A BIG GAME by New Orleans cornerback Paulson Adebo, another NFL record for the 49ers' Christian McCaffrey, and a first for Chargers' receiver Simi Fehoko were among the highlights by Stanford alums in Week 8 of the NFL season.
Here is a summary of how Stanford alums fared in Week 8, in which 21 saw action, including 11 in starting roles:
Paulson Adebo. Photo by Marc Lebryk/USA TODAY Sports.
New Orleans starting left cornerback Paulson Adebo intercepted a pass and returned it 27 yards in the Saints' 38-27 victory at Indianapolis on Sunday. Adebo had three tackles and three passes defensed. He had the ninth-highest grade among all NFL defensive players in Week 8, and the highest by a cornerback, at 90.9 by Pro Football Focus.
With the Colts threatening to take the lead in a one-point game, Adebo intercepted a long pass by Gardner Minshew at the Saints' own 2-yard line before turning upfield. His third-quarter pick led to a Saints touchdown and a 28-20 lead in a pivotal turn of events. Adebo played all 71 of the Saints' defensive snaps.
Andrus Peat started at left tackle for the Saints and played all 66 offensive snaps as New Orleans pulled into a tie with Atlanta for first in the NFC South at 4-4.
Christian McCaffrey. Photo by Kelley L Cox/USA TODAY Sports.
San Francisco starting running back Christian McCaffrey tied an NFL record by scoring a touchdown in 17 consecutive games, including playoffs. McCaffrey tied the record set by Baltimore Colts' Hall of Famer Lenny Moore in 1963-64. A week earlier, McCaffrey broke the NFL record for consecutive games with a touchdown from scrimmage, with 16. McCaffrey's two touchdowns – a two-yard run in the first quarter and a four-yard pass reception in the fourth – came in the 49ers' 31-17 loss to visiting Cincinnati that knocked them into second in the loss column in the NFC West at 5-3.
McCaffrey carried 12 times for 54 yards and caught six passes for 64 and had the second-highest offensive grade by an NFL halfback in Week 8, at 82.9 by Pro Football Focus. He has led the NFL in rushing since Week 1, and continues to do so with 652 yards. McCaffrey took sole possession of the league lead with his 13th touchdown and leads in points, with 78. He is third in all-purpose yards with an average of 118.0. Over the past two seasons, McCaffrey leads the NFL in all-purpose yards, with 2,824.
For the Bengals, receiver Trenton Irwin caught two passes for 24 yards and returned a punt for eight. His receptions came on consecutive fourth-quarter plays and went for three and 21 yards to aid a touchdown drive that clinched the victory. Irwin had the 24th-best offensive grade by an NFL receiver in Week 8, with a 74.7 grade by Pro Football Focus.
Trenton Irwin. Photo by Kelley L Cox/USA TODAY Sports.
Atlanta starting center Drew Dalman played every offensive snap in the Falcons' 28-23 loss at Tennessee. Dalman has the highest run-blocking grade among NFL centers this season, at 89.0, and the second-highest season offensive grade by a center, at 79.5.
Los Angeles Chargers' third-year receiver Simi Fehoko scored his first NFL touchdown in a 30-13 victory over visiting Chicago on Sunday night. Fehoko snared a nine-yard pass from Justin Herbert in the first quarter to give the Chargers a 14-0 lead. It was his first reception since joining the Chargers this season and his only catch of the game on 16 offensive snaps. Teammate Foster Sarell played one offensive snap at tackle and six on special teams.
Simi Fehoko. Photo by Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports.
Minnesota starting defensive tackle Harrison Phillips had eight tackles, including four solo, split a fourth-quarter sack, and had two quarterback hurries in the Vikings' 24-10 victory at Green Bay. His tackle of Green Bay running back AJ Dillon for no gain on third-and-1 on the game's first series set the tone for Minnesota's defense. Phillips played 46 (68 percent) defensive snaps as the Vikings evened their record at 4-4.
Harrison Phillips. Photo by Dan Powers/USA TODAY Network.
New York Giants starting middle linebacker Bobby Okereke had nine tackles, including seven solo, and three tackles for loss in a 13-10 overtime loss to the New York Jets at the Meadowlands. Okereke, who played every defensive down, is fifth in the NFL in solo tackles, with 47, and ninth in total tackles, with 73. Defensive end Solomon Thomas had one tackle on 33 defensive snaps for the Jets.
Bobby Okereke (right). Photo by Vincent Carchietta/USA TODAY Sports.
Arizona starting receiver Michael Wilson had four catches for 58 yards, including a 29-yarder that was the game's longest gain from scrimmage in the Cardinals' 31-24 loss to visiting Baltimore. Each of his receptions resulted in first downs. Wilson played 68 of 77 offensive snaps. Arizona tight end Elijah Higgins assisted on a tackle in punt coverage. He played 12 offensive snaps and 15 on special teams.
Kansas City starting safety Justin Reid had six tackles, including five solo, and blocked a third-quarter 38-yard field-goal try in the Chiefs' 24-9 loss at Denver. Reid played 68 of the Chiefs' 71 defensive snaps plus five special teams downs as Kansas City (6-2) continues to lead the AFC West.
Justin Reid. Photo by Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports.
Miami starting punter Jake Bailey averaged 48.7 yards on three punts and had two downed inside the 20-yard line in the Dolphins' 31-17 victory over visiting New England. One was a 63-yarder that was downed at the Patriots' 19. Bailey held on a field goal and four extra-points for the AFC East-leading Dolphins (6-2). New England receiver Ty Montgomery had one kickoff return for 24 yards and played 18 special teams snaps.
Washington defensive end Casey Toohill had a sack and a quarterback hurry while playing 13 defensive snaps and 21 on special teams in the Commanders' 38-31 loss to visiting Philadelphia.
Las Vegas starting tight end Austin Hooper had two catches for 19 yards in the Raiders' 26-14 loss at Detroit on Monday night. Both came on a second-quarter touchdown drive that drew the Raiders within 9-7. Hooper played 10 offensive snaps.
Austin Hooper. Photo by Allan Dranberg/Cal Sport Media.
Houston starting tight end Dalton Schultz had two catches for five yards in the Texans' 15-13 loss at Carolina. Schultz played 45 (78 percent) of Houston's offensive snaps.
Jacksonville offensive tackle Walker Little played four special teams snaps in the first-place Jaguars' 20-10 victory at Pittsburgh that gave them a 6-2 record in the AFC South. Steelers' offensive guard Nate Herbig played four special teams snaps.
Seattle tight end Colby Parkinson played 20 offensive snaps and 10 special teams downs in the Seahawks' 24-20 victory over visiting Cleveland.
Denver offensive tackle Cameron Fleming and Houston quarterback Davis Mills did not play.
Seattle cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly and Philadelphia quarterback Tanner McKee were inactive.
Miami cornerback Ethan Bonner, Philadelphia defensive tackle Thomas Booker, Atlanta tight end Tucker Fisk, San Francisco linebacker Curtis Robinson, Cincinnati safety Michael Thomas, Washington receiver Brycen Tremayne, and Chicago defensive back Kendall Williamson were on practice squads.
Carolina defensive end Henry Anderson and Arizona tight end Zach Ertz were on injured reserve.
The Canadian Football League completed its regular season with two Stanford alums seeing action. Calgary defensive lineman James Vaughters had 15 tackles, five sacks, and two forced fumbles in six games before going on the injured list. The Stampeders head to the Western Conference semifinals at British Columbia.
Ottawa defensive lineman Thomas Schaffer had two tackles and forced a fumble in six games with the Redblacks, finishing the season on the practice squad.