CHRISTIAN McCAFFREY scored two touchdowns on Thanksgiving, Bobby Okereke returned an interception 55 yards, and Drew Dalman helped the Falcons move into first place. Those were among the top performances by Stanford alums in Week 12 of the NFL season. In all, 20 former Cardinal saw action in Week 12, with 13 starting.
Here is a summary of how the former Cardinal fared:
Christian McCaffrey. Photo by Joe Nicholson/USA TODAY Sports.
San Francisco starting running back Christian McCaffrey twice ran for touchdowns in the 49ers' 31-13 victory at Seattle on Thanksgiving. McCaffrey's touchdowns came from one and eight yards and pushed the 49ers' 7-3 lead to 21-3 in the second quarter. McCaffrey gained 114 yards on 19 carries and caught five passes for 25 yards. McCaffrey set the tone by gaining 47 yards on four touches on the game's opening, leading to a 49er touchdown and a lead they would not relinquish.
McCaffrey leads the NFL in rushing yards (939) and touchdowns (16) and is second in all-purpose yards (1,328). McCaffrey was in on 51 offensive plays as the first-place 49ers pulled two games ahead of the Seahawks in the NFC West. McCaffrey has the fourth-highest offensive grade (90.4) among NFL halfbacks this season and had the No. 2 run grade (88.2) among halfbacks in Week 12 by Pro Football Focus.
Seattle tight end Colby Parkinson had one catch for nine yards while playing 20 offensive snaps and seven on special teams.
New York Giants starting middle linebacker Bobby Okereke had seven solo tackles among his eight total, intercepted a pass, and broke up two others in a 10-7 victory over visiting New England on Sunday. Okereke picked off a short pass over the middle at the Giants' 19-yard line and returned it 55 yards to the Patriots' 26. The play set up the Giants' only touchdown in taking a 7-0 lead. Okereke is tied for fourth in the NFL in solo tackles and tied for sixth in total tackles (113).
Patriots receiver Ty Montgomery returned a kickoff 22 yards. He played two offensive snaps and 11 on special teams.
Paulson Adebo (29). Photo by Dale Zanine/USA TODAY Sports.
Atlanta starting center Drew Dalman played all 62 offensive snaps in the Falcons' 24-15 victory over visiting New Orleans that lifted Atlanta into a tie for first with the Saints in the NFC South, each at 5-6. Dalman has the second-highest run-block grade among centers in the NFL this season, at 90.4 by Pro Football Focus, and has the fourth-highest overall offensive grade for this position, at 82.9. Dalman's offensive grade of 78.4 for Week 12 was the third-highest among centers. Starting cornerback Paulson Adebo made four solo tackles while playing every defensive snap for the Saints. Starting offensive left tackle Andrus Peat played all 72 of the Saints' offensive snaps.
Andrus Peat. Photo by Dale Zanine/USA TODAY Sports.
Houston starting tight end Dalton Schultz had one catch for two yards among his 29 snaps in the Texans' 24-21 victory over visiting Jacksonville. Schultz had the seventh-highest pass-block grade for the week among NFL tight ends, at 75.3 by Pro Football Focus. Starting left guard Walker Little played all 76 of the Jaguars' offensive snaps.
Dalton Schultz. Photo by Trask Smith/Cal Sport Media.
Arizona rookie tight end Elijah Higgins made his first career start in the Cardinals' 37-14 loss to the visiting Los Angeles Rams. Higgins had one catch for 26 yards – the longest play of his pro career – that reached the Rams' 32-yard line in the second quarter. Higgins was in on 19 offensive snaps and nine on special teams.
Justin Reid makes the tackle. Photo by Stephen R. Sylvanie/USA TODAY Sports.
Kansas City starting safety Justin Reid made nine tackles, including six solo, in the Chiefs' 31-17 victory in Las Vegas. Reid played 57 (98 percent) of the Chiefs' defensive snaps. For the Raiders, starting tight end Austin Hooper caught one pass for 14 yards while playing 24 offensive snaps.
Casey Toohill. Photo by Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports.
Washington starting defensive end Casey Toohill had two tackles, including one solo, in the Commanders' 45-10 loss at Dallas on Thanksgiving. Toohill played 44 (81 percent) of Washington's defensive snaps.
Miami starting punter Jake Bailey had one punt for 40 yards in the Dolphins' 34-13 victory at the New York Jets on Friday. Bailey also was the holder on two successful field-goal and four extra-point tries. For the Jets, defensive tackle Solomon Thomas had four tackles, a half-sack, and a quarterback hurry. His sack of Tua Tagovailoa for a nine-yard loss helped stall a drive that ended with Bailey's only punt. Thomas, who played 28 defensive snaps and six on special teams, has three sacks this season.
Solomon Thomas. Photo by Robert Deutsch/USA TODAY Sports.
Minnesota starting defensive tackle Harrison Phillips had four tackles, including two solo, in the Vikings' 12-10 loss to visiting Chicago on Monday night. Phillips played 49 (70 percent) of the Vikings' defensive snaps.
Harrison Phillips on the tackle. Photo by Brad Rempel/USA TODAY Sports.
Cincinnati receiver Trenton Irwin caught one pass for 25 yards in the Bengals' 16-10 loss to visiting Pittsburgh. Irwin played 31 (72 percent) of Cincinnati's offensive snaps. Pittsburgh offensive guard Nate Herbig played four special teams snaps.
Trenton Irwin makes the block. Photo by Sam Greene/The Enquirer/USA TODAY Network.
Cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly made his first appearance for Green Bay, playing one down on defense and four on special teams in the Packers' 29-22 victory at Detroit on Thanksgiving.
Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Foster Sarell played two special teams snaps in a 20-10 loss to visiting Baltimore on Sunday night.
Houston quarterback Davis Mills did not play.
Los Angeles Chargers receiver Simi Fehoko, Denver offensive tackle Cameron Fleming, Philadelphia quarterback Tanner McKee, and Arizona receiver Michael Wilson 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, Chicago defensive back Kendall Williamson were on practice squads.
Carolina defensive end Henry Anderson and Arizona tight end Zach Ertz were on injured reserve.