NFL’s Top 4 Tar Heels in Week 13
Below is a list of the top four Tar Heel performances in week thirteen of the NFL. No teams were off with byes this week resulting in a full sixteen game schedule.
Dec 4, 2011; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills strong safety Da
Da’Norris Searcy SS Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills were able to get a win at home 34-18 over the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday in large part because of a strong performance from their defense. The Bills allowed just 236 Total NET Yards to Jacksonville while also holding them to just 1 third down conversion out of ten the entire game. Former Tar Heel Da’Norris Searcy had an overall positive game finishing with 2 tackles and his second forced fumble of the season. Searcy is now in his second season for Buffalo and has looked like a productive player when in for veteran George Wilson. The combination of Searcy and Jairus Byrd in the Bills defensive backfield is one the team feels very confident in moving forward. The win still gives Buffalo a last gasp of air in the AFC Playoff hunt now at 5-7 but will need to do a lot and have some teams if front of them like the Bengals, Steelers, and Colts to all underachieve or collapse down the stretch. Bottom line, it will take nothing short of a miracle for the Bills to make the playoffs this season.
Connor Barth K Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Though Tampa Bay lost a hard fought game on the road in Denver Sunday , Connor Barth still managed to have another solid game kicking in the 31-23 loss. Barth continued to look and kick as if he were on of the best in the NFL rite now. The one-time Chapel Hill kicker connected on all three field goal attempts in their loss against the Broncos, including two of 50-yards or more in the fourth quarter. His first field goal was from 31-yards in the first quarter. Barth also finished the game 2 for 2 on extra points. On the season now Barth is 23 of 28 on field goals and 34 of 34 on extra points. Only three kickers in the NFL have booted a field goal longer than Connor Barth’s 57-yard personal season long and if it wasn’t for the rookie “Legatron”(Greg Zuehrlein) in St. Louis, Barth may be on his way to the Pro Bowl by seasons end.
Greg Little WR Cleveland Browns
Cleveland was able to go on the road in a tough environment Sunday and win their third straight game. The Browns were led by a career high in passing yards from rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden who threw for 364 yards and one touchdown in their 20-13 win over the Raiders in Oakland. Prior to this three game winning streak the Browns had only won just one game out of their first nine to start the season. Former Tar Heel standout wide receiver Greg Little found himself on the receiving end of four passes for 48 yards. Little now has 35 receptions and 408 receiving yards with an average of 11.5 yards per reception on the season. Offensively overall for Cleveland it was a very productive game totaling 475 NET yards as a group on the ground and through the air.
Gerald Sensabaugh FS Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys were able to hold off the Eagles Sunday night and win a close game 38-33 in Dallas. Overall the Dallas defense gave up quite a lot of yards to an Eagles offense led by a rookie quarterback making just his third start in the NFL. Philadelphia accounted for over 420 total NET yards of offense but were not able to turn it into a win after Dallas outscored Philly 21-9 in the fourth quarter. A late fumble recovery by Morris Claiborne returned for a touchdown sealed the win for Dallas in the fourth quarter. Former Tar Heel Gerald Sensabaugh contributed 3 tackles in the game and the combination of Sensabaugh and SS Danny McCray finished with a total of 10 tackles combined to help lead the Dallas secondary. Sensabaugh now has 41 tackles and one forced fumble on the season.