JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS – OL | AT MSU: 2015-19
Season: Practice Squad
Last Week: DNP vs. Denver Broncos (L, 17-21)
ISAIAH ZUBER (PS) | LAS VEGAS RAIDERS – WR | AT MSU: 2019
Season: Practice Squad
Last Week: DNP at New Orleans Saints (L, 0-24)
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