GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Gator DB's were all over the ball on a jolly weekend of football for Gators in the NFL.
Merry Christmas to all – it certainly was a Merry Christmas to Gators all across the league this weekend.
Defensive Highlights
It's every young defensive back's dream: intercepting Tom Brady.
On Christmas night, Cardinals cornerback Marco Wilson acted as Brady's grinch, picking off the greatest of all time not once. But twice.
Down 6-3 midway through the second frame and with Tampa Bay threatening, Wilson kept the score where it was.
Then in the third, with the game tied at six, Wilson read the route perfectly stepping in front of Bucs wideout Mike Evans for his second pick of the game and third of his young career.
Sunday night was a Christmas Wilson will surely never forget.
But Wilson wasn't the only Gator to nab a pick in Arizona Christmas night.
With seconds dwindling in the final quarter and the game tied, Buccaneers linebacker Keanu Neal put an end to any Cardinals' Hail Mary dreams. Neal stepped in front of several receivers, skying for the regulation-ending interception. Neal and the Bucs went on to win in overtime, 19-16, keeping Tampa's playoff hopes alive and well.
Down in Nashville, Texans edge rusher Jonathan Greenard reminded us just how much we missed him.
After missing 10 weeks with an injury, Greenard returned in a big way on Christmas Eve packing the stat sheet with three tackles, one QB hit, one fumble recovery and this huge tackle for loss on Derrick Henry.
Greenard's big plays on defense helped Houston win their first game since week five and shake up the standings in the AFC South.
Offensive Highlights
While it was a huge Christmas for Gator defenders, it was an equally impactful weekend for Gator playmakers.
In a vital game for playoff positioning in Baltimore, Ravens wide receiver Demarcus Robinson continued to build on his big season.
Late in the first half, with Baltimore clinging to a six-nothing lead, Robinson was there in the corner of the endzone to go up by an important two scores.
The score – the 16th touchdown grab of Robinson's career – proved to be the difference in a 17-9 win over Atlanta Saturday and helped the 10-5 Ravens stay alive in the division race.
Robinson is now up to 425 yards on 45 receptions and two scores in his first year in Baltimore. His yards and receptions are tops among wide receivers on the team.
In frigid Kansas City on Christmas Eve, Chiefs playmaker Kadarius Toney hit pay dirt for the second time this season.
With the game scoreless in quarter one, the human joystick did what he does best, weaving around defenders and taking the touch pass nine yards to the house, giving Chiefs fans an early Christmas present.
With the 24-10 win over Seattle, Toney and the 12-3 Chiefs are gearing up for a deep playoff.
Special Teams Highlights
If you've watched Carolina Panthers football recently, you've likely learned one thing:
Eddy Pineiro doesn't miss.
He didn't miss again on Saturday, finishing 4-for-4 on extra points and 3-for-3 on field goals connecting from 36, 37 and 40 yards away in a 37-23 win over Detroit.
Pineiro has not missed a single field goal since October 30th, nailing 17 consecutive since week 8.
Perhaps even more impressive, Pineiro is 31-for-33 on field goals this season, good for an incredible 93.9%.
His 31 made field goals rank second in the league and are the third-most in Panthers franchise history in a single season.
His 93.9% is number one in the league among kickers with over 30 attempted field goals.
Ladies and gentlemen, Eddy Pineiro has been arguably the league's best kicker in 2022.
The "Eddy" chants are ringing loud in Carolina.
Arizona Cardinals (Arizona 16 - Tampa Bay 19)
74 - D.J. Humphries - OL - 8th year (Injured Reserve)
20 - Marco Wilson - CB - 2nd year (Started at cornerback, recorded four tackles, two interceptions and two passes defended)
75 - Max Garcia - G - 8th year (Started at left guard)
Atlanta Falcons (Atlanta 9 - Baltimore 17)
8 - Kyle Pitts - TE - 2nd year (Injured Reserve)
62 - Jonotthan Harrison - OL - 7th year (Practice Squad)
Baltimore Ravens (Baltimore 17 - Atlanta 9)
10 - Demarcus Robinson - WR - 7th year (Caught one pass for six yards and a touchdown)
48 -
Jeremiah Moon - OLB - Rookie (Practice Squad)
74 - David Sharpe - OT - 5th year (Practice Squad)
Buffalo Bills (Buffalo 35 - Chicago 13)
24 -
Kaiir Elam - CB - Rookie (Recorded one tackle)
Carolina Panthers (Carolina 37 - Detroit 23)
24 - CJ Henderson - CB - 3rd year (Started at cornerback, recovered one fumble)
4 - Eddy Pineiro - K - 5th year (4-for-4 on extra points, 3-for-3 on field goals connecting from 36, 37 and 40 yards)
Cincinnati Bengals (Cincinnati 22 - New England 18)
95 -
Zachary Carter - DL - Rookie (Started on the defensive line, recorded two tackles, one QB hit and a half-sack)
2 - Evan McPherson - K - 2nd year (1-for-2 on extra points, 1-for-2 on field goals connecting from 27 yards)
Cleveland Browns (Cleveland 10 - New Orleans 17)
99 - Taven Bryan - DT - 5th year (Started at defensive tackle, recorded two tackles and one pass defended)
Dallas Cowboys (Dallas 40 - Philadelphia 34)
56 - Dante Fowler Jr. - OLB - 8th year (Appeared at linebacker)
34 -
Malik Davis - RB – Rookie (Appeared at running back)
14 - Antonio Callaway - WR - 3rd year (Practice squad)
Denver Broncos (Denver 14 - LA Rams 51)
16 - Tyrie Cleveland - WR - 4th year (Practice Squad)
86 - Freddie Swain - WR - 3rd year (Caught one pass for 11 yards)
Detroit Lions (Detroit 23 - Carolina 37)
34 - Alex Anzalone - LB - 6th year (Started at linebacker, recorded five tackles, one tackle for loss)
40 - Jarrad Davis - LB - 6th year (Practice Squad)
Green Bay Packers (Green Bay 26 - Miami 20)
93 - T.J. Slaton - DL - 2nd year (Recorded three tackles and one tackle for loss)
Houston Texans (Houston 19 - Tennessee 14)
31 -
Dameon Pierce - RB - Rookie (Injured Reserve)
52 - Jonathan Greenard - DE - 3rd year (Recorded three tackles, one tackle for loss, one QB hit and one fumble recovery)
Jacksonville Jaguars (Jacksonville 19 - NY Jets 3)
75 - Jawaan Taylor - OT - 5th year (Started at right tackle)
Kansas City Chiefs (Kansas City 24 - Seattle 10)
8 - Carlos Dunlap - DE - 13th year (Recorded two tackles, one QB hit)
19 - Kadarius Toney - WR - 2nd year (Caught one pass for nine yards and one touchdown, and returned two punts for 18 yards)
5 - Tommy Townsend - P - 3rd year (Punted six times for a 41-yard average, pinning Seattle inside the 20 three times)
Los Angeles Rams (LA Rams 51 - Denver 14)
19 - Brandon Powell - WR - 5th year (Started at wide receiver, caught three passes for 12 yards, carried twice for three yards, returned one punt for 12 yards)
12 - Van Jefferson - WR - 3rd year (Started at wide receiver, caught three passes for 19 yards)
Miami Dolphins (Miami 20 - Green Bay 26)
22 - La'Mical Perine - RB - 3rd year (Practice Squad)
Minnesota Vikings (Minnesota 27 - NY Giants 24)
93 - Jonathan Bullard - DL - 7th year (Injured Reserve)
New England Patriots (New England 18 - Cincinnati 22)
77 - Trent Brown - OT - 8th year (Started at left tackle)
New Orleans Saints (New Orleans 17 - Cleveland 10)
6 - Marcus Maye - S - 6th year (Inactive)
69 – Jabari Zuniga – DE – 2nd year (Practice Squad)
New York Jets (NY Jets 3 - Jacksonville 19)
36 - Marcell Harris - LB - 5th year (Practice Squad/Injured)
Philadelphia Eagles (Philadelphia 34 - Dallas 40)
23 - C.J. Gardner-Johnson - S - 3rd year (Injured Reserve)
Fred Johnson – OT – 4th year (Practice Squad)
Pittsburgh Steelers (Pittsburgh 13 - Las Vegas 10)
33 - Duke Dawson - DB - 4th year (Practice Squad)
Seattle Seahawks (Seattle 10 - Kansas City 24)
78 - Stone Forsythe - OL - 2nd year (Appeared at tackle)
39 - Teez Tabor - DB - 4th year (Started at safety, recorded three tackles)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Tampa Bay 19 - Arizona 16)
22 - Keanu Neal - S - 7th year (Recorded one tackle, one interception and one pass defended)
2 - Kyle Trask - QB - 2nd year (Inactive)
Washington Commanders (Washington 20 - San Francisco 37)
59 - Jon Bostic - LB - 10th year (Recorded one tackle)
