WITH THE PLAYOFF picture starting to take shape, Stanford alums are among the pivotal players on potential postseason and division championship teams.
Here is a summary of how the former Cardinal fared in Week 13:
San Francisco starting running back Christian McCaffrey put the 49ers ahead for good on a two-yard second-quarter touchdown run off left guard in a 42-19 victory at Philadelphia. McCaffrey rushed 17 times for 93 yards and caught three passes for 40 yards. His 33-yard catch-and-run set up a Deebo Samuel touchdown that increased the lead to 21-6 as the 49ers scored touchdowns on six consecutive possessions. McCaffrey played 52 offensive snaps (88 percent) and one on special teams.
Christian McCaffrey. Photo by Eric Hartline/USA TODAY Sports.
McCaffrey became the first rusher in the NFL this season to reach 1,000 yards. He leads the NFL with 1,032 and has reached 1,000 for the third time in his career. His 17 touchdowns also lead the league and his 102 points is third behind two kickers. He is second to Tyreek Hill in yards from scrimmage, with 1,461 and has the No. 4 season receiving grade by Pro Football Focus. McCaffrey has been key to the 49ers' four-game winning streak that has moved the team to the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoff picture.
New Orleans starting cornerback Paulson Adebo made eight tackles, including six solo, and broke up a pass in the Saints' 33-28 loss to visiting Detroit. Adebo played 57 (98 percent) defensive snaps and one on special teams. Adebo is tied for fourth in the NFL in interceptions with four. He grades as the NFL's No. 7 coverage cornerback by Pro Football Focus with an 86.8 grade.
Paulson Adebo breaks up a pass. Photo by Stephen Lew/USA TODAY Sports.
Saints' starting offensive left tackle Andrus Peat played 54 offensive snaps, leaving briefly because of a hand injury, and three on special teams.
Kansas City starting safety Justin Reid made 10 tackles, including nine solo, in the Chiefs' 27-19 loss at Green Bay on Sunday night. Reid played 62 defensive snaps (97 percent) and five on special teams. The Chiefs lead the AFC West at 8-4.
Cincinnati receiver Trenton Irwin caught one pass for 25 yards to set up the Bengals' first touchdown in a 34-31 overtime victory at Jacksonville on Monday night. Irwin played 15 offensive snaps. Jaguars starting left offensive tackle Walker Little played 53 offensive snaps and five on special teams. The Jaguars continue to lead the AFC South, at 8-4.
Atlanta starting center Drew Dalman played all 68 offensive snaps in the Falcons' 13-8 victory at the New York Jets. The Falcons lead the NFC South at 6-6 and hold the No. 4 seed in the NFC. Dalman has the top season grade for run blocking among centers, at 91.0 by Pro Football Focus. He has the No. 2 overall blocking grade among centers, at 84.7. His blocking grade was third among centers for Week 13, at 79.3.
Defensive tackle Solomon Thomas had four tackles and a tackle for loss while playing 32 (47 percent) offensive snaps and three on special teams for the Jets. Thomas was named as the Jets' Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award nominee.
Arizona tight end Elijah Higgins had one catch for 21 yards in the Cardinals' 24-10 victory at Pittsburgh. The play was the longest on a second-quarter drive that resulted in the go-ahead touchdown for a 10-3 lead. Higgins played 22 snaps on offense and eight on special teams. Pittsburgh offensive guard Nate Herbig played 31 offensive snaps and three on special teams.
Miami starting punter Jake Bailey averaged 42.3 yards on three punts and had one downed at the 6-yard line in the Dolphins' 45-15 victory at Washington. Bailey was the holder on one successful field-goal try and five extra-points, and kicked off once. The Dolphins, the AFC East leaders, hold the AFC's top seed at 9-3. Commanders starting defensive end Casey Toohill had a solo tackle for loss while playing 40 (66 percent) of the defensive snaps.
Houston quarterback Davis Mills completed his only pass for 18 yards while in on two plays in place of an injured C.J. Stroud in the fourth quarter of the Texans' 22-17 victory over visiting Denver.
Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Foster Sarell played one offensive snap as an eligible receiver and played on two field-goal tries in a 6-0 victory at New England. Patriots receiver Ty Montgomery rushed once for two yards and made two tackles on punt coverage while playing three offensive snaps and eight on special teams.
Seattle tight end Colby Parkinson played 29 offensive snaps and eight on special teams in the Seahawks' 41-35 loss at Dallas on Thursday night.
Chicago (defensive back Kendall Williamson), Las Vegas (tight end Austin Hooper), Minnesota (defensive tackle Harrison Phillips), and the New York Giants (middle linebacker Bobby Okereke) had byes. Phillips was named as the Vikings' Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award nominee. Okereke is sixth in the NFL in solo tackles (70) and ninth in combined tackles (113).
Denver offensive tackle Cameron Fleming and Green Bay cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly did not play.
Los Angeles Chargers receiver Simi Fehoko, Philadelphia quarterback Tanner McKee, Houston tight end Dalton Schultz, 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, and Washington receiver Brycen Tremayne were on practice squads.
Carolina defensive end Henry Anderson was on injured reserve.
Tight end Zach Ertz was released by Arizona at his own request.