BYU in NFL, Week 16: Ansah explodes with three sacks, Williams reaches 700 yards total offense, Hill makes a cameo on offense

Although Green Bay was shutout, Jamaal Williams was able to reach a statistical milestone (Photo courtesy @Packers Twitter feed).


Week sixteen had some positive moments for most of the former BYU Cougars in the NFL.

The most noteworthy moments were: Daniel Sorensen along with Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid locking up the AFC West to secure a playoff spot, and Ansah was an unstoppable monstah for Detroit.

Getting that playoff berth made Reid so jolly, he dressed up as Santa Clause.


Here is a complete rundown of former Cougars in the NFL for week sixteen.

Ezekiel Ansah, Detroit Lions (8-7, L 26-17 Cincinnati Bengals)
Ansah did not have any Christmas spirit this week. At least, that's what the Bengals will say. He had his second three sack game of the season, including the one below where he swallows up the offensive tackle before taking down Andy Dalton. (Video courtesy @DetroitVideos via Twitter.)


After the sack, he struck a pose with one of his teammates. Ansah is just the fifth player in Lions franchise history with 40 sacks, but he is the fastest to reach that milestone. He also reached a milestone for tackles in a career. His seven tackles on Sunday pushed him over 200. He also had four tackles for loss, bringing his career total to 25.

To see all three sacks, you can watch the complete game highlights on YouTube. The sacks come at 0:28, 2:50, and 6:00.

Ansah had the fifth highest performance grade for the Lions (79.2) from Pro Football Focus. He played a total of 46 snaps on defense (53%).


 Tackles  Sacks  Yards  TFL  PD  Int  Yds  TD  FF  FR  TD 
 Last Game 
 7 
 3 
 16 
 4 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 Season 
 40 
 9 
 44 
8
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 1 
 1 
 0 
 Career (5 Yr) 
 203 
 41
 291 
 25 
 2 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 10 
 3 
 0 


John Denney, Miami Dolphins (6-9, L 29-13 Kansas City Chiefs)
Denney's long snapping services were needed for three field goal attempts, two punts, and one extra point. Those six special teams plays were 22% of all Dolphins special teams snaps.

Daniel Sorensen, Kansas City Chiefs (9-6, W 29-13 Miami Dolphins)
Sorensen added four tackles to his already career high total. Near the end of the game he added a pass break up to his stat line. Sorensen was given an 82.9 performance rating by Pro Football Focus, which was fifth highest for the Chiefs. He played all 57 of the Chiefs' defensive snaps, and six special teams snaps (22%).


 Tackles  Sacks  Yards  TFL  PD  Int  Yds  TD  FF  FR  TD 
 Last Game 
 4 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 1 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 Season 
 89 
 1.5 
 14 
 5 
 5 
 1 
 3 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 Career (4 Yr) 
 182 
 3.5 
 29 
 9 
 13 
 4 
 51 
 1 
 2 
 3 
 0 


Kyle Van Noy, New England Patriots (12-3, W 37-16 Buffalo Bills)
Van Noy did not play for the third week in a row. He is nursing a calf injury.


 Tackles  Sacks  Yards  TFL  PD  Int  Yds  TD  FF  FR  TD 
 Last Game 
 DNP
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 Season 
 73 
 5.5 
34
 4 
 2 
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 Career (4 Yr) 
 141
 7.5 
 44 
 7 
 5 
 1
 0
 0
 1 
 0
 0 


Harvey Langi, New England Patriots (12-3, W 37-16 Buffalo Bills)
Langi is out for the season recovering from injuries sustained in a car crash.


 Tackles  Sacks  Yards  TFL  PD  Int  Yds  TD  FF  FR  TD 
 Last Game 
 N/A









 Season 
 1 
 0 
 0 
 0
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 Career (1 Yr) 
1
 0
 0
 0
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 


Jamaal Williams, Green Bay Packers (7-8, L 16-0 Minnesota Vikings)
Williams had a modest rushing performance against the tough Minnesota defense. He also had three passes thrown his way, but he didn't catch any of them. His rushing total was enough to push him over the 700-yard mark for total offense this season. For the game, Williams played 62 downs on offense (93%).


 Rush  Yards  Ave.  TD  Fum  Rec.  Yards  Ave.  TD  Fum  FR 
 Last Game 
 15 
 58 
 3.9 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0.0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 Season 
 131 
 474 
 3.6 
4
 0 
 22 
 231 
 10.5 
 2 
 0 
 0 
 Career (1 Yr) 
131
474
 3.6 
4
 0 
 22 
 231 
 10.5 
 2 
 0 
 0 


 Tackles  Sacks  Yards  TFL  PD  Int  Yds  TD  FF  FR  TD 
 Last Game 
 1 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0
 Season 
3
 0
 0 
 0
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 Career (1 Yr) 
3
 0
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 


Bronson Kaufusi, Baltimore Ravens (9-6, W 23-16 Indianapolis Colts)
Kaufusi did not play. He has seen action in just three games this season.


 Tackles  Sacks  Yards  TFL  PD  Int  Yds  TD  FF  FR  TD 
 Last Game 
 DNP


 Season 
 5 
 0 
 0
 0
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 Career (2 Yr) 
5
 0
 0
 0
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 


Alani Fua, Arizona Cardinals (7-8, W 23-0 New York Giants)
Fua is recovering from surgery.


 Tackles  Sacks  Yards  TFL  PD  Int  Yds  TD  FF  FR  TD 
 Last Game 
  N/A









 Season 
  N/A
  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 Career (3 Yr) 
 8 
 0 
 0
 0
 0  
 0  
 0 
 0 
 0 
 1 
 0 


Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints (11-4, W 23-13 Atlanta Falcons)
Hill did not record any stats in the win, but he did line up as a wide receiver/tight end. Of course, people went nuts on Twitter when that happened. Maybe Sean Payton is working on setting up a trick play for the playoffs. It was just one offensive play (2%). He also saw action on 16 special teams plays (55%).



 Tackles  Sacks  Yards  TFL  PD  Int  Yds  TD  FF  FR  TD 
 Last Game 
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
 Season 
3
0
0
0
 0 
 0 
 0 
0
 0 
 0 
 Career (1 Yr) 
3
 0 
0
0
 0  
 0  
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 


Kai Nacua, Cleveland Browns (0-15, L 20-3 Chicago Bears)
Nacua got his second start of the season. He made two tackles while playing defense. He also got pressure on the Bears quarterback once. His Pro Football Focus performance grade was 80.2; the third highest for the Browns. Nacua played a total of 56 downs on defense (88%) and three on special teams (11%).


 Tackles  Sacks  Yards  TFL  PD  Int  Yds  TD  FF  FR  TD 
 Last Game 
2  
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
 Season 
9  
0
0
0
 0 
 0 
 0 
0
 0 
 0 
 Career (1 Yr) 
9  
 0 
0
0
 0  
 0  
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 


Michael Davis, Los Angeles Chargers (8-7, W 14-7 New York Jets)
Davis got one more tackle. It came on a Chargers punt in the second quarter. He was in on 23 special teams plays (82%).


 Tackles  Sacks  Yards  TFL  PD  Int  Yds  TD  FF  FR  TD 
 Last Game 
 1 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 Season 
 17 
 0 
 0 
 0
  1  
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 Career (1 Yr) 
 17 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 1 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 
 0 

Kickoff returns: 2 for 36 yards

Jordan Leslie, Cleveland Browns (0-15, L 20-3 Chicago Bears)
Leslie is out on injured reserve.


 Rec.  Yards  TD  Fum  FR 
 Last Game 
 N/A 



 Season 
 1 
 26 
 0 
 0 
 0   
 Career (1 Yr) 
 1 
 26 
 0 
 0
 0  

The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com

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