NFL Hokies: Week 12 recap

BLACKSBURG – Week 12 of NFL action concluded Monday night, ending a three-day slate of games that featured underdog victories and strong performances across the league. Former Hokies took to the field once more for their teams this week, showcasing their talents on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. In this week’s edition of NFL Hokies, presented by Coca-Cola, we review the best performances from former Tech stars and look ahead to noteworthy matchups to come in Week 13.  

LB Divine Deablo 
Linebacker Divine Deablo made his presence known in various ways for the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. Deablo recorded five total tackles, three of which were solo efforts, across 55 snaps against the Broncos. The former third-round pick’s five tackles were fourth highest amongst the Raiders defense Sunday, tying a total achieved by defensive end Maxx Crosby and linebacker Robert Spillane.  

Perhaps Deablo’s most impressive moment from Sunday’s contest, however, came from his special teams play. With 8:33 left in the second quarter, the Raiders orchestrated a fake punt play that saw punter AJ Cole toss a pass to Deablo, who would catch and run for a 34-yard first down. The play was a gutsy one, as assistant special teams coach Derius Swinton made the call when the Raiders were backed up on their own 36-yard line. Deablo’s catch was the catalyst to kicker Daniel Carlson’s first of four field goals on the day, giving the Raiders a 10-6 lead with 3:48 left in the second quarter. For his efforts on gameday, the former Hokie earned a 79.9 tackling grade and an impressive 95.6 offensive grade from Pro Football Focus (PFF).  

LB Tremaine Edmunds 
While he may not have been a factor on special teams, Bears linebacker Tremaine Edmunds was a force on the defensive end Sunday. Over 71 snaps on gameday, Edmunds posted a team second highest nine tackles, four of which solo efforts, along with a pass deflection on Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold. The former first-rounder continued his streak of 100% participation on Sunday, now playing all defensive snaps in five straight contests and in nine of 11 games this season. Pro Football Focus awarded Edmunds an 80.6 tackling grade for his efforts against Minnesota, the Danville, Virginia native’s third highest grade over 11 games.  

S Chamarri Conner 
In a closer-than-expected victory against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Chiefs safety Chamarri Conner posted four total tackles, alongside a TFL over 44 snaps. Conner’s four tackles, which were the fourth highest amongst the Chiefs' defense on Sunday, raised his total tackle account to 52 over eleven games. The former fourth-round pick saw an uptick in his PFF run defense grade after the 30-27 win, as Conner now sits at a 78.8 grade on the season.  

DT Tim Settle 
Texans defensive end Tim Settle provided yet another reliable outing for Houston in the game against the Titans on Sunday. The former Hokie posted three tackles on the day, raising his tackle total to 23 through 12 games this season. Sunday’s contest was also the sixth consecutive game in which Settle posted a solo tackle, as 19 of the 23 Philadelphia, Penn. native's tackles are solo endeavors. While the Texans were overpowered by quarterback Will Levis and the Titans 32-27, Houston will have a chance to land back in the win column against a 2-9 Jacksonville team in Week 13.  

Notable Matchups 

Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions: Thursday, Nov. 28 at 12:30 p.m. ET on CBS 
The first of three Thanksgiving Day contests features an underachieving Bears team visit a Lions team that has tied their best start in franchise history at 10-1. Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams faces off against a Lions defense that has not allowed a touchdown to opposing offenses in back-to-back games. Comparatively, the Lions offense will look to capitalize against a Bears defense that has allowed an average of 25 points to NFC North opponents. Hokies can be found on both teams as both Chicago linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and Lions tight end James Mitchell will both dress for gameday.  

Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs: Friday, Nov. 29 at 3 p.m. ET on Prime Video 
In a special Black Friday matchup, the Las Vegas Raiders will visit GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium for an AFC West meeting. The Chiefs will look to win consecutive games after securing a close victory against the Carolina Panthers in Week 12, while the Raiders will look to reverse their 2-9 woes after losing to the Broncos at home last Sunday. The matchup features Hokies on both teams, most notably Raiders linebacker Divine Deablo and Chiefs safety Chamarri Conner. While the two teams have already squared off once this year, the matchup still stands as an intriguing one seeing as the Raiders beat the Chiefs the last time Kansas City hosted the contest.