Stanford in the NFL: Week 18

OVER THE COURSE of the NFL regular season, which ended on Sunday, 35 Stanford alums were on NFL rosters, 28 saw action, and 21 started at least one game. Four alums made their NFL debuts and 10 are on rosters of playoff teams. 

Here is the position breakdown of the 28 who played: six tight ends, six offensive linemen, four defensive backs, three defensive linemen, three receivers, two linebackers, two running backs, one quarterback and one punter. 

Through history, 266 Stanford alumni have played in NFL or AFL regular-season games. 

Here is a summary of how former Cardinal fared in Week 18 of the NFL season and in the regular season:

New York Giants starting middle linebacker Bobby Okereke had a 12-yard sack among his eight tackles in a 27-10 victory over visiting Philadelphia on Sunday. Okereke filled up the stat sheet with five solo tackles, a tackle for loss, quarterback hurry, and pass defensed in the game. In his first year with the Giants and fifth year in the league, Okereke started all 17 games and had 92 solo tackles among his 149 combined. He was third in the league in solo tackles and ninth in combined tackles. He set career highs in sacks (2.5), tackles for loss (11), and forced fumbles (four), and tied his best in interceptions (two). 

 

Bobby Okereke (right). Photo by Kevin R. Wexler/USA TODAY Network.

New Orleans starting left cornerback Paulson Adebo had seven tackles, including four solo, and broke up a pass in the Saints’ 48-17 victory over visiting Atlanta. Adebo played 58 defensive snaps (98 percent) to close out his third season. Adebo played in 15 games, starting all of them, and had career-highs in interceptions (four), combined tackles (76), solo tackles (60), passes defensed (18), forced fumbles (two), and fumble recoveries (two). 

New Orleans starting offensive left tackle Andrus Peat played 63 offensive snaps (94 percent) against the Falcons. Peat, in his ninth season, all with the Saints, played 16 games and started 12.

Atlanta tight end Tucker Fisk played eight offensive snaps and 21 on special teams against the Saints. Fisk played six games in his rookie season, starting two, and had one catch for nine yards. 

 

Dalton Schultz. Photo by Marc Lebryk/USA TODAY Sports.

Houston starting tight end Dalton Schultz had five catches for 42 yards in the Texans’ 23-19 victory at Indianapolis on Saturday. With the score tied, 17-17, in the fourth quarter, Schultz caught four passes for 37 yards on the winning 12-play, 73-yard…