The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/916614
104 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ■ PACK PROS That hasn't changed since that column, but Wilson has continued to keep his squad in the playoff hunt. The sixth-year pro is at his best in the biggest moments, improv- ing to 4-0 all-time against teams with 10 wins at the start of the game in the regular season after he led his Seahawks to a 24-10 victory over Philadelphia Dec. 3, outduel- ing then-MVP frontrunner Carson Wentz. Head coach Pete Carroll called it one of Wilson's finest performances, while he was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for the second time of the year. Wilson is not only on pace to set ca- reer highs in passing yards and touchdown throws, he more than doubles his team's second-leading rusher (482 yards to Eddie Lacy's 179) and has accounted for all but one of his team's scores. He also set an NFL record for fourth- quarter touchdown throws in a season when he tossed his 17th of the year Dec. 10, breaking Eli Manning's 2011 record of 15 (the year he won the Super Bowl). Former NFL lineman Geoff Schwartz, now working for SBNation, recently wrote that Wilson was "the most underrated QB of my lifetime." After admitting early in Wilson's career he thought the quarterback "was just OK and carried by the parts around him … now that he's without his rushing attack and some of that stout defense, we get to fully appreciate Wilson's unique talents." Schwartz explained Wilson had ac- counted for 82.2 percent of his team's offensive production through Dec. 6, the highest amount for a single player in the Super Bowl era, and had completed 61.9 percent of his passes despite 25 being dropped, which at that time was the third most in the league. He ended his argument by noting, "If Seattle didn't have Wilson, they'd set the record for most sacks allowed in a season," and exclaiming there was no better passer against pressure in the league. "[MVP] Award or not, we can't keep overlooking just how good Wilson is," he concluded. It will be difficult to overlook either in the MVP race if they continue their stellar play and direct their squads to the playoffs. Through week 14, both Rivers and Wilson ranked among the top 10 in quarterback rating among passers with at least 205 at- tempts (Rivers eighth, Wilson 10th), and were in the top six for both passing yards (Rivers fourth, Wilson sixth) and touch- down throws (Rivers tied for fifth, Wilson second). It's entirely plausible, especially with Wentz's torn ACL, the MVP race could come down to a pair of Pack Pros. ■ NFL Player Updates Through Dec. 14 • David Amerson (Played at NC State from 2010-12), CB, Oakland Raiders: Started all six games he's played in for the 6-7 Raiders … Posted 18 tackles and four passes defended when healthy. • Jacoby Brissett (2014-15), QB, Indianapolis Colts: Has played in every game for the 3-11 Colts and started the last 13 … Completed 245 of 411 passes (59.6 per - cent) for 2,769 yards with 11 touchdowns and seven in- terceptions for a passer rating of 81.7 … Has also rushed for 234 yards and four scores. • Juston Burris (2012-15), CB, New York Jets: Ap- peared in 11 games for the 5-8 Jets … Tallied 13 tackles, one forced fumble and two passes defended, including an interception he returned 48 yards. • Matt Dayes (2013-16), RB, Cleveland Browns: The rookie has played in every contest for the 0-13 Browns … Has rushed four times for nine yards, caught four passes for 29 yards, notched eight special teams tackles and returned 16 kickoffs for 397 yards (24.8-yard average). • Mike Glennon (2009-12), QB, Chicago Bears: Has not played since starting the first four games for the 4-9 Bears … Completed 93 of 140 passes (66.4 percent) for 833 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions for a passer rating of 76.9. • David Grinnage (2013-15), TE, Jacksonville Jaguars: Is on the 9-4 Jaguars' practice squad. • Stephen Hauschka (2007), K, Buffalo Bills: Has con- verted 24 of 24 extra points and 22 of 26 (84.6 percent) field goals for the 7-6 Bills … Is a perfect 10 of 10 from inside of 40 yards and 7 of 8 on tries from 50 yards or more … Set an NFL record by converting on 13 straight kicks from at least 50 yards, before missing his first since the 2014 season … Has tied the NFL single-season record with four makes from 55 yards or more … Tied for 13th in the NFL in made field goals and field goal percentage, and is tied for 14th in overall scoring (90 points) … His career field goal accuracy now sits at 87.3 percent, which ranks fourth in NFL history. • Dontae Johnson (2010-13), CB, San Francisco 49ers: Started every game for the 3-10 49ers … Set a career high with 60 tackles and tied his career best with six passes broken up. • Josh Jones (2014-16), S, Green Bay Packers: The sec - ond-round rookie has played in all 13 games for the 7-6 Packers with four starts … Logged 57 tackles (51 solo), two sacks, an interception and four passes defended. • Ted Larsen (2006-09), OL, Miami Dolphins: The vet- eran has returned from injured reserve to start the last four games for the 6-7 Dolphins at left guard. • T.Y. McGill (2011-14), DT, Cleveland Browns: Has appeared in three games and posted one stop for the 0-13 Browns. • Philip Rivers (2000-03), QB, Los Angeles Chargers: Started the first 13 games for the 7-6 Chargers and completed 290 of 462 passes (62.8 percent) for 3,611 yards with 23 touchdowns and seven interceptions for a passer rating of 97.2. • J.R. Sweezy (2008-11), OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: After missing all of last year with a back injury, has returned to open every game at right guard for the 4-9 Buccaneers. • Joe Thuney (2012-15), OL, New England Patriots: The left guard has started all 13 games for the 10-3 defending Super Bowl champions. • Jack Tocho (2013-16), S, Minnesota Vikings: The rookie is on the 10-3 Vikings' practice squad. • Russell Wilson (2007-09), QB, Seattle Seahawks: Has started all 13 games for the 8-5 Seahawks … Com - pleted 293 of 473 passes (61.9 percent) for 3,527 yards with 29 touchdowns and 11 interceptions for a passer rating of 95.5 … Has also rushed for 482 yards and three touchdowns on 76 attempts (6.3-yard average) … Ranks first in the NFL in total yards per game (293.6). • Willie Young (2006-09), LB, Chicago Bears: The eight-year veteran was placed on season-ending injured reserve after he played in the first four games with two starts … Prior to the injury, he notched seven tackles and two sacks for the 4-9 Bears. ■ NBA Player Updates Through Dec. 14 • Dennis Smith Jr. (Played at NC State in 2017), G, Dallas Mavericks: Started all 23 games he's appeared in for the 8-21 Mavericks … Averaging 28.1 minutes, 14.4 points, 4.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 0.8 steals per game while shooting 39.4 percent from the floor. • T.J. Warren, F, Phoenix Suns (2013-14): Started the first 29 games for the 9-21 Suns … Averaging 31.4 minutes, 18.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.7 blocks per game while shooting 48.0 percent from the floor … Set a career high with 40 points and also pulled down 10 rebounds for his second straight double-double in a 122-116 win over Washington Nov. 1 … Every per-game average except steals would be a new season-long career high. • C.J. Williams, G, Los Angeles Clippers (2009-12): Was called up to the 11-15 Clippers from the G League and made his NBA debut Nov. 18, when he played eight minutes and totaled two points with four rebounds … In 14 appearances and two starts, he was averaging 10.6 minutes, 2.7 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game while shooting 42.9 percent … He's also 5 of 11 from behind the arc (45.5 percent). ■ Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson leads the NFL in total yards (293.6 per game) after the first 14 weeks of the season. PHOTO BY ROD MAR/COURTESY SEATTLE SEAHAWKS