NFL Hokies: Week 14 recap

BLACKSBURG – Week 14 of NFL action wrapped up on Monday, finishing a three-day slate that saw plenty of close games and a collection of impressive performances across the league. Former Hokies continued to make great strides for their teams in Week 14, often contributing in big ways in spots where it mattered most. In this edition of NFL Hokies, presented by Coca-Cola, we review standout showings from Hokie alumni and look ahead to some enticing matchups to come in Week 15. 

S Chamarri Conner 
Safety Chamarri Conner produced another strong outing for the Chiefs on Sunday night. Over 45 snaps at the position, Conner tallied a team-leading nine total tackles, seven of which were solo efforts, alongside a tackle for loss and a quarterback hit on the Chargers’ Justin Herbert. Sunday’s contest was the third in four games that the former Hokie has posted six or more solo tackles, bringing his total tackle count to a team fourth-highest 68. For his efforts in the nail-biting 19-17 Kansas City victory, Conner earned a 70.3 tackle grade from Pro Football Focus (PFF).  

CB Kendall Fuller 
Dolphins cornerback Kendall Fuller was a key player for the Miami secondary on Sunday. Fuller posted eight total tackles on gameday, including a team-high six solo tackles over 67 defensive snaps in the contest. The matchup, which was Fuller’s first since Week 10 against the Rams, came against a Jets team that has now lost nine of its last 10 games and is now eliminated from playoff contention. Fuller and the Dolphins will look to win their second straight game when they travel to play the Texans, who are coming off their bye week, in Week 15.  

LB Tremaine Edmunds 
Against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Chicago linebacker Tremaine Edmunds posted eight tackles on the day. Edmunds has been a workhorse for the Bears this season, as Sunday’s contest served as the seventh straight contest in which the former Hokie has played 100% of defensive snaps (61). While his effort has been Herculean this season, it hasn’t yielded the strongest results, as the Bears continued their now-seven-game skid with a 38-13 loss on Sunday. However, Edmunds recorded his second-highest tackling grade of the season, as his performance was evaluated at 81.1 from PFF. 

S Chuck Clark 
Jets safety Chuck Clark posted a strong outing in Miami this Sunday. Against Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins, Clark posted seven total tackles on gameday, including three solo efforts alongside a pass deflection. Clark’s season has been a bright spot for a Jets team that has seen struggles on both sides of the ball. The Jets will travel to Jacksonville for their Week 15 contest. 

RB Khalil Herbert 
Since being traded to Cincinnati after Week 9, Bengals running back Khalil Herbert has seen a rise in production in a special teams role. In Sunday’s contest against the Cowboys, Herbert returned two kicks for a total of 67 yards, the longest of the pair being a 35-yard return in the second quarter. The former Hokie also tallied a 7-yard reception and a pair of runs in the contest, demonstrating his speed in short bursts throughout the matchup. Look for Herbert to be more involved in the Week 15 matchup against a Titans team that has allowed an average of 291.8 yards to opposing offenses.  

OL Brock Hoffman 
Dallas Cowboys center Brock Hoffman has seen an increased workload on an offensive line that is missing some key players. In Sunday’s contest against the Bengals, the former Hokie was one of only five Cowboys to play 100% of the offensive snaps, joining quarterback Cooper Rush, left tackle Chuma Edoga, right tackle Terrence Steele and left guard Tyler Smith in the effort. While the game’s ending was far from ideal, as right cornerback Amari Oruwariye failed to recover a blocked punt, Hoffman earned an 81.7 offense grade and an 81.0 run blocking grade from PFF.

Notable Week 15 Matchups 

Miami Dolphins at Houston Texans: Sunday, Dec. 15 at 1 p.m. ET on CBS 
Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins will be on the road this week as they travel to NRG Stadium in Week 15. The matchup, which features a Miami team that has won four of their last five, could be the playoff-clinching chance the Texans need with a win at home. Former Hokies are on both defenses in the contest, as Miami cornerback Kendall Fuller and Texans defensive tackle Tim Settle will both dress on Sunday. The Dolphins got the best of the Texans the last time the two teams met, winning by a score of 30-15 on Nov. 22, 2022.  

Dallas Cowboys at Carolina Panthers: Sunday, Dec. 15 at 1 p.m. ET on FOX 
The Cowboys, coming off a brutal 27-20 loss in Week 14, will look to land back in the win column when they play the Panthers on Sunday afternoon. For the first time in Carolina quarterback Bryce Young’s NFL career, the Panthers are favored to win the contest, likely the result of competitive showings against Kansas City in Week 12 and Philadelphia in Week 14. Hokies are on both teams in the contest, with Cowboys offensive lineman Brock Hoffman and two alums suiting up for the Panthers in running back Raheem Blackshear and linebacker Amare Barno.