A GAME-WINNING TOUCHDOWN catch by Colby Parkinson, and career-highs for Paulson Adebo and Christian McCaffrey were among the highlights by Stanford alums in the NFL last week.
Here is a summary of how former Cardinal fared in Week 16 of the NFL season:
Seattle tight end Colby Parkinson caught a five-yard touchdown pass from Geno Smith with 57 seconds left to give the Seahawks a 20-17 victory at Tennessee on Sunday. Parkinson had three catches for 17 yards. The touchdown was his second of the season and fourth of his career. Parkinson played 23 offensive snaps and six on special teams. The victory enabled the Seahawks to pull into a tie for second in the NFC West at 8-7 and into the seventh and final NFC playoff spot with two games remaining.
Colby Parkinson with the winner. Photo by Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean/USA TODAY Network.
New Orleans starting left cornerback Paulson Adebo made 10 tackles, including nine solo, and broke up a pass in the Saints' 30-22 loss at the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday. Both totals – solo tackles and combined tackles – were career single-game highs for the three-year veteran. Adebo played all 70 defensive snaps. Andrus Peat, the Saints' starting left tackle, played all 60 offensive snaps.
Paulson Adebo (left). Photo by Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports.
San Francisco starting running back Christian McCaffrey rushed for 103 yards on 14 carries and caught six passes for 28 yards in the 49ers' 33-19 loss to visiting Baltimore on Monday night. McCaffrey scored on a nine-yard run to bring the 49ers within 13-12 in the second quarter. The touchdown was his 21st of the season. McCaffrey played all 70 of the 49ers' offensive snaps.
McCaffrey holds a commanding lead for the NFL rushing title. McCaffrey now has rushed for a career-best 1,395 yards – 338 ahead of second-place Kyren Williams of the L.A. Rams. McCaffrey also leads the NFL in yards from scrimmage and all-purpose yards (1,932 each) and is tied for first in touchdowns.
Christian McCaffrey. Photo by Cary Edmondson/USA TODAY Sports.
Miami starting punter Jake Bailey had two punts for a 55.5-yard average, including 54.5 net, in the Dolphins' 22-20 victory over visiting Dallas. Bailey, also a holder on placekicks, had a 58-yard punt downed at the Dallas two-yard line in the third quarter that helped in the field-position battle and enabled the Dolphins to score on a short field on its next possession. Dolphins' cornerback Ethan Bonner played 13 special teams snaps.
Bobby Okereke on the tackle. Photo by Eric Hartline/USA TODAY Sports.
New York Giants starting inside linebacker Bobby Okereke had 10 tackles, including eight solo, and broke up a pass in a 33-25 loss at Philadelphia on Monday. Okereke played all 75 of the Giants' defensive snaps. Okereke is third in the league in solo tackles with 77 and tied for ninth in combined tackles with 132. Okereke has reached double digits in tackles seven times this season.
Dalton Schultz. Photo by Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports.
Houston tight end Dalton Schultz caught eight passes for 61 yards in the Texans' 36-22 loss to visiting Cleveland. Schultz played 59 offensive snaps. Quarterback Davis Mills came off the bench to throw two touchdowns passes and a two-point conversion pass in the fourth quarter in an attempt to rally the Texans from a 36-7 deficit. Mills completed 15 of 32 passes for 149 yards. Mills saw action in a handful of plays in the first half before relieving starter Case Keenum in the fourth quarter.
Davis Mills. Photo by Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports.
Atlanta starting center Drew Dalman played all 64 offensive snaps in the Falcons' 29-10 victory over visiting Indianapolis on Sunday. Dalman is third among centers with an 81.5 blocking grade by Pro Football Focus and fourth in run blocking with an 88.8 grade. Falcons tight end Tucker Fisk played 14 offensive snaps and 18 on special teams as the Falcons pulled within one game of the NFC South lead and within two spots of a wild-card playoff berth.
Austin Hooper. Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/USA TODAY Sports.
Las Vegas starting tight end Austin Hooper caught two passes for 13 yards in the Raiders' 20-14 victory at Kansas City on Monday. Hooper played 49 (89 percent) of the Raiders' offensive snaps. Chiefs' starting strong safety Justin Reid tied for the team lead six tackles, including four solo. Reid played all 55 of the Chiefs' defensive snaps, plus three special teams snaps.
New York Jets defensive tackle Solomon Thomas received his first start since 2020, in a 30-28 victory over visiting Washington. Thomas had one tackle while playing 39 (64 percent) defensive snaps and six on special teams. Commanders' starting defensive end Casey Toohill recovered a fumble on the Jets' 12-yard-line, which set up a touchdown on the next play. Toohill played 60 (67 percent) of the defensive snaps.
Trenton Irwin. Photo by Kareem Elgazzar/USA TODAY Sports.
Cincinnati starting receiver Trenton Irwin had four catches for 37 yards, including a 22-yarder, in the Bengals' 34-11 loss at Pittsburgh on Saturday. Irwin played 26 (41 percent) offensive snaps. Steelers' offensive guard Nate Herbig played six snaps on special teams.
Minnesota starting defensive tackle Harrison Phillips had eight tackles in the Vikings' 30-24 loss to visiting Detroit. Phillips played 58 (73 percent) defensive snaps.
Jacksonville starting offensive left tackle Walker Little played all 66 offensive snaps in the Jaguars' 30-12 loss at Tampa Bay.
Elijah Higgins. Photo by Jamie Sabau/USA TODAY Sports.
Arizona tight end Elijah Higgins caught two passes for 17 yards in the Cardinals' 27-16 loss at Chicago. Higgins played 17 snaps on offense and 16 on special teams. Starting receiver Michael Wilson played 55 (90 percent) offensive snaps for the Cardinals.
Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Foster Sarell played six special teams snaps in a 24-22 loss to visiting Buffalo on Saturday.
Denver offensive tackle Cameron Fleming played two offensive snaps in the Broncos' 26-23 loss to visiting New England on Sunday night.
Washington cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly and Philadelphia quarterback Tanner McKee were inactive.
Philadelphia defensive tackle Thomas Booker, Los Angeles Chargers receiver Simi Fehoko, 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 was on injured reserve.