#FromStateToSundays: Week 16 Update
December 26, 2023 | Football
Mississippi State's claim to the moniker of D-Line U was backed up yet again in Week 16 of the NFL with Chris Jones, Preston Smith and Denico Autry all getting to the quarterback for sacks.
Smith, who starred at defensive end for the Bulldogs before moving to outside linebacker at the next level, led the way with 1 ½ sacks in Green Bay's 33-30 win over Carolina. Smith ranks second on the Packers with seven sacks this season and now has 65 for his career.
During Week 16, Smith was given the No. 3 defensive grade for Green Bay by Pro Football Focus (PFF) and ranks fourth on the team overall in 2023 in that category.
Jones added a sack, a tackle for loss and three quarterback hurries for Kansas City on Christmas Day. The four-time Pro Bowler's performance ranked second in the NFL among interior defenders with a 90.1 pressure grade. He possesses the No. 1 defensive grade for the Chiefs this season (81.9)
Jones is second on the team with 8 ½ sacks on the year and has 73 ½ for his career.
Autry combined on a sack to bring his total on the year to 11 ½ which leads the Tennessee Titans and is tied for 12th in the league. Autry now has 59 sacks over the course of his career and also has the sixth-best special teams grade (90.7) in the NFL this season.
Speaking of special teams, State also shined in that facet of football as well this past week. J.T. Gray blocked a punt to help him earn the top special teams grade on the New Orleans Saints during Week 16 and is currently tied for seventh in the NFL with a 90.4 special teams grade this season.
Logan Cooke only punted once for Jacksonville this week but made the most of it, launching a season-best 65-yarder.
Dak Prescott continued his bid to be in the conversation for the NFL's Most Valuable Player by completing 20 of 32 passes for 253 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Prescott leads the league with 30 touchdown passes and ranks second among signal callers with a 90.2 offensive grade on the year.
Two-time Pro Bowler Jeffery Simmons saw his season cut short after the Titans placed him on injured reserve as a result of a knee injury.
Last Week: Abram made one solo tackle in a 30-22 loss at the Rams.
Season: 12 tackles (five solo, seven assists), one tackle for loss
Last Week: Autry started and made four assisted tackles, a half-sack and one quarterback hurry in a 20-17 loss to the Seahawks.
Season: 48 tackles (29 solo, 19 assists), 12 tackles for loss, 11 1/2 sacks, 16 quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, four pass defenses, two blocked kicks
Last Week: Cooke punted once for a season-long 65 yards in a 30-12 loss at the Buccaneers.
Season: Punting - 57 punts, 2,710 yards (47.5 avg.), long 65 Passing – 1 of 1, 13 yards
Last Week: Cox started and made five tackles (four solo, one assist) and one quarterback hurry in a 33-25 win over the Giants.
Season: 30 tackles (14 solo, 16 assists), five sacks, three tackles for loss, 16 quarterback hurries, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, two pass defenses
Last Week: Cross started at left tackle in a 20-17 win at the Titans.
Season: 12 games played, 12 starts
Last Week: Dantzler was not active in a 30-22 loss at the Rams.
Season: Two games played
Last Week: Emerson started and made three solo tackles and one pass defense in a 36-22 win at the Texans.
Season: 53 tackles (39 solo, 14 assists), one tackle for loss, 12 pass defenses, four interceptions
Last Week: Forbes made one solo tackle in a 30-28 loss at the Jets.
Season: 26 tackles (24 solo, two assists), two tackles for loss, 10 pass defenses, one interception
Last Week: Gay started and made two solo tackles in a 20-14 loss to the Raiders.
Season: 53 tackles (40 solo, 13 assists), three tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries, three quarterback hurries, four pass defenses, one interception
Last Week: Gray blocked a punt in a 30-22 loss at the Rams.
Season: 11 tackles (six solo, five assists), one blocked punt
Last Week: Jackson saw action in a 33-30 loss to the Packers.
Season: Three games played
Last Week: Jenkins started at left guard in a 33-30 win at the Panthers.
Season: 13 games played, 13 starts, one tackle, one fumble recovery
Last Week: Jones started and made two tackles (one solo, one assist), one tackle for loss, one sack and three quarterback hurries in a 20-14 loss to the Raiders.
Season: 28 tackles (18 solo, 10 assists), 8 1/2 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, 23 quarterback hurries, four pass defenses
Last Week: Phillips started at right tackle in a 33-25 loss at the Eagles.
Season: Nine games played, eight starts
Last Week: Prescott started and completed 20 of 32 passes for 253 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed five times for 25 yards in a 22-20 loss at the Dolphins.
Season: Passing – 353 of 516, 3,892 yards, 30 touchdowns, seven interceptions Rushing – 53 carries, 234 yards, two touchdowns
Last Week: Simmons was placed on injured reserve (knee) and will miss the remainder of the season.
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 was not active in a 33-25 win over the Giants.
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 three tackles (two solo, one assist), one tackle for loss, 1 ½ sacks and four quarterback hurries in a 33-30 win at the Panthers.
Season: 40 tackles (20 solo, 20 assists), three tackles for loss, seven sacks, 14 quarterback hurries, four pass defenses
Last Week: Spencer was on the practice squad for a 30-28 win over the Commanders.
Season: N/A
Last Week: Sweat started and made two solo tackles and one pass defense in a 27-16 win over the Cardinals.
Season: 53 tackles (36 solo, 17 assists), 13 tackles for loss, 12 1/2 sacks, three forced fumbles, 27 quarterback hurries, four pass defenses
Last Week: Wheat saw action in a 22-20 loss at the Dolphins.
Season: Two tackles (one solo, one assist)
Last Week: Williams was on the practice squad for a 30-12 loss at the Buccaneers.
Season: N/A
Last Week: Young made one assisted tackle in a 20-17 win at the Titans.
Season: 14 tackles (nine solo, five assists), one tackle for loss, one quarterback hurry
