Cyclones in the NFL: Week 15 Recap

Baltimore, Houston, Denver and San Francisco each picked up crucial wins in week 15, as all four teams are jockeying for playoff seeding. Indianapolis and Detroit both dropped tough road contests as they each have some work to do to get back on the right side of the playoff bubble.

It'll be a Cyclone vs. Cyclone matchup on Monday Night Football, as Brock Purdy and the 49ers take on Jalen Travis and the Colts. Darien Porter will match up with the ISU receiver trio on the Texans on Sunday, while others will look to finish the season strong.

Brock Purdy – #13, San Francisco 49ers (10-4)
Coming off a bye week, Purdy showed out against the Titans as he totaled 339 yards and led the 9ers to their fourth-straight win. Purdy is 5-1 as a starter for San Francisco this season and has the team poised for a postseason berth as it currently slots in at the six seed with three weeks left to go.
Last Time Out: W vs. TEN, 37-24 // 23-30 for 295 yards and 3 touchdowns, 7 rushes for 44 yards
Up Next: Dec. 22, at Indianapolis (7:15 pm on ESPN/ABC)

Jalen Travis – #75, Indianapolis Colts (8-6)
Travis earned his first career start on Sunday, as every day right tackle Braden Smith was ruled out for the remainder of the regular season following a concussion. Besides getting dinged for a false start, Travis held up well as Indy finished with 97 passing yards and only gave up one sack on the day.
Last Time Out: L at SEA, 16-18 // 64 total snaps (60 on offense [100%] and 4 on special teams)
Up Next: Dec. 22, vs. San Francisco (7:15 pm on ESPN/ABC)

Jaylin Noel – #14 – Houston Texans (9-5)
Noel was not featured much in the offense, only getting 11 snaps and was not targeted. Despite that, Noel made his presence felt in the return game, as he averaged 54 yards per kickoff return and 13 per punt return. He now holds the Texans' rookie record for punt return yards.
Last Time Out: W vs. ARI, 40-20 // 2 KO returns for 108 yards, 1 PR for 13 yards
Next Up: Dec. 21, vs. Las Vegas (3:25 pm on CBS)

Darien Porter – #26, Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)
Porter started his fourth-straight game for the Raiders, playing every possible defensive snap. Porter faced his toughest test of the season in Philadelphia, as the duo of AJ Brown and Devonta Smith caused problems for the Raider defense. He would finish the day with four tackles, all coming on defense.
Last Time Out: L at PHI, 0-31 // 4 tackles (2 solo), 70 total snaps
Up Next: Dec. 21, at Houston (3:25 pm on CBS)

David Montgomery – #5, Detroit Lions (8-6)
Montgomery found paydirt for the third-straight contest, marking the seventh time in his career he's had a three-game stretch with a rushing touchdown. He played just 18 snaps, but was nearly equaled with Jahmyr Gibbs' 38 rushing yard total.
Last Time Out: L at LAR, 41-34 // 7 rushes for 32 yards and 1 TD
Up Next: Dec. 21, vs. Pittsburgh (3:25 pm on CBS)

Charlie Kolar – #88, Baltimore Ravens (7-7)
Kolar was held without a catch on Sunday, but he made a difference both in the run game and on special teams. As a blocking tight end who played over half the team's offensive snaps, Kolar helped the Baltimore run game total 189 rushing yards. He then recorded three tackles on special teams.
Last Time Out: W at CIN, 24-0 // 3 tackles, 34 total snaps (21 offense, 13 special teams)
Up Next: Dec. 21, vs. New England (7:20 pm on NBC)

Breece Hall – #20, New York Jets (3-11)
Hall and the Jet offense had a rough go in Florida. He was held to just 37 total yards – his lowest single-game output of the season.
Last Time Out: L at JAX, 20-48 // 12 rushes for 23 yards, 2 catches for 14 yards
Up Next: Dec. 21, at New Orleans (12 pm on CBS)

Jake Hummel – #35, Baltimore Ravens (7-7)
Hummel continues to showcase his nose for the ball on special teams, as he recorded a pair of tackles in his limited time on the field.
Last Time Out: W at CIN, 24-0 // 2 tackles, 13 special teams snaps
Up Next: Dec. 21, vs. New England (7:20 pm on NBC)

Jayden Higgins – #81, Houston Texans (9-5)
Higgins had his second-lowest output of the season, as he was targeted just once. Higgins snagged his lone look, going for four yards.
Last Time Out: W vs. ARI, 40-20 // 1 catch for 4 yards, 48 offensive snaps
Next Up: Dec. 21, vs. Las Vegas (3:25 pm on CBS)

Will McDonald IV – #9, New York Jets (3-11)
McDonald had one tackle against the Jaguars and got to Trevor Lawrence just late, only getting a QB Hit. He finished with 53 snaps on defense and eight on special teams. His 53 defensive snaps were part of his largest defensive snap percentage (85.5) of the season.
Last Time Out: L at JAX, 20-48 // 1 tackle, 1 QB Hit, 61 total snaps
Up Next: Dec. 21, at New Orleans (12 pm on CBS)

Xavier Hutchinson – #19, Houston Texans (9-5)
Hutchinson was one of eight Texans to snag a pass on Sunday. His 16-yard reception was tied for the third-longest by any Texan.
Last Time Out: W vs. ARI, 40-20 // 1 catch for 16 yards, 27 total snaps
Next Up: Dec. 21, vs. Las Vegas (3:25 pm on CBS)

Enyi Uwazurike – #96, Denver Broncos (12-2)
Uwazurike and the Broncos won their 11th-straight contest on Sunday, overcoming a potent Green Bay offense to win by eight.
Last Time Out: W vs. GB, 34-26 // 1 QB Hit, 22 total snaps (16 defense, 6 special teams)
Up Next: Dec. 21, vs. Jacksonville (3:05 pm on FOX)

T.J. Tampa – #27, Baltimore Ravens (7-7)
Tampa again got some run on defense for the Ravens, marking the tenth time in 14 games this season he's gotten in on defense. Tampa recorded a tackle for the 13^th time this year, as there's just been one outing he didn't notch a tackle.
Last Time Out: W at CIN, 24-0 // 1 tackle, 21 total snaps (8 defense, 13 special teams)
Up Next: Dec. 21, vs. New England (7:20 pm on NBC)

Allen Lazard
Lazard pulled in one catch over the weekend with the Jets, as he now has catches in eight of his ten appearances this season. On Tuesday, Dec. 16, Lazard asked for his release from the team and will get the opportunity to latch on to a playoff contender down the stretch.
Last Time Out: L at JAX, 20-48 // 1 catch for 6 yards, 15 offensive snaps
Up Next: sign with a new team

Kene Nwangwu – #34, New York Jets (3-11)
The ball didn't come Nwangwu's way on Sunday, as he played 11 special teams snaps.
Last Time Out: L at JAX, 20-48 // 11 special teams snaps
Up Next: Dec. 21, at New Orleans (12 pm on CBS)

Players Mentioned

Jayden Higgins

Jaylin Noel

Darien Porter

Jalen Travis

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