Tommy Townsend’s 50.4 average yards per punt is second in the league this season.
Gators in the NFL: Week 18
Monday, January 9, 2023 | Football
Gators around the league made a splash on the season’s final day.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – An unforgettable NFL regular season is in the books as several Gators around the league made a splash on the season's final day.
Defensive Highlights
Texans defensive end Jonathan Greenard has made a living in opposing teams' backfields. He's used to getting sacks, making tackles and tackles for loss. But interceptions? Touchdowns? That's not what the big d-lineman is known for.
Not until now.
Up three in quarter two, Greenard saw the ball up for grabs and went up and stole it from the Colts, then he burst down the right sideline for his first career touchdown.
It was a play and day Greenard will never forget, as his huge pick-six proved to be the difference in a 32-31 victory over Indianapolis, ending the season on a high note.
The most memorable moment from a Lions win on Sunday night?
"Alex Anzalone. Gator boy."
Lions star linebacker Alex Anzalone, a gator boy through and through, plays like an actual alligator.
On a key 4th and one in quarter one, Anzalone was there to make the stop with a huge tackle for loss and turnover on downs.
The big stop helped the Lions play spoiler Sunday night, sending the Packers home packing with a 20-16 win in Green Bay.
Offensive Highlights
On Saturday, with the AFC's top seed on the line, Chiefs' swiss army knife Kadarius Toney came to play.
With KC clinging to a two-score lead late in quarter two, Kadarius Toney hit pay dirt.
On back-to-back plays.
Of course, only the second of two touchdowns counted. But the first (called back for holding) was maybe the most memorable touchdown not to count.
Following an unusual Ring-Around-The-Rosie huddle break, the Chiefs flipped the ball around before getting it into the human joystick's hands - who knew just what to do with it.
But after the wild razzle dazzle play was called back, the Chiefs went back to basics, getting the ball in Toney's hands in a more conventional way.
And they got the same result. Six points.
Toney did it all in Kansas City's 31-13 one-seed clinching win over Las Vegas, finishing with 49 total yards on two catches, three carries and one punt return.
And they don't call him the human joystick for nothing.
Van Jefferson continues to make big plays. Starting at receiver alongside fellow former Gator Brandon Powell, LA's offense is driven by a pair of Gators.
Jefferson logged over 60 receiving yards for the second consecutive week, and added to his impressive 15-yards-per-catch career average with a three-catch 61-yard performance Sunday.
It's big plays like this 35-yard catch and run where Jefferson has found consistency in the league.
Jefferson's 15.4 yards per catch average this season ranks 9th in the league.
Special Teams Highlights
Eddy Pineiro has been Mr. Automatic all season long in Carolina.
On Sunday, he was Mr. Game-winner.
Tied at seven with just three seconds left, Pineiro finished Carolina's season with a bang, nailing home a 42-yard game-winner.
Eddy Pineiro finishes his fifth NFL season 33-for-35 on field goal attempts. That remarkable 94.3% mark is the best in the league (min 30 attempts). He's the only kicker with more than 30 made field goals to have a percentage higher than 92%.
In 2022, Eddy Pinerio was one of the NFL's best.
Kansas City's punter Tommy Townsend has been one of the NFL's best since he entered the league in 2020.
Late in the third quarter in Vegas, Townsend helped put the Raiders away, with an absolute boot, pinning the silver and black deep inside their own five.
Townsend's 50.4 average yards per punt is second in the league this season.
Townsend continues to remind everyone that, yes, punters are indeed people too.
Arizona Cardinals (Arizona 13 - San Francisco 38)
74 - D.J. Humphries - OL - 8th year (Injured Reserve)
20 - Marco Wilson - CB - 2nd year (Inactive)
75 - Max Garcia - G - 8th year (Started at left guard)
Atlanta Falcons (Atlanta 30 - Tampa Bay 17)
8 - Kyle Pitts - TE - 2nd year (Injured Reserve)
62 - Jonotthan Harrison - OL - 7th year (Practice Squad)
Baltimore Ravens (Baltimore 16 - Cincinnati 27)
10 - Demarcus Robinson - WR - 7th year (Started at wide receiver, caught two passes for 24 yards)
48 - Jeremiah Moon - OLB - Rookie (Practice Squad)
74 - David Sharpe - OT - 5th year (Practice Squad)
Buffalo Bills (Buffalo 35 - New England 23)
24 - Kaiir Elam - CB - Rookie (Recorded two tackles)
Carolina Panthers (Carolina 10 - New Orleans 7)
24 - CJ Henderson - CB - 3rd year (Started at cornerback, recorded four tackles, one pass defended, one forced fumble and one blocked kick)
4 - Eddy Pineiro - K - 5th year (1-for-1 on extra points, 1-for-1 on field goals connecting from 42 yards for the win)
Cincinnati Bengals (Cincinnati 27 - Baltimore 16)
95 - Zachary Carter - DL - Rookie (Recorded two tackles and one pass defended)
2 - Evan McPherson - K - 2nd year (3-for-3 on extra points, 2-for-2 on field goals connecting from 26 and 34 yards away)
Cleveland Browns (Cleveland 14 - Pittsburgh 28)
99 - Taven Bryan - DT - 5th year (Started at defensive tackle, recorded one tackle)
Dallas Cowboys (Dallas 26 - Washington 6)
56 - Dante Fowler Jr. - OLB - 8th year (Appeared at linebacker)
34 - Malik Davis - RB – Rookie (Carried five times for 19 yards)
14 - Antonio Callaway - WR - 3rd year (Practice squad)
Denver Broncos (Denver 31 - LA Chargers 28)
16 - Tyrie Cleveland - WR - 4th year (Practice Squad)
86 - Freddie Swain - WR - 3rd year (Caught two passes for 54 yards)
Detroit Lions (Detroit 20 - Green Bay 16)
34 - Alex Anzalone - LB - 6th year (Started at linebacker, recorded eight tackles, one tackle for loss and one QB hit)
40 - Jarrad Davis - LB - 6th year (Practice Squad)
Green Bay Packers (Green Bay 16 - Detroit 20)
93 - T.J. Slaton - DL - 2nd year (Started at defensive tackle, recorded three tackles)
Houston Texans (Houston 3 - Jacksonville 31)
31 - Dameon Pierce - RB - Rookie (Injured Reserve)
52 - Jonathan Greenard - DE - 3rd year (Recorded three tackles, one pass defended, one interception and one return touchdown)
Jacksonville Jaguars (Jacksonville 20 - Tennessee 16)
75 - Jawaan Taylor - OT - 5th year (Started at right tackle)
Kansas City Chiefs (Kansas City 31 - Las Vegas 13)
8 - Carlos Dunlap - DE - 13th year (Recorded two QB hits and one pass defended)
19 - Kadarius Toney - WR - 2nd year (Started at wide receiver, caught two passes for 18 yards, carried three times for 26 yards and one touchdown, and returned one punt for five yards)
5 - Tommy Townsend - P - 3rd year (Punted four times for a 49-yard average, pinning Las Vegas inside the 20 three times)
Los Angeles Rams (LA Rams 16 - Seattle 19)
19 - Brandon Powell - WR - 5th year (Started at wide receiver, caught one passes for two yards, carried once for 15 yards, returned three punts for 22 yards and one kick off for 17 yards)
12 - Van Jefferson - WR - 3rd year (Started at wide receiver, caught three passes for 61 yards)
Miami Dolphins (Miami 11 - NY Jets 6)
22 - La'Mical Perine - RB - 3rd year (Practice Squad)
Minnesota Vikings (Minnesota 29 - Chicago 13)
93 - Jonathan Bullard - DL - 7th year (Appeared on the defensive line)
New England Patriots (New England 23 - Buffalo 35)
77 - Trent Brown - OT - 8th year (Started at left tackle)
New Orleans Saints (New Orleans 7 - Carolina 10)
6 - Marcus Maye - S - 6th year (Inactive)
69 – Jabari Zuniga – DE – 2nd year (Practice Squad)
New York Jets (NY Jets 6 - Miami 11)
36 - Marcell Harris - LB - 5th year (Practice Squad/Injured)
Philadelphia Eagles (Philadelphia 22 - NY Giants 16)
23 - C.J. Gardner-Johnson - S - 3rd year (Started at defensive back, recorded seven tackles and one tackle for loss)
Fred Johnson – OT – 4th year (Practice Squad)
Pittsburgh Steelers (Pittsburgh 28 - Cleveland 14)
33 - Duke Dawson - DB - 4th year (Practice Squad)
Seattle Seahawks (Seattle 19 - LA Rams 16)
78 - Stone Forsythe - OL - 2nd year (Appeared at tackle)
39 - Teez Tabor - DB - 4th year (Recorded one tackle)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Tampa Bay 17 - Atlanta 30)
22 - Keanu Neal - S - 7th year (Started at safety, recorded one QB hit)
2 - Kyle Trask - QB - 2nd year (Completed three passes for 23 yards, making his first NFL appearance)
Washington Commanders (Washington 26 - Dallas 6)
59 - Jon Bostic - LB - 10th year (Injured Reserve)
Defensive Highlights
Texans defensive end Jonathan Greenard has made a living in opposing teams' backfields. He's used to getting sacks, making tackles and tackles for loss. But interceptions? Touchdowns? That's not what the big d-lineman is known for.
Not until now.
Up three in quarter two, Greenard saw the ball up for grabs and went up and stole it from the Colts, then he burst down the right sideline for his first career touchdown.
🗣️ HOUSE CALL for @jongreenard7
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) January 8, 2023
pic.twitter.com/wqNNm5GVNW
It was a play and day Greenard will never forget, as his huge pick-six proved to be the difference in a 32-31 victory over Indianapolis, ending the season on a high note.
The most memorable moment from a Lions win on Sunday night?
"Alex Anzalone. Gator boy."
Alex Anzalone. Gator boy. pic.twitter.com/1zK7eNzVCa
— Will Levenson (@BigWillLevenson) January 9, 2023
Lions star linebacker Alex Anzalone, a gator boy through and through, plays like an actual alligator.
On a key 4th and one in quarter one, Anzalone was there to make the stop with a huge tackle for loss and turnover on downs.
The 🔨 @budlight #BudLightCelly after the fourth-down stop#DETvsGB | 📺 NBC pic.twitter.com/mj3Mra4oOc
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 9, 2023
The big stop helped the Lions play spoiler Sunday night, sending the Packers home packing with a 20-16 win in Green Bay.
Offensive Highlights
On Saturday, with the AFC's top seed on the line, Chiefs' swiss army knife Kadarius Toney came to play.
With KC clinging to a two-score lead late in quarter two, Kadarius Toney hit pay dirt.
On back-to-back plays.
Of course, only the second of two touchdowns counted. But the first (called back for holding) was maybe the most memorable touchdown not to count.
Following an unusual Ring-Around-The-Rosie huddle break, the Chiefs flipped the ball around before getting it into the human joystick's hands - who knew just what to do with it.
A new way to work on offense? 🤔🤣
— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) January 8, 2023
The Chiefs get tricky with this play, AND IT WORKED (until the flag came in...) pic.twitter.com/IHIfP1CKeD
But after the wild razzle dazzle play was called back, the Chiefs went back to basics, getting the ball in Toney's hands in a more conventional way.
And they got the same result. Six points.
Joka in for 6 🃏 #GatorMade | @0fficialC2N pic.twitter.com/dy6iZD1UCU
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) January 7, 2023
Toney did it all in Kansas City's 31-13 one-seed clinching win over Las Vegas, finishing with 49 total yards on two catches, three carries and one punt return.
And they don't call him the human joystick for nothing.
This @0fficialC2N juke from the 1st half was nasty 🤢
— NFL (@NFL) January 7, 2023
📺: #KCvsLV on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/nMh7vXuCB4 pic.twitter.com/Svg6QcoU5Z
Van Jefferson continues to make big plays. Starting at receiver alongside fellow former Gator Brandon Powell, LA's offense is driven by a pair of Gators.
Jefferson logged over 60 receiving yards for the second consecutive week, and added to his impressive 15-yards-per-catch career average with a three-catch 61-yard performance Sunday.
It's big plays like this 35-yard catch and run where Jefferson has found consistency in the league.
.@bakermayfield with the dart to @VanJefferson12! 🎯
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 8, 2023
📺 @NFLonFOX | 📲 https://t.co/4beUdm4vkg pic.twitter.com/g4IX8Y8XRe
Jefferson's 15.4 yards per catch average this season ranks 9th in the league.
Special Teams Highlights
Eddy Pineiro has been Mr. Automatic all season long in Carolina.
On Sunday, he was Mr. Game-winner.
Tied at seven with just three seconds left, Pineiro finished Carolina's season with a bang, nailing home a 42-yard game-winner.
EDDY FOR THE WIN! #GatorMade | @EddyPineiro pic.twitter.com/73LTWE2sk2
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) January 8, 2023
Eddy Pineiro finishes his fifth NFL season 33-for-35 on field goal attempts. That remarkable 94.3% mark is the best in the league (min 30 attempts). He's the only kicker with more than 30 made field goals to have a percentage higher than 92%.
In 2022, Eddy Pinerio was one of the NFL's best.
Kansas City's punter Tommy Townsend has been one of the NFL's best since he entered the league in 2020.
Late in the third quarter in Vegas, Townsend helped put the Raiders away, with an absolute boot, pinning the silver and black deep inside their own five.
FOR THE BRAND 🎯
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) January 7, 2023
cc: @PatMcAfeeShow #GatorMade | @tommy_townsend pic.twitter.com/rcK6HNtfXm
Townsend's 50.4 average yards per punt is second in the league this season.
Townsend continues to remind everyone that, yes, punters are indeed people too.
Arizona Cardinals (Arizona 13 - San Francisco 38)
74 - D.J. Humphries - OL - 8th year (Injured Reserve)
20 - Marco Wilson - CB - 2nd year (Inactive)
75 - Max Garcia - G - 8th year (Started at left guard)
Atlanta Falcons (Atlanta 30 - Tampa Bay 17)
8 - Kyle Pitts - TE - 2nd year (Injured Reserve)
62 - Jonotthan Harrison - OL - 7th year (Practice Squad)
Baltimore Ravens (Baltimore 16 - Cincinnati 27)
10 - Demarcus Robinson - WR - 7th year (Started at wide receiver, caught two passes for 24 yards)
48 - Jeremiah Moon - OLB - Rookie (Practice Squad)
74 - David Sharpe - OT - 5th year (Practice Squad)
Buffalo Bills (Buffalo 35 - New England 23)
24 - Kaiir Elam - CB - Rookie (Recorded two tackles)
Carolina Panthers (Carolina 10 - New Orleans 7)
24 - CJ Henderson - CB - 3rd year (Started at cornerback, recorded four tackles, one pass defended, one forced fumble and one blocked kick)
4 - Eddy Pineiro - K - 5th year (1-for-1 on extra points, 1-for-1 on field goals connecting from 42 yards for the win)
Cincinnati Bengals (Cincinnati 27 - Baltimore 16)
95 - Zachary Carter - DL - Rookie (Recorded two tackles and one pass defended)
2 - Evan McPherson - K - 2nd year (3-for-3 on extra points, 2-for-2 on field goals connecting from 26 and 34 yards away)
Cleveland Browns (Cleveland 14 - Pittsburgh 28)
99 - Taven Bryan - DT - 5th year (Started at defensive tackle, recorded one tackle)
Dallas Cowboys (Dallas 26 - Washington 6)
56 - Dante Fowler Jr. - OLB - 8th year (Appeared at linebacker)
34 - Malik Davis - RB – Rookie (Carried five times for 19 yards)
14 - Antonio Callaway - WR - 3rd year (Practice squad)
Denver Broncos (Denver 31 - LA Chargers 28)
16 - Tyrie Cleveland - WR - 4th year (Practice Squad)
86 - Freddie Swain - WR - 3rd year (Caught two passes for 54 yards)
Detroit Lions (Detroit 20 - Green Bay 16)
34 - Alex Anzalone - LB - 6th year (Started at linebacker, recorded eight tackles, one tackle for loss and one QB hit)
40 - Jarrad Davis - LB - 6th year (Practice Squad)
Green Bay Packers (Green Bay 16 - Detroit 20)
93 - T.J. Slaton - DL - 2nd year (Started at defensive tackle, recorded three tackles)
Houston Texans (Houston 3 - Jacksonville 31)
31 - Dameon Pierce - RB - Rookie (Injured Reserve)
52 - Jonathan Greenard - DE - 3rd year (Recorded three tackles, one pass defended, one interception and one return touchdown)
Jacksonville Jaguars (Jacksonville 20 - Tennessee 16)
75 - Jawaan Taylor - OT - 5th year (Started at right tackle)
Kansas City Chiefs (Kansas City 31 - Las Vegas 13)
8 - Carlos Dunlap - DE - 13th year (Recorded two QB hits and one pass defended)
19 - Kadarius Toney - WR - 2nd year (Started at wide receiver, caught two passes for 18 yards, carried three times for 26 yards and one touchdown, and returned one punt for five yards)
5 - Tommy Townsend - P - 3rd year (Punted four times for a 49-yard average, pinning Las Vegas inside the 20 three times)
Los Angeles Rams (LA Rams 16 - Seattle 19)
19 - Brandon Powell - WR - 5th year (Started at wide receiver, caught one passes for two yards, carried once for 15 yards, returned three punts for 22 yards and one kick off for 17 yards)
12 - Van Jefferson - WR - 3rd year (Started at wide receiver, caught three passes for 61 yards)
Miami Dolphins (Miami 11 - NY Jets 6)
22 - La'Mical Perine - RB - 3rd year (Practice Squad)
Minnesota Vikings (Minnesota 29 - Chicago 13)
93 - Jonathan Bullard - DL - 7th year (Appeared on the defensive line)
New England Patriots (New England 23 - Buffalo 35)
77 - Trent Brown - OT - 8th year (Started at left tackle)
New Orleans Saints (New Orleans 7 - Carolina 10)
6 - Marcus Maye - S - 6th year (Inactive)
69 – Jabari Zuniga – DE – 2nd year (Practice Squad)
New York Jets (NY Jets 6 - Miami 11)
36 - Marcell Harris - LB - 5th year (Practice Squad/Injured)
Philadelphia Eagles (Philadelphia 22 - NY Giants 16)
23 - C.J. Gardner-Johnson - S - 3rd year (Started at defensive back, recorded seven tackles and one tackle for loss)
Fred Johnson – OT – 4th year (Practice Squad)
Pittsburgh Steelers (Pittsburgh 28 - Cleveland 14)
33 - Duke Dawson - DB - 4th year (Practice Squad)
Seattle Seahawks (Seattle 19 - LA Rams 16)
78 - Stone Forsythe - OL - 2nd year (Appeared at tackle)
39 - Teez Tabor - DB - 4th year (Recorded one tackle)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Tampa Bay 17 - Atlanta 30)
22 - Keanu Neal - S - 7th year (Started at safety, recorded one QB hit)
2 - Kyle Trask - QB - 2nd year (Completed three passes for 23 yards, making his first NFL appearance)
Washington Commanders (Washington 26 - Dallas 6)
59 - Jon Bostic - LB - 10th year (Injured Reserve)
Players Mentioned
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