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NFL Dukes Roundup - Week 16
12/29/2015 12:00:00 PM | Football
HARRISONBURG, Va. - The James Madison football team has a long history of players who have gone on to play in the National Football League. Many that have played at the next level have found great success, including five-time Super Bowl champion and 2015 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Charles Haley.
Safety Dean Marlowe and wide receiver Daniel Brown have embarked into their rookie seasons in the NFL while linebacker Arthur Moats, offensive lineman Earl Watford and offensive lineman Josh Wells were previously on NFL rosters.
Week 16 of the 2015 NFL season is in the books and it was full of upsets, which included games consisting of our NFL Dukes. Let's check how former JMU student-athletes fared this week and what's to come in the final week of the regular season.
Arthur Moats – LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Last week: Baltimore 20, Pittsburgh 17
The Pittsburgh Steelers dropped a heartbreaker on the road, falling 20-17 at the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday afternoon. Pittsburgh had plenty of chances but a pair of Ben Roethlisberger interceptions were pivotal blunders, which cost the black and gold. Arthur Moats recorded a pair of assisted tackles in the loss, marking the 10th game this year he had multiple stops. The defeat was a big blow in terms of Pittsburgh's playoff picture as it will need a New York Jets loss at the Buffalo Bills and a victory on the road against the Cleveland Browns in Week 17 to clinch the sixth and final AFC playoff spot.
This week: Pittsburgh at Cleveland – 1 p.m. on CBS (Regional)
Dean Marlowe – SS, Carolina Panthers
Last week: Atlanta 20, Carolina 13
Unfortunately, the Carolina Panthers saw their bid for a perfect season come to a close in Sunday's 20-13 loss at the Atlanta Falcons. The defeat also snapped the franchise's longest regular-season win streak, at 18, marking the first regular-season setback since Nov. 30, 2014. Dean Marlowe was inactive for the divisional game at the Georgia Dome and the defense struggled at times, allowing for Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan to have a day with 306 yards and a touchdown while wide receiver Julio Jones went off with nine receptions for 178 yards and a score. One last-ditch effort went sour when Cam Newton was sacked and the Falcons recovered the fumble inside two minutes to play. Carolina will seek homefield advantage throughout the playoffs in Week 17 when it hosts the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium.
This week: Tampa Bay at Carolina – 4:25 p.m. on FOX (Regional)
Daniel Brown - WR, Baltimore Ravens
Last week: Baltimore 20, Pittsburgh 17
The Baltimore Ravens notched their biggest win of the season and arguably the worst loss for their rival with a thrilling 20-17 triumph at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Though Daniel Brown did not record a catch, Ravens QB Ryan Mallett turned in a terrific stat line with 274 yards passing and a touchdown to lead struggling Baltimore to the unlikely victory. Brown will seek to get his first reception in a few weeks in Week 17 as the Ravens hit the road to face the AFC North Division champions Cincinnati Bengals.
This week: Baltimore at Cincinnati – 1 p.m. on CBS (Regional)
Earl Watford – OL, Arizona Cardinals
Last week: Arizona 38, Green Bay 8
The Arizona Cardinals are on a tear and this past Sunday proved to be a statement win as they dispatched the Green Bay Packers 38-8 at home to clinch a first-round bye and the first 13-win season in the history of the franchise. Though Earl Watford is out for the year and on IR, the offense looked solid, as Carson Palmer threw for 265 yards and two touchdowns while the running backs combined for 121 yards and a score. More impressively, the defense returned a pair of Aaron Rodgers fumbles for touchdowns to blow past the Pack. By virtue of Carolina's loss this past week, the Cardinals can still secure homefield advantage for the playoffs in Week 17 with a home win over the Seattle Seahawks and a Panthers loss at home to the Buccaneers.
This week: Seattle at Arizona – 4:25 p.m. on FOX (Regional)
Josh Wells - OL, Jacksonville Jaguars
Last week: New Orleans 38, Jacksonville 27
The Jacksonville Jaguars battled for the second straight Sunday against a NFC South foe but the New Orleans Saints used a big first half to get past the Jags, 38-27. Though Josh Wells hasn't had the privilege to block for Blake Bortles all season, the young QB has found his stride, as he passed for 368 yards and four touchdowns. However, Saints QB Drew Brees threw for 412 yards and three touchdowns and Tim Hightower, a former Richmond Spider, ran for 122 yards and two scores to put the game out of reach. Jacksonville is playing for pride and can disrupt a division title for its Week 17 opponent as it heads to NRG Stadium to take on the Houston Texans to close out the regular season.
This week: Jacksonville at Houston – 1:00 p.m. on CBS (Regional)
Playoff Picture Entering Week 17:
*- clinched 1st-round bye
z- clinched division title
x- clinched playoff berth
Come back every Tuesday for a weekly "NFL Dukes Roundup," as we'll recap the week that was for our alumni playing at the next level.
Safety Dean Marlowe and wide receiver Daniel Brown have embarked into their rookie seasons in the NFL while linebacker Arthur Moats, offensive lineman Earl Watford and offensive lineman Josh Wells were previously on NFL rosters.
Week 16 of the 2015 NFL season is in the books and it was full of upsets, which included games consisting of our NFL Dukes. Let's check how former JMU student-athletes fared this week and what's to come in the final week of the regular season.
Arthur Moats – LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Last week: Baltimore 20, Pittsburgh 17
The Pittsburgh Steelers dropped a heartbreaker on the road, falling 20-17 at the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday afternoon. Pittsburgh had plenty of chances but a pair of Ben Roethlisberger interceptions were pivotal blunders, which cost the black and gold. Arthur Moats recorded a pair of assisted tackles in the loss, marking the 10th game this year he had multiple stops. The defeat was a big blow in terms of Pittsburgh's playoff picture as it will need a New York Jets loss at the Buffalo Bills and a victory on the road against the Cleveland Browns in Week 17 to clinch the sixth and final AFC playoff spot.
Great seeing my @JMUFootball bro @Daniel_Brown10 ! Keep doing your thing! #JMU #NFLDukes #GoSteelers @JMUSports pic.twitter.com/P1U9bxaKpb
— Arthur Moats (@dabody52) December 29, 2015
This week: Pittsburgh at Cleveland – 1 p.m. on CBS (Regional)
Dean Marlowe – SS, Carolina Panthers
Last week: Atlanta 20, Carolina 13
Unfortunately, the Carolina Panthers saw their bid for a perfect season come to a close in Sunday's 20-13 loss at the Atlanta Falcons. The defeat also snapped the franchise's longest regular-season win streak, at 18, marking the first regular-season setback since Nov. 30, 2014. Dean Marlowe was inactive for the divisional game at the Georgia Dome and the defense struggled at times, allowing for Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan to have a day with 306 yards and a touchdown while wide receiver Julio Jones went off with nine receptions for 178 yards and a score. One last-ditch effort went sour when Cam Newton was sacked and the Falcons recovered the fumble inside two minutes to play. Carolina will seek homefield advantage throughout the playoffs in Week 17 when it hosts the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium.
This week: Tampa Bay at Carolina – 4:25 p.m. on FOX (Regional)
Daniel Brown - WR, Baltimore Ravens
Last week: Baltimore 20, Pittsburgh 17
The Baltimore Ravens notched their biggest win of the season and arguably the worst loss for their rival with a thrilling 20-17 triumph at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Though Daniel Brown did not record a catch, Ravens QB Ryan Mallett turned in a terrific stat line with 274 yards passing and a touchdown to lead struggling Baltimore to the unlikely victory. Brown will seek to get his first reception in a few weeks in Week 17 as the Ravens hit the road to face the AFC North Division champions Cincinnati Bengals.
This week: Baltimore at Cincinnati – 1 p.m. on CBS (Regional)
Earl Watford – OL, Arizona Cardinals
Last week: Arizona 38, Green Bay 8
The Arizona Cardinals are on a tear and this past Sunday proved to be a statement win as they dispatched the Green Bay Packers 38-8 at home to clinch a first-round bye and the first 13-win season in the history of the franchise. Though Earl Watford is out for the year and on IR, the offense looked solid, as Carson Palmer threw for 265 yards and two touchdowns while the running backs combined for 121 yards and a score. More impressively, the defense returned a pair of Aaron Rodgers fumbles for touchdowns to blow past the Pack. By virtue of Carolina's loss this past week, the Cardinals can still secure homefield advantage for the playoffs in Week 17 with a home win over the Seattle Seahawks and a Panthers loss at home to the Buccaneers.
This week: Seattle at Arizona – 4:25 p.m. on FOX (Regional)
Josh Wells - OL, Jacksonville Jaguars
Last week: New Orleans 38, Jacksonville 27
The Jacksonville Jaguars battled for the second straight Sunday against a NFC South foe but the New Orleans Saints used a big first half to get past the Jags, 38-27. Though Josh Wells hasn't had the privilege to block for Blake Bortles all season, the young QB has found his stride, as he passed for 368 yards and four touchdowns. However, Saints QB Drew Brees threw for 412 yards and three touchdowns and Tim Hightower, a former Richmond Spider, ran for 122 yards and two scores to put the game out of reach. Jacksonville is playing for pride and can disrupt a division title for its Week 17 opponent as it heads to NRG Stadium to take on the Houston Texans to close out the regular season.
This week: Jacksonville at Houston – 1:00 p.m. on CBS (Regional)
Playoff Picture Entering Week 17:
| NFC | |
| 1. Carolina * | 14-1 |
| 2. Arizona * | 13-2 |
| 3. Green Bay x | 10-5 |
| 4. Washington z | 8-7 |
| 5. Minnesota x | 10-5 |
| 6. Seattle x | 9-6 |
| AFC | |
| 1. New England * | 12-3 |
| 2. Denver x | 11-4 |
| 3. Cincinnati z | 11-4 |
| 4. Houston | 8-7 |
| 5. Kansas City x | 10-5 |
| 6. New York Jets | 10-5 |
| In the hunt: Pittsburgh (9-6), Indianapolis (7-8) | |
*- clinched 1st-round bye
z- clinched division title
x- clinched playoff berth
Come back every Tuesday for a weekly "NFL Dukes Roundup," as we'll recap the week that was for our alumni playing at the next level.
Players Mentioned
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