Sooners in the NFL: Week 15

Another NFL Sunday has come and gone with Week 15 now in the books just short of Monday night’s collision between the Los Angeles Rams and the Green Bay Packers.

With the number of games remaining on the schedule beginning to dwindle, every game becomes progressively more vital in the race for the playoffs.

For former Oklahoma linebacker Kenneth Murray and the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday presented a huge battle between postseason hopefuls with the Tennessee Titans making the trip out west.

Despite being banged up on the defensive side of the ball and facing off with arguably the league’s best running back in Derrick Henry, the Chargers defense rose to the challenge with Murray playing a key role.

Los Angeles held Tennessee to just 284 yards of total offense and a measly 14 points to give Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert and the LA offense a late chance to try and win the game - to which they obliged by racing down the field for a game-winning field goal in the final seconds.

Murray, who is in the midst of a big bounce back season, played his role at a high level on Sunday finishing third on the team in tackles with seven - one of which coming for loss while also adding in a pass deflection.

With several star players in and out of the lineup throughout the year, Murray has been a steady force on Los Angeles’ defense and has helped them currently reside in an AFC playoff spot at 8-6.

While there is certainly still loads of work to be done, if the Chargers want to reach the postseason they will likely need Murray to keep up his production.

At the conclusion of this weekend’s action, the former Sooner is third on the team in total tackles and fourth in tackles for loss.

For LA’s defense to perform at its best, Murray will need to continue to play well - which is likely just as he would like it.

Next up, Murray and the Chargers will hit the road and head to Indianapolis to take on the Colts next Monday night at 7:15 p.m. CT.

As for the rest of the Sooners in the NFL, here is a recap of how they did in Week 15:

Arizona Cardinals

(L 24-15 at Denver)

WR Marquise Brown: 4 receptions on 8 targets for 19 yards
OL Cody Ford: Saw playing time in a reserve role
OL Marquis Hayes: DNP (Practice Squad)
QB Kyler Murray: DNP (IR List)

Atlanta Falcons

(L 21-18 at New Orleans)

DL Amani Bledsoe: DNP (Practice Squad)

Baltimore Ravens

(L 13-3 at Cleveland on Saturday)

TE Mark Andrews: 3 receptions on 7 targets for 31 yards
OL Ben Powers: Started at left guard

Buffalo Bills

(W 32-29 vs Miami on Saturday)

DL Jordan Phillips: DNP (Inactive)

Cincinnati Bengals

(W 34-23 at Tampa Bay)

RB Joe Mixon: 11 rushes for 21 yards, 5 receptions on 6 targets for 33 yards
RB Samaje Perine: 7 rushes for 24 yards, 1 reception on 1 target for 0 yards

Cleveland Browns

(W 13-3 vs Baltimore on Saturday)

DE Isaiah Thomas: DNP (Inactive)
DL Perrion Winfrey: 1 solo tackle, 1 assisted tackle, 0.5 sacks, 1 quarterback hurry
WR Mike Woods: 1 reception on 2 targets for 4 yards, 1 rush for -5 yards

Dallas Cowboys

(L 40-34 OT at Jacksonville)

LB Devante Bond: DNP (Practice Squad)
DT Neville Gallimore: 2 assisted tackles
WR CeeDee Lamb: 7 receptions on 7 targets for 126 yards, 1 rush for 1 yard

Denver Broncos

(W 24-15 vs Arizona)

OLB Nik Bonitto: 1 assisted tackle
S Delarrin Turner-Yell: Saw playing time in a reserve role, no tackle

Houston Texans

(L 30-24 OT vs Kansas City)

DE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo: 1 solo tackle

Kansas City Chiefs

(W 30-24 OT at Houston)

TE Blake Bell: DNP (IR List)
OT Orlando Brown: Started at left tackle
C Creed Humphrey: Started at center
LS James Winchester: Served as long snapper for 8 snaps

Las Vegas Raiders

(W 30-24 vs New England)

LB Curtis Bolton: 1 assisted tackle

Los Angeles Chargers

(W 17-14 vs Tennessee)

LB Kenneth Murray: 4 solo tackles, 3 assisted tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 pass deflection

Los Angeles Rams

(at Green Bay on Monday Night)

QB Baker Mayfield:
OL Bobby Evans:

Minnesota Vikings

(W 39-36 vs Indianapolis on Saturday)

LB Brian Asamoah: 4 solo tackles, 4 assisted tackles

New England Patriots

(L 30-24 at Las Vegas)

OLB Ronnie Perkins: DNP (IR List)
RB Rhamondre Stevenson: 19 rushes for 172 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 receptions on 3 targets for -4 yards

Rhamondre Stevenson gives the Patriots the lead!

📺: #NEvsLV on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/SuNPv0yZ94 pic.twitter.com/xeiqlVf4CM
— NFL (@NFL) December 18, 2022

New York Giants

(W 20-12 at Washington)

DB Tony Jefferson: 2 solo tackles, 1 pass deflection
WR Sterling Shepard: DNP (IR List)

New York Jets

(L 20-17 vs Detroit)

OL Dru Samia: DNP (Practice Squad)

Philadelphia Eagles

(W 25-20 at Chicago)

RB Kennedy Brooks: DNP (Practice Squad)
QB Jalen Hurts: Completed 22 of 37 passes for 315 yards, 2 interceptions, 17 rushes for 61 yards, 3 rushing touchdowns
OL Lane Johnson: Started at right tackle
OL Tyrese Robinson: DNP (Practice Squad)

Fly Jalen fly!@JalenHurts | #OUDNA | 📺 FOX
pic.twitter.com/C9qY8eKWV4
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) December 18, 2022

Pittsburgh Steelers

(W 24-16 at Carolina)

S Tre Norwood: 1 assisted tackle

San Francisco 49ers

(W 21-13 at Seattle on Thursday Night)

OL Trent Williams: Started at left tackle

Seattle Seahawks

(L 21-13 vs San Francisco on Thursday Night)

CB Tre Brown: DNP (Inactive)

Washington Commanders

(L 20-12 vs NY Giants)

P Tress Way: 4 punts for 177 yards, 44.3 yards per punt, 2 punts inside the 20, longest punt 65 yards