NC State alumni are scattered across the NFL, holding different roles for different teams. Here is a look at the top performers from Weeks 6 and 7.
Philip Rivers, Quarterback, San Diego Chargers
Despite Rivers’ strong start to the season, his Chargers sputtered to a 1-4 start, losing in some of the strangest ways. However, they rebounded with back-to-back wins against the Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons.
In the 21-13 victory against the Broncos in Week 6, he passed for a season-low 178 yards and one touchdown against one of the best defenses in the league. In the overtime win against the Falcons, he threw for a season-high 371 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Russell Wilson, Quarterback, Seattle Seahawks
Coming off a bye, Wilson led the Seahawks to a controversial 26-24 win over the Falcons in Week 6. Despite throwing no touchdowns, he finished with his second-highest passing output and completion percentage of the season with 270 yards and 67.6 percent, respectively.
He followed that performance up with his lowest passing output against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 7 with 225 yards. With both offenses struggling, the game ended in a 6-6 tie, the first tie since 2014.
David Amerson, Cornerback, Oakland Raiders
Amerson has put together a solid season after getting a big contract in the offseason. He logged seven tackles against the Kansas City Chiefs in a 26-10 loss, but followed that up with one of his best performances of the year in a 33-16 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars, tallying four tackles, two pass deflections and an interception, his second of the year.
Willie Young, Outside Linebacker, Chicago Bears
In a 17-16 loss to the Jaguars, Young tallied three tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble after recording three sacks the week before. The back-to-back multi-sack performances helped him regain his starting gig in Week 7 after not making a start since Week 2. Although he failed to sack Aaron Rodgers in the 26-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers, he garnered one tackle and one pass deflection.
T.Y. McGill, Defensive Tackle, Indianapolis Colts
After not playing in Week 6 against the Houston Texans, McGill earned rotation snaps in Week 7 against the Tennessee Titans. He made the most of his snaps, strip-sacking quarterback Marcus Mariota, which teammate Robert Mathis returned for a touchdown. It ended up being the difference in the game, as the Colts won by only a touchdown, 34-26. The sack was McGill’s first of the season and fourth of his two-year career.
Stephen Hauschka, Kicker, Seattle Seahawks
In Weeks 6 and 7, Hauschka missed his only two field goals of the season. His first miss against the Falcons was in result of a bad snap, but he made up for it by converting what ended up being the game-winning 44-yard field goal. He also had an extra point blocked.
He accounted for all six of Seattle’s points against the Cardinals, making field goals from 36 and 40 yards. However, he missed what would have been the game-winning 27-yard field goal in overtime, just moments after Arizona kicker Chandler Catanzaro missed a 24-yard field goal in a wild finish to the tie game.
Joe Thuney, Guard, New England Patriots
After playing every offensive line position throughout his NC State career, the versatile player found his home as the starting left guard for the Patriots in his rookie campaign. Despite being a third-round pick, Thuney has started all seven games and has been key to protecting future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady in his return after suspension.
Graduate offensive guard Joe Thuney runs toward his coach and family as part of the NCSU Football team Senior Day celebrations before the game vs UNC Chapel Hill on Saturday, Nov. 28.
