UNC Tar Heels in the NFL: Week 3 Preview
This is the first of many in a new weekly preview of every former Tar Heel now suiting up with their respective teams in the NFL. Pretty much this is every UNC fans personal guide to where each former Heel is now playing and who they will be playing on Sunday(or Monday Night). Check back every week before Sunday for the previews and don’t forget to check back Tuesdays for the recaps to see how the Tar Heels in the NFL fared.
Sep 13, 2012; Green Bay, WI, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end Julius Peppers (90) during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. The Packers defeated the Bears 23-10. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE
St. Louis Rams(1-1) @ Chicago Bears(1-1) 1:00 ET FOX
Two highly talented, former Tar Heel defensive ends, take the field in this afternoon match-up Sunday. Rams DE Robert Quinn has started the season with a sack in two straight games and will be looking for sack number 3 against the Bears. The other former Heel in this game is perhaps a Chapel Hill legend in Chicago Bears DE Julius Peppers. Peppers comes in with 2 sacks total and 5 tackles.
Buffalo Bills(1-1) @ Cleveland Browns(0-2) 1:00 ET CBS
Bills backup strong safety Da’Norris Searcy is a key player on special teams but may also get an opportunity to cover and tackle a former Tar Heel teammate in Browns WR Greg Little. Little is Cleveland’s number one receiver on the depth chart and has 1 TD catch coming in.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers(1-1) @ Dallas Cowboys(1-1) 1:00 ET FOX
Buccaneers kicker Connor Barth has started the season a perfect 5 for 5 with a long of 52-yards. Barth will be kicking in Cowboys Stadium for this week 3 match-up against two more former Tar Heels. The Cowboys defense boasts two Heels that are starters in LB Bruce Carter and S Gerald Sensabaugh, who will both have to play big to slow down a young and talented Bucs offense.
New York Jets(1-1) @ Miami Dolphins(1-1) 1:00 ET CBS
The 16th overall selection in this past April’s NFL Draft, DE Quinton Coples, still appears to be settling in to the Jets defense. Coples will be trying to improve on two straight games with only one tackle to start the season.
Kansas City Chiefs(0-2) @ New Orleans Saints(0-2) 1:00 ET CBS
After having a breakout preseason, the Kansas City Chiefs had no choice but to add RB Shaun Draughn. The former Tar Heel is heading into this Saints match-up with an average of over 7.5 yards-per-rush as the back-up.
Detroit Lions(1-1) @ Tennessee Titans(0-2) 1:00 ET FOX
Titans rookie second-round pick, LB Zach Brown is coming off of a very productive Week 2 performance against San Diego were he had 6 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble. Brown is bothered by a knee injury and is currently listed as Probable for Sundays game.
Cincinnati Bengals(1-1) @ Washington Redskins(1-1) 1:00 ET CBS
The Bengals have two former Tar Heels in TE Richard Quinn and WR Brandon Tate. Quinn is the 4th TE on the depth chart and Tate is the backup number two wide-out who could see some balls thrown his way in this week 3 game against the Redskins. Another one-time Heel, DE Kentwan Balmer, is on Reserve/Not with Team status for the Washington Redskins.
Philadelphia Eagles(2-0) @ Arizona Cardinals(2-0) 4:05 ET FOX
Second-string defensive end Vonnie Holliday will get snaps in rotation on a talented Arizona Cardinals d-line.
Atlanta Falcons(2-0) @ San Diego Chargers(2-0) 4:05 ET FOX
Falcons starting right guard Garrett Reynolds will battle his one-time UNC Tar Heel teammate Cam Thomas and the San Diego Chargers. Reynolds and Thomas will be the only Chapel Hill alum in this match-up.
Houston Texans(2-0) @ Denver Broncos(1-1) 4:25 ET CBS
QB T.J. Yates is the backup for the Houston Texans but proved the last half of 2011 he could be the QB of the future. Yates will more than likely not see the field Sunday barring any injury to Matt Schaub.
Pittsburgh Steelers(1-1) @ Oakland Raiders(0-2) 4:25 ET CBS
Long snapper Greg Warren continues to show his reliability to the Pittsburgh Steelers entering this his eighth NFL season. Warren will be the only former Heel on the field in this game.
Green Bay Packers(1-1) @ Seattle Seahawks(1-1) 8:30 ET ESPN
14-year NFL veteran and newcomer to the Green Bay Packers, center Jeff Saturday along with 2nd year, fourth string TE Ryan Taylor, head to Seattle as the only two former Tar Heels who will suit in this Monday Night match-up.