#FromStateToSundays: Week 14 Update
December 12, 2023 | Football
Martin Emerson continues to be sensational during his second season in the NFL.
The Cleveland Browns cornerback who starred in Mississippi State's secondary from 2019-21 snagged two interceptions, defended three passes and finished with four solo tackles in a 31-27 win over Jacksonville.
Emerson earned the No. 4 coverage grade among NFL corners in Week 14 at 89.9, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF) and the sixth-best defensive grade among his position group at 84.5. He graded out as the second-highest Brown in both categories during Sunday's victory.
Several of the Bulldogs' top defensive line standouts from years past also made their presence known last week. Fletcher Cox had a strip sack that resulted in a fumble returned for a touchdown for Philadelphia while Montez Sweat provided a sack for Chicago and Denico Autry blocked his second field goal of the season to help secure Tennessee's 28-27 win at Miami on Monday Night Football.
Cox earned the top pressure grade on the Eagles defense during Week 14 and now has 69 sacks for his career. Sweat also led the Bears in pressure production, tied for third on the team with five tackles and received the third-highest defensive grade on the roster. Sweat has a team-high 3 ½ sacks in five games since joining Chicago in Week 9 and has helped the Bears become a Top 5 defense during that time.
Cox's teammate, Darius Slay, led Philadelphia with an 81.6 overall grade, which also included a team-best 81.7 coverage grade.
Johnathan Abram recorded a tackle for loss in New Orleans' win while Chris Jones was credited with three quarterback hurries for Kansas City's defense and now ranks sixth among interior defenders this season with an 84.4 pass rush grade.
Dak Prescott continued his dominance and is now considered the frontrunner to be the NFL's Most Valuable Player. Prescott connected on 24 of 39 passes for 271 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in Dallas' 33-13 win over the Eagles.
Prescott has thrown multiple touchdowns in seven-straight games, tying Tony Romo for the longest such streak in Cowboys' history. During Dallas' five-game winning streak, Prescott has thrown 15 touchdowns and only one interception while earning a 93.8 grade over that stretch.
Prescott leads the league with 28 TD throws and continues to top all NFL quarterbacks with a 92.1 offensive grade and 91 passing grade this year.
In the offensive trenches, Charles Cross earned the top blocking grade along Seattle's front while Green Bay's Elgton Jenkins ranks seventh among guards with a 76.6 pass blocking grade for the season. Gabe Jackson also made his season debut for the Carolina Panthers.
JOHNATHAN ABRAM | S | NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | AT MSU: 2017-18Last Week: Abram made one solo tackle for loss in a 28-6 win over the Panthers.
Season: 11 tackles (four solo, seven assists), one tackle for loss
Last Week: Autry started and made two solo tackles and blocked a field goal in a 28-27 win at the Dolphins.
Season: 40 tackles (25 solo, 15 assists), 10 tackles for loss, nine sacks, 13 quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, four pass defenses, two blocked kicks
Last Week: Cooke punted seven times for 321 yards (45.9 avg.) with a long of 57 yards. He pinned two of those punts inside the 10-yard line.
Season: Punting - 53 punts, 2,497 yards (47.1 avg.), long 62 Passing – 1 of 1, 13 yards
Last Week: Cox started and made three tackles (one solo, two assists), one sack, one quarterback hurry, one pass defense and one forced fumble in a 33-13 loss at the Cowboys.
Season: 24 tackles (nine solo, 15 assists), four sacks, two tackles for loss, 14 quarterback hurries, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, two pass defenses
Last Week: Cross started at left tackle in a 28-16 loss at the 49ers.
Season: 10 games played, 10 starts
Last Week: Dantlzer did not play in a 28-6 win over the Panthers.
Season: Two games played
MARTIN EMERSON | CB | CLEVELAND BROWNS | AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week: Emerson started and made four solo tackles, two interceptions and three pass defenses in a 31-27 win over the Jaguars.
Season: 44 tackles (32 solo, 12 assists), one tackle for loss, 10 pass defenses, four interceptions
Last Week: Bye
Season: 25 tackles (23 solo, two assists), two tackles for loss, 10 pass defenses, one interception
Last Week: Gay started and made four solo tackles in a 20-17 loss to the Bills.
Season: 49 tackles (36 solo, 13 assists), three tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries, three quarterback hurries, three pass defenses
Last Week: Gray made two solo tackles on special teams in a 28-6 win over the Panthers.
Season: 10 tackles (five solo, five assists)
Last Week: Jackson made his 2023 debut in a 28-6 loss at the Saints
Season: One game played
ELGTON JENKINS | OG | GREEN BAY PACKERS | AT MSU: 2014-18
Last Week: Jenkins started at left guard in a 24-22 loss at the Giants.
Season: 11 games played, 11 starts, one tackle, one fumble recovery
Last Week: Jones started and made three quarterback hurries in a 20-17 loss to the Bills.
Season: 24 tackles (15 solo, nine assists), 7 1/2 sacks, nine tackles for loss, 20 quarterback hurries, three pass defenses
Last Week: Phillips started at right tackle in a 24-22 win over the Packers.
Season: Seven games played, six starts
Last Week: Prescott started and completed 24 of 39 passes for 271 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed three times for 11 yards in a 33-13 win over the Eagles.
Season: Passing – 312 of 450, 3,505 yards, 28 touchdowns, six interceptions Rushing – 44 carries, 185 yards, two touchdowns
Last Week: Simmons was not active in a 28-27 win over the Dolphins.
Season: Defense - 37 tackles (23 solo, 14 assists), 11 tackles for loss, 5 1/2 sacks, 11 quarterback hurries, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one pass defense Receiving – One catch, two yards, one touchdown
Last Week: Slay started and made four tackles (three solo, one assist) and three pass defenses in a 33-13 loss at the Cowboys.
Season: 50 tackles (41 solo, nine assists), one tackle for loss, 15 pass defenses, two interceptions, one touchdown
Last Week: Smith started at outside linebacker and made one assisted tackle in a 24-22 loss at the Giants.
Season: 36 tackles (18 solo, 18 assists), two tackles for loss, 5 1/2 sacks, 10 quarterback hurries, four pass defenses
Last Week: Spencer was on the practice squad for a 30-6 win over the Texans.
Season: N/A
Last Week: Sweat started and finished tied for third on the team with five tackles (three solo, two assists), one sack, four quarterback hurries and one pass defense in a 28-13 win over the Lions.
Season: 44 tackles (29 solo, 15 assists), 12 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, two forced fumbles, 24 quarterback hurries, three pass defenses
Last Week: Thomas was on the practice squad for a 28-6 loss at the Saints.
Season: N/A
Last Week: Wheat saw action in a 33-13 win over the Eagles.
Season: One solo tackle
Last Week: Williams was on the practice squad for a 31-27 loss at the Browns.
Season: N/A
Last Week: Young saw action in a 28-16 loss at the 49ers.
Season: 11 tackles (seven solo, four assists), one tackle for loss, one quarterback hurry
