Gators in the NFL: Week 15

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – With just three weeks left in the NFL regular season, Gator defenders helped their teams position for the playoffs on a wild weekend of football.

Defensive Highlights

Chiefs pass rusher Carlos Dunlap continues to add to his illustrious 13-year career.

He’s one of just 62 players to become a member of the exclusive 100 sack club. He has 575 tackles and 122 tackles for loss for his career. He’s a two-time Pro Bowler.

But one underrated stat that often goes unnoticed when discussing top pass rushers, is one King Dunlap has mastered during his career: pass deflections.

In an overtime win Sunday, Dunlap logged two pass deflections. He has seven this season and an astounding 75 for his career, an incredible mark for a defensive lineman.

Dunlap also added three tackles and two quarterback hits in the 30-24 win over Houston, improving KC’s record to 11-3. Whether through sacks, tackles for loss or PD’s Dunlap always finds a way to impact a game.

On a snowy Saturday night in Buffalo, Bills rookie cornerback Kaiir Elam was back to doing what he does best: locking down receivers.

Going up against two of the league’s fastest receivers in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, Elam allowed just two receptions for 11 yards.

 

Kaiir Elam vs Dolphins:

• 18 coverage snaps

• 4 targets (2 receptions allowed)

• 11 yards allowed

• -2 YAC allowed

The Bills rookie CB had himself a GAME 👀 pic.twitter.com/imrssjQwYw

— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) December 18, 2022

In a tie game midway through the fourth, Elam was Johnny on the spot to sniff out a screen to Hill, making the biggest tackle of his young career.
 

Tua Tagovailoa pass to Tyreek Hill loses 3-yds TFL by Kaiir Elam#Dolphins 29 #Bills 29 4th pic.twitter.com/5dQP3ZAxvd

— Sᴘᴏʀᴛs 24/7 (@Sports_24x7_) December 18, 2022

Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone is a tackling machine.

He owns a team-high 105 tackles on the season, a mark that ranks 25th among all defenders. On Sunday, he added five more tackles, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hit in a huge 20-17 road victory over the New York Jets.

And after his fellow former Gator James Houston logged a huge sack, Anzalone was there for the Gator Chomp celebration.

 

The post-sack celly @Jthouston_4 #DETvsNYJ | #OnePride | | 📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/54mbMmCaPC

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 18, 2022

Anzalone, Houston and another former Gator linebacker Jarrad Davis have Detroit at 7-7 and just a half-game out…