Bama in the NFL, Week 16: Crimson Tide Players in Middle of Playoff Push
Merry Christmas?
The National Football League has gone all in on holiday "cheering" as there will be 10 games on Christmas Eve and three more on Christmas Day, providing a full slate of weekend games to watch for Week 16. It begins with the now-traditional Thursday night game, which has an elimination feel to it as the New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Rams features two 7-7 teams trying to claw their way into the playoffs.
But here's where our attention will be primarily focussed, with numerous former Alabama Crimson Tide players due to have some interesting holiday weekends. It's not exactly the “Twelve Days of Christmas,” but you get the idea:
1. Don't hurt your eyes squinting while looking for Alabama players during the Saints-Rams. Long snapper Carson Tinker is the lone active player, with tight end Miller Forristall a recent practice-squad addition, both with the Rams. Both are great stories, we just don't expect to see the Amazon Prime broadcast team give them any attention.
2. Cleveland (9-5) at Houston (8-6) is one of many games that figures to have huge playoff implications. If former Crimson Tide linebacker DeMeco Ryans can get the Texans into the playoffs he needs to be strongly considered for coach of the year honors.
3. The key player in that same game could be wide receiver Amari Cooper, who is coming off a 109-yard game, his fourth time topping 100 this season. Incidentally, he needs just 15 receiving yards for this seventh-career 1,000-yard season.
4. Also of note from the Browns-Texans, quarterback C.J. Stroud isn't expected to play for the Texans. He needs just 171 passing yards to surpass Mac Jones (3,801 in 2021) for the fifth-most passing yards by a rookie in NFL history.
5. Defensive lineman Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne have been two of the bright spots for the 4-10 Washington Commanders. Last week, Allen notched his 10th tackle for a loss, the fourth time he's reached that milestone. Payne had his third career game with two sacks, and has 12 tackles for a loss this season.
6. The loser of the Dallas Cowboys at Miami Dolphins could be firmly labeled as being a Super Bowl pretender this season, as both are 10-4 and seeded second in their respective conferences. They've also had a disappointing loss over the last two weeks and can't afford another. Miami leads the NFL in total offense (414.1 yards per game), and Tua Tagovailoa needs just 79 passing yards to become just the third Dolphins quarterback to top 4,000 yards passing yards in a season, joining Dan Marino (six seasons) and Ryan Tannehill (two).
7. Yes, most of the former Alabama players in the Giants at Eagles game will be wearing green, but two of the standouts for Brian Daboll's team have been defensive lineman A'Shawn Robinson and safety Xavier McKinney. Robinson is one of just five NFL defensive linemen with 50-plus tackles this season. McKinney is closing in on 100 tackles, and has a career-high 94 so far.
8. Even though he "only" has 884 rushing yards, Derrick Henry leads all former Alabama players in the statistical category.
9. Jahmyr Gibbs is third with 792, just behind Josh Jacobs (805). However, overall he's second among rookies in rush yards (792), third in scrimmage yards (1,088), and tied for fourth in scrimmage touchdowns.
10. The leading receiver this season so far is DeVonta Smith with 74 catches, three more than Jaylen Waddle. However, Waddle has the edge in yards (964-957)
11. Speaking of the Eagles, who are trying to snap a three-game losing skid, if Jalen Hurts records a rushing touchdown he'll become the first quarterback ever with 15 rushing touchdowns in a season. With two rushing touchdowns, he will become the first quarterback in NFL history with multiple rushing touchdowns in five games in a season.
12. The final game of the week will feature the top seeds in the two conferences, with the Baltimore Ravens at the San Francisco 49ers, who are both 11-3. Defensive backs Jalyn Armour-Davis and Marlon Humphrey are both on the Ravens.
Last week, San Francisco clinched its second-consecutive NFC West division title and Baltimore secured a postseason appearance for the fifth time in the past six seasons. This will be just the third regular-season matchup between teams with the best outright record in each conference in December or later since the 1970 merger.
Week 16 Bama in the NFL Tracker
NFL Week 16 Schedule
Thursday's game
New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Rams, 7:15 p.m. CT, Amazon Prime Video
Saturday's games
Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers, 3:30 p.m, NBC, Universo
Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Chargers, 7 p.m., Peacock
Sunday's games
Indianapolis Colts at Atlanta Falcons, noon, Fox
Green Bay Packers at Carolina Panthers, noon, Fox
Cleveland Browns, at Houston Texans, noon, CBS
Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings, noon, Fox
Washington Commanders at New York Jets, noon, CBS
Seattle Seahawks at Tennessee Titans, noon, CBS
Jacksonville Jaguars at Tamp Bay Buccaneers, 3:05 p.m., CBS
Arizona Cardinals at Chicago Bears, 3:25 p.m., Fox
Dallas Cowboys at Miami Dolphins, 3:25 p.m., Fox
New England Patriots at Denver Broncos, 7: 15 p.m., NFL Network
Monday's games
Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs, noon, CBS
New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles, 3:30 p.m., Fox
Baltimore Ravns at San Francisco 49ers, 7;15 p.m., ABC, ESPN+
