Huskers in the NFL: Week 6

Dominant efforts by former Blackshirts highlighted week six of National Football League action for ex-Huskers.

 

Atlanta linebacker Demorrio Williams turned in another monster performance for the Falcons, returning a blocked field goal 59 yards for a touchdown to close out the first half and give Atlanta a 17-10 lead. Williams also racked up 10 total tackles in the ballgame, bringing his team-leading season total to 50, a figure that ranks seventh in the NFL. Rookie safety Josh Bullocks recorded his first career interception for the Saints, picking off Michael Vick’s red zone pass at the 4-yard line and returning it 51 yards to set up a New Orleans field goal. Bullocks amassed five total tackles in the losing effort, as the Saints dropped the division battle with the Falcons, 34-31.

 

Former Huskers Mike Minter and Mike Rucker helped Carolina to a 21-20 victory over Detroit. Rucker recorded 1.5 sacks and five total tackles from his defensive end position, while Minter recorded one tackle and forced a fumble from his strong safety spot.

 

Dallas linebacker Scott Shanle recorded two tackles in the Cowboys 16-13 win over the Giants.

 

Safety Mike Brown recorded six tackles for Chicago, helping the Bears improve to a division-leading 2-3 with a 28-3 win over the Vikings. Cornerback Ralph Brown recorded one tackle for Minnesota.

 

Punter Kyle Larson continued to put up big numbers for the Bengals as they improved to 5-1 on the season with a 31-23 win over Tennessee. Larson punted four times for an average of 47.5 yards per punt with a long of 57 yards. Defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch continued his solid play recording three tackles for the Titans. Vanden Bosch held steady with 6.5 sacks on the season, a total that ranks second in the NFL.

 

Offensive guard Will Shields continued his 196-game consecutive-start streak for the Chiefs, as Kansas City defeated Washington, 28-21.

 

Rookie linebacker Barrett Ruud recorded three tackles for TampaBay, as the Buccaneers defeated the Dolphins, 27-13, while rookie cornerback Fabian Washington recorded two tackles for Oakland, as the Raiders lost to the Chargers, 27-14.

 

Defensive end Chris Kelsay logged three tackles for Buffalo, as the Bills evened their record at 3-3, defeating the Jets, 27-17.

 

Sunday night football featured a match-up of former Husker place kickers. Seattle’s Josh Brown booted six extra points as the Seahawks thumped the Texans, 42-10. Houston’s Kris Brown connected on a 39-yard field goal, finishing the game 1-for-2 on field goals and 1-for-1 on extra points. Seattle defensive end Grant Wistrom recorded four total tackles and one sack, his first of the season.

 

Cornerback DeJuan Groce had six tackles for St. Louis and broke up one pass on Monday Night Football, but could not help the Rams avoid falling to the 6-0 Colts, as Indianapolis defeated St. Louis, 45-28.

 

Overall, a total 33 former Huskers are on NFL rosters, including two players on injured reserve and four players on NFL practice squads. A total of 28 former Huskers are currently on active rosters.