
Gators In The NFL: Week 16
Monday, December 27, 2021 | Football
GAINESVILLE, FL – Following a busy week 16 in the NFL, Falcons Rookie Tight End Kyle Pitts gave Atlanta the best Christmas gift of all by etching his name in the history books.
Offensive Highlights
No tight end in the history of the Atlanta Falcons has ever had more yards in a season than Gator Kyle Pitts.
Tony Gonzalez, widely considered to be one of the greatest tight ends of all-time, played four seasons for Atlanta.
Pitts' 103 yards Sunday was his third 100-yard game of the season. He now has 949 yards on the season, the second most by any rookie tight end in NFL history, behind only Mike Ditka's 1,076 yards in 1961.
It's these numbers that made Pitts a 2021 NFL Pro Bowl selection.
Numbers and highlights. Highlights like the one-handed grab Pitts made Sunday.
No wonder they call him the "Unicorn."
Defensive Highlights
Seattle veteran defensive end Carlos Dunlap can't stop making plays. The former Gator, now in his 12th season, added to his packed stat sheet, with a five-tackle, two-sack day. He added another tackle for loss, pass defense, forced fumble and three QB hits.
Dunlap was everywhere.
In Seattle, Dunlap is proving he still has plenty left in the tank.
Special Teams Highlights
It was a tight game in the third quarter in Minnesota. The Los Angeles Rams held a 3-point 13-10 lead in a playoff-clinching game for LA. Desperate for a spark, the Rams found it in Gator Brandon Powell.
Powell, the Rams primary returner, caught it at his own 39-yard line, then burst down the right sideline going untouched for a 61-yard punt return touchdown. Spark found. Game changed.
It's this blazing speed that made him a walking highlight in Gainesville. And it's what keeps him making plays for one of the NFL's elite in Los Angeles.
Arizona Cardinals (Arizona 16 – Indianapolis 22)
74 - D.J. Humphries- OL- 7th year (Started at left tackle)
73 - Max Garcia- G- 7th year (Started at center)
20 - Marco Wilson- CB- Rookie (Started at CB, recorded three tackles)
Atlanta Falcons (Atlanta 20 – Detroit 16)
56 - Dante Fowler Jr.- DE – 7th year (Recorded three tackles and one QB hit)
8 - Kyle Pitts- TE- Rookie (Started at TE, recorded six receptions for 102 yards)
99 - Jonathan Bullard- DL- 6th year (Recorded three tackles)
Buffalo Bills (Buffalo 33 – New England 21)
51 - Bryan Cox Jr.- DL- 5th year (Injured Reserve)
Carolina Panthers (Carolina 6 – Tampa Bay 32)
15 - CJ Henderson - CB - 2nd year (Started at CB, recorded three tackles and defended one pass)
Chicago Bears (Chicago 25 – Seattle 24)
37 - Jalen "Teez" Tabor- DB- 5th year (Appeared at Safety against Seattle)
Cincinnati Bengals (Cincinnati 41 – Baltimore 21)
74 - Fred Johnson- OT- 3rd year (Inactive)
29 - Vernon Hargreaves III - CB - 6th year (Inactive)
2 - Evan McPherson- K- Rookie (5-for-5 on extra points, 2-for-3 on field goals, connecting from 30 and 36 yards away)
Dallas Cowboys (Dallas 56 – Washington 14)
42 - Keanu Neal- S/LB - 6th year (Recorded five tackles)
Denver Broncos (Denver 13 – Las Vegas 17)
20 - Duke Dawson Jr.- DB- 4th year (Injured Reserve)
Detroit Lions (Detroit 16 – Atlanta 20)
34 - Alex Anzalone – LB – 5th year (Injured Reserve)
Green Bay Packers (Green Bay 24 – Green Bay 22)
93 - T.J. Slaton- DL- Rookie (Recorded one tackle)
30 - Shawn Davis - S - 2nd year (Recorded one tackle)
Houston Texans (Houston 41 – LA Chargers 29)
6 - Jeff Driskel – QB/TE – 6th year (Injured Reserve)
52 - Jonathan Greenard- LB- 2nd year (Reserve/COVID-19)
Jacksonville Jaguars (Jacksonville 21 – NY Jets 26)
90 - Taven Bryan- DT- 4th year (Appeared at DT against New York)
55 - Lerentee McCray- LB- 7th year (Inactive)
75 - Jawaan Taylor- OT- 3rd year (Started at right tackle)
81 - Josh Hammond- WR- 2nd year (Appeared at WR against New York)
Kansas City Chiefs (Kansas City 36 – Pittsburgh 10)
11 - Demarcus Robinson- WR- 6th year (Started at WR, caught two passes for 15 yards)
5 - Tommy Townsend- P- 2nd year (Reserve/COVID-19)
8 - Johnny Townsend- P- 4th year (Punted twice with a 45.5 yard average)
Los Angeles Rams (LA Rams 30 – Minnesota 23)
12 - Van Jefferson- WR- 2nd year (Caught one pass for six yards)
19 - Brandon Powell- WR- 4th year (Returned two punts for 75 yards, including a 61-yard return touchdown)
New England Patriots (New England 21 – Buffalo 33)
77 - Trent Brown- OT- 7th year (Started at right tackle)
New Orleans Saints (Monday Night vs Miami)
22 - CJ Gardner-Johnson- DB- 3rd year
New York Giants (NY Giants 10 – Philadelphia 34)
89 - Kadarius Toney -- WR- Rookie (Recorded four receptions for 28 yards, leading the team in receiving)
New York Jets (NY Jets 26 – Jacksonville 21)
20 - Marcus Maye- S- 5th year (Injured Reserve)
22 – La'Mical Perine- RB- 2nd year (Inactive)
52 - Jarrad Davis- LB- 5th year (Recorded eight tackles)
92 - Jabari Zuniga- DE- 2nd year (Practice Squad)
15 – Eddy Pineiro Jr.- K- 4th year (2-for-3 on extra points, 2-for-2 on field goals, connecting from 20 and 42 yards away)
Pittsburgh Steelers (Pittsburgh 10 – Kansas City 36)
23 - Joe Haden – CB – 12th year (Started at cornerback, recorded four tackles)
26 - Donovan Stiner- S- Rookie (Practice Squad)
74 - Chaz Green – OT – 5th year (Practice Squad)
Seattle Seahawks (Seattle 25 – Chicago 24)
18 - Freddie Swain- WR- 2nd year (Started at WR, recorded one reception for nine yards)
8 - Carlos Dunlap- DE- 12th year (Recorded five tackles, two sacks, one tackle for loss, three QB hits, one forced fumble and one pass defense)
78 - Stone Forsythe- OL- Rookie (Appeared at tackle against Chicago)
San Francisco 49ers (San Francisco 17 – Tennessee 20)
36 - Marcell Harris- S/LB - 4th year (Started at LB, recorded four tackles)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Tampa Bay 32 – Carolina 6)
2 - Kyle Trask- QB- Rookie (Inactive)
Washington Football Team (Washington 14 – Dallas 56)
53 - Jon Bostic- LB- 9th year (Injured Reserve)
Offensive Highlights
No tight end in the history of the Atlanta Falcons has ever had more yards in a season than Gator Kyle Pitts.
Tony Gonzalez, widely considered to be one of the greatest tight ends of all-time, played four seasons for Atlanta.
Kyle Pitts has surpassed Tony Gonzalez for the most receiving yards by a TE in a single season in franchise history.
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 27, 2021
📰 - https://t.co/jzHIEYF4w9 pic.twitter.com/lt4tZk1HoZ
Pitts' 103 yards Sunday was his third 100-yard game of the season. He now has 949 yards on the season, the second most by any rookie tight end in NFL history, behind only Mike Ditka's 1,076 yards in 1961.
It's these numbers that made Pitts a 2021 NFL Pro Bowl selection.
Numbers and highlights. Highlights like the one-handed grab Pitts made Sunday.
Just throw it up and let the 🦄 handle the rest.
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) December 26, 2021
📺 FOX | #GatorMade pic.twitter.com/52wGV2diK2
No wonder they call him the "Unicorn."
Defensive Highlights
Seattle veteran defensive end Carlos Dunlap can't stop making plays. The former Gator, now in his 12th season, added to his packed stat sheet, with a five-tackle, two-sack day. He added another tackle for loss, pass defense, forced fumble and three QB hits.
Dunlap was everywhere.
The ruling on the field is a fumble forced by @Carlos_Dunlap. #GoHawks
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 26, 2021
📺 #CHIvsSEA on FOX pic.twitter.com/uIyigJzfWk
In Seattle, Dunlap is proving he still has plenty left in the tank.
Special Teams Highlights
It was a tight game in the third quarter in Minnesota. The Los Angeles Rams held a 3-point 13-10 lead in a playoff-clinching game for LA. Desperate for a spark, the Rams found it in Gator Brandon Powell.
Powell, the Rams primary returner, caught it at his own 39-yard line, then burst down the right sideline going untouched for a 61-yard punt return touchdown. Spark found. Game changed.
BP to the 🏠!
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) December 26, 2021
📺 FOX | #GatorMade pic.twitter.com/dM5VrZiagE
It's this blazing speed that made him a walking highlight in Gainesville. And it's what keeps him making plays for one of the NFL's elite in Los Angeles.
Arizona Cardinals (Arizona 16 – Indianapolis 22)
74 - D.J. Humphries- OL- 7th year (Started at left tackle)
73 - Max Garcia- G- 7th year (Started at center)
20 - Marco Wilson- CB- Rookie (Started at CB, recorded three tackles)
Atlanta Falcons (Atlanta 20 – Detroit 16)
56 - Dante Fowler Jr.- DE – 7th year (Recorded three tackles and one QB hit)
8 - Kyle Pitts- TE- Rookie (Started at TE, recorded six receptions for 102 yards)
99 - Jonathan Bullard- DL- 6th year (Recorded three tackles)
Buffalo Bills (Buffalo 33 – New England 21)
51 - Bryan Cox Jr.- DL- 5th year (Injured Reserve)
Carolina Panthers (Carolina 6 – Tampa Bay 32)
15 - CJ Henderson - CB - 2nd year (Started at CB, recorded three tackles and defended one pass)
Chicago Bears (Chicago 25 – Seattle 24)
37 - Jalen "Teez" Tabor- DB- 5th year (Appeared at Safety against Seattle)
Cincinnati Bengals (Cincinnati 41 – Baltimore 21)
74 - Fred Johnson- OT- 3rd year (Inactive)
29 - Vernon Hargreaves III - CB - 6th year (Inactive)
2 - Evan McPherson- K- Rookie (5-for-5 on extra points, 2-for-3 on field goals, connecting from 30 and 36 yards away)
Dallas Cowboys (Dallas 56 – Washington 14)
42 - Keanu Neal- S/LB - 6th year (Recorded five tackles)
Denver Broncos (Denver 13 – Las Vegas 17)
20 - Duke Dawson Jr.- DB- 4th year (Injured Reserve)
Detroit Lions (Detroit 16 – Atlanta 20)
34 - Alex Anzalone – LB – 5th year (Injured Reserve)
Green Bay Packers (Green Bay 24 – Green Bay 22)
93 - T.J. Slaton- DL- Rookie (Recorded one tackle)
30 - Shawn Davis - S - 2nd year (Recorded one tackle)
Houston Texans (Houston 41 – LA Chargers 29)
6 - Jeff Driskel – QB/TE – 6th year (Injured Reserve)
52 - Jonathan Greenard- LB- 2nd year (Reserve/COVID-19)
Jacksonville Jaguars (Jacksonville 21 – NY Jets 26)
90 - Taven Bryan- DT- 4th year (Appeared at DT against New York)
55 - Lerentee McCray- LB- 7th year (Inactive)
75 - Jawaan Taylor- OT- 3rd year (Started at right tackle)
81 - Josh Hammond- WR- 2nd year (Appeared at WR against New York)
Kansas City Chiefs (Kansas City 36 – Pittsburgh 10)
11 - Demarcus Robinson- WR- 6th year (Started at WR, caught two passes for 15 yards)
5 - Tommy Townsend- P- 2nd year (Reserve/COVID-19)
8 - Johnny Townsend- P- 4th year (Punted twice with a 45.5 yard average)
Los Angeles Rams (LA Rams 30 – Minnesota 23)
12 - Van Jefferson- WR- 2nd year (Caught one pass for six yards)
19 - Brandon Powell- WR- 4th year (Returned two punts for 75 yards, including a 61-yard return touchdown)
New England Patriots (New England 21 – Buffalo 33)
77 - Trent Brown- OT- 7th year (Started at right tackle)
New Orleans Saints (Monday Night vs Miami)
22 - CJ Gardner-Johnson- DB- 3rd year
New York Giants (NY Giants 10 – Philadelphia 34)
89 - Kadarius Toney -- WR- Rookie (Recorded four receptions for 28 yards, leading the team in receiving)
New York Jets (NY Jets 26 – Jacksonville 21)
20 - Marcus Maye- S- 5th year (Injured Reserve)
22 – La'Mical Perine- RB- 2nd year (Inactive)
52 - Jarrad Davis- LB- 5th year (Recorded eight tackles)
92 - Jabari Zuniga- DE- 2nd year (Practice Squad)
15 – Eddy Pineiro Jr.- K- 4th year (2-for-3 on extra points, 2-for-2 on field goals, connecting from 20 and 42 yards away)
Pittsburgh Steelers (Pittsburgh 10 – Kansas City 36)
23 - Joe Haden – CB – 12th year (Started at cornerback, recorded four tackles)
26 - Donovan Stiner- S- Rookie (Practice Squad)
74 - Chaz Green – OT – 5th year (Practice Squad)
Seattle Seahawks (Seattle 25 – Chicago 24)
18 - Freddie Swain- WR- 2nd year (Started at WR, recorded one reception for nine yards)
8 - Carlos Dunlap- DE- 12th year (Recorded five tackles, two sacks, one tackle for loss, three QB hits, one forced fumble and one pass defense)
78 - Stone Forsythe- OL- Rookie (Appeared at tackle against Chicago)
San Francisco 49ers (San Francisco 17 – Tennessee 20)
36 - Marcell Harris- S/LB - 4th year (Started at LB, recorded four tackles)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Tampa Bay 32 – Carolina 6)
2 - Kyle Trask- QB- Rookie (Inactive)
Washington Football Team (Washington 14 – Dallas 56)
53 - Jon Bostic- LB- 9th year (Injured Reserve)
Players Mentioned
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Hayden Hansen Media Availability 10-13-25
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Billy Napier Media Availability 10-13-25
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