Dec. 24, 2012

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Week 16 Highlights Lynch - TD Run | TD Catch ... Rodgers - First TD Pass | TD Run Cal's Current NFL Players Cal Football Season Tickets | Merchandise | Latest News Connect With Cal Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

BERKELEY - Marshawn Lynch scored a pair of touchdowns in the first quarter of Seattle's 42-13 victory over first-place San Francisco to clinch a playoff spot for the Seahawks and highlight performances by former Cal football players during Week 16 of the league's 2012 season.

Lynch finished with 111 yards rushing for his ninth 100-yard game of the season to increase his career-high season total to 1,490 yards that ranks second in the NFL.

Other big games and moments came from Aaron Rodgers (season-high-tying 342 passing yards, three touchdown pass, one touchdown run) and Jeremy Ross (58-yard punt return) in Green Bay's win over Tennessee, and Marvin Jones (career-high five receptions and 65 receiving yards) in Cincinnati's win over Pittsburgh that clinched a playoff spot for the Bengals.

A total of 11 former Cal players - Desmond Bishop (Green Bay), DeCoud, Justin Forsett (Houston), Gonzalez, Jones, Lynch, Brandon Mebane (Seattle), Cameron Morrah (Seattle), Rodgers, Ross and Shane Vereen (New England) - are playing for clubs that have already clinched a playoff spot heading into the final week of the regular season. Atlanta (NFC South), Green Bay (NFC North) and New England (AFC East) have clinched their respective Division titles.

A total of 33 former Cal players (second among Pac-12 teams) are currently on NFL rosters. Here's the latest look at each of them.

• Lorenzo Alexander, LB, Washington Redskins (9-6) - Has played in all 15 games off the bench for a team that has moved into sole possession of first place in the NFC East and has a current six-game win streak that is the second-longest in the NFL ... has contributed 43 tackles, 2.5 sacks and a fumble recovery ... posted a season-high seven tackles and 1.0 sack in his most recent game in a Week 16 win at Philadelphia ... had 1.5 sacks and his fumble recovery as well as five tackles in a Week 6 win over Minnesota, and then equaled the five tackles in a Week 7 loss at the New York Giants

• Tyson Alualu, DT, Jacksonville Jaguars (2-13) - Has started each of the first 15 games and contributed 43 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one pass breakup and one fumble recovery ... had two tackles and 1.0 sack in his most recent outing in a Week 16 loss to New England ... picked up his first career fumble recovery along with his a half-sack and two tackles in a Week 15 loss at Miami ... posted a season-high-tying six stops in a Week 2 loss to Houston and equaled it in a Week 13 defeat at Buffalo ... had five tackles, 1.0 sack and one pass breakup in a Week 10 loss to Indianapolis ... had four tackles and 1.0 sack in a Week 1 loss at Minnesota ... has started all 47 games possible over his first two-plus NFL seasons

• Bryan Anger, P, Jacksonville Jaguars (2-13) - Among NFL leaders in total yards punting (4121, 2nd), opponent fair catches (28, 2nd), net punting average (42.4 ypg, 3rd), pinning opponents inside the 20-yard line (30, T4th) and punting average (47.9, 8th) ... tied for the second-longest punt in the NFL in 2012 when he booted one 73 yards in a Week 9 loss vs. Detroit ... has at least one punt of 52 yards or longer in all 15 of his contests and at least one of 60 on eight occasions ... has averaged over 50.0 yards per punt five times, including a career-high 56.3 in his most recent outing in a Week 16 loss vs. New England ... previous career high average was 53.5 in both a Week 1 loss at Minnesota and a Week 3 win at Indianapolis, as well as over 40.0 in each of his 14 games ... has forced his opponents into at least one fair catch in each of his 15 games, while pinning opponents inside their 20-yardline at least once 13 of 15 times, doing both a career-high five times in a Week 14 loss to the New York Jets ... punted a career-high-tying nine times in a Week 2 loss to Houston and a Week 7 overtime loss at Oakland, picking up a career-high 470 punting yards and a 52.2 average against the Texans

• Nnamdi Asomugha, CB, Philadelphia Eagles (4-11) - Has 49 tackles, an interception and 11 passes defended while starting all 15 games ... recorded his lone interception and a season-high-tying three passes defended in a Week 6 overtime loss to Detroit, a season-high-tying eight tackles both in a Week 13 loss at Dallas (also a team-high) and a Week 5 loss at Pittsburgh, and a season-high-tying three passes defended in a Week 1 win at Cleveland ... in his 10th NFL season and second with Philadelphia (2011-12) after an eight-season run in Oakland (2003-10)

• Jahvid Best, RB, Detroit Lions (4-11) - Has not played in first 15 games ... currently on the physically unable to participate (PUP) list

• Desmond Bishop, LB, Green Bay Packers (11-4) - Has not played in first 15 games and is on the injured reserve list for the NFC North champions

• D.J. Campbell, S, Carolina Panthers (6-9) - Has recorded the first three starts of his career in the last three games in a Week 16 win vs. Oakland (two tackles), a Week 15 win at San Diego (two tackles, first career pass defended) and a Week 14 win vs. Atlanta (career-high three tackles) ... had one tackle in his NFL debut in a Week 13 loss at Kansas City after having not played in the team's first 11 contests.

• Andre Carter, DE, Oakland Raiders (4-11) - Has played in each of the last 11 games off the bench, contributing 19 tackles, 2.5 sacks and one forced fumble ... posted a season-high-tying three tackles and a half-sack in his most recent outing in a Week 16 loss at Carolina ... recorded his second sack of the season among his two tackles in a Week 15 win vs. Kansas City ... also had a season-high-tying three tackles in a Week 10 loss at Baltimore and a Week 14 loss to Denver ... had two tackles along with his first sack and first forced fumble of the season in a Week 9 loss vs. Tampa Bay, and two in a Week 13 loss to Cleveland ... had one tackle in a Week 12 loss at Cincinnati, a Week 6 loss at Atlanta and a Week 7 overtime win against Jacksonville ... signed with Oakland prior to a Week 4 loss at Denver but did not play in his first contest on the Raiders' roster ... has returned in 2012 from an injury that ended his strong 2011 season with New England after 14 games (52 tackles, 10.0 sacks, one pass defended, two forced fumbles) ... has career totals of 513 tackles, 78.5 sacks and 18 forced fumbles over 174 games in his 12th NFL season during a career that has seen him in San Francisco (2001-05), Washington (2006-10), New England (2011) and Oakland (2012)

• Chris Conte, S, Chicago Bears (9-6) - Has 68 tackles, two interceptions that he has returned for 70 yards and nine passes defended while starting each of the team's first 14 games ... posted his first interception that he returned 35 yards and first two passes defended against Indianapolis and former Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck in a Week 1 win over Indianapolis, while his second pick that he returned for another 35 yards and two more passes defended came in a Week 12 victory over Minnesota ... had a career-high 11 tackles in a Week 4 Monday Night Football victory at Dallas, contributed eight stops in a Week 8 win vs. Carolina and six in both a Week 7 victory vs. Detroit and a Week 14 loss at Minnesota ... had a season-high three passes defended in a Week 9 win at Tennessee, while adding two each in the Week 1 win vs. Indianapolis and Week 14 loss at Minnesota, and one both in a Week 7 win vs. Detroit and a Week 16 victory at Arizona

• Brian De La Puente, OG, New Orleans Saints (7-8) - Has started all 15 games

• Thomas DeCoud, S, Atlanta Falcons (13-2) - Tied for fifth in the NFL with a career-high six interceptions that he has returned 42 yards ... has started all 15 games for a team that has clinched home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs, the NFC South title and a playoff berth with a 13-2 record that is the best in the NFL ... has added 70 tackles, 1.0 sack and eight passes defended ... had his sixth interception that he returned five yards and added five tackles in a Week 15 victory over the New York Giants ... had his fifth interception of the season and seven tackles in a Week 13 win over New Orleans ... posted a season-high, team-high and game-high-tying nine tackles as well as his first sack of the season in a Week 8 win at Philadelphia ... had a game-clinching interception late in the fourth quarter of a Week 5 win at Washington and returned it a season-long 24 yards ... had a huge performance in a Week 3 win at San Diego with two interceptions and a fumble recovery ... returned his first interception 15 yards in a Week 2 win vs. Denver ... posted seven tackles in a Week 1 win at Kansas City, six in a Week 10 loss at New Orleans, and six in his most recent outing in a Week 16

• Justin Forsett, RB, Houston Texans (12-3) - Has played in all 15 games off the bench for a team that has clinched the AFC South title with a 12-3 record that is tied for the best in the AFC ... has rushed 63 times for 374 yards and one touchdown, while adding three catches for 38 yards ... had one rush for four yards in his latest outing in a Week 16 loss vs. Minnesota ... posted a season-high 14 rushes for a team-high 63 yards on the ground in a Week 13 win at Tennessee, including a 14-yard run that gave him the team's longest rush for the third consecutive contest ... lone score of the season came on a controversial career-long 81-yard run in a Week 12 overtime win at Detroit as he finished with five carries for a season-high 87 yards ... had seven carries for 59 yards, including a game-long 30-yarder in a Week 11 overtime win vs. Jacksonville that gave him the team's longest run for the first of three consecutive contests ... posted a team-high 47 yards on seven carries in a Week 6 loss vs. Green Bay, 32 yards on six carries in a Week 7 win vs. Baltimore, and 27 yards on four carries in a Week 10 victory at Chicago that included a 25-yard run ... has added three catches for 38 yards, picking up one reception each in a Week 6 loss to Green Bay (18 yards), a Week 14 loss at New England (14 yards) and a Week 11 win at Jacksonville (six yards)

• Scott Fujita, LB, Cleveland Browns (5-10) - Placed on injured reserve on Oct. 27 after having played in four games with three starts over the season's first five weeks, contributing 14 tackles and 1.0 sack, including a season-high six stops and his lone sack of the season in a Week 4 loss at Baltimore

• Mike Gibson, OT, Arizona Cardinals (5-10) - Signed to the active roster prior to a Week 16 loss vs. Chicago but did not play ... saw NFL action for three seasons with Seattle (2009-11) and has been with Philadelphia but never played in a regular-season game for the Eagles

• Matt Giordano, S, Oakland Raiders (4-11) - Has played in 15 games with 12 starts, recording 49 tackles, two interceptions that he has returned 45 yards and four passes defended ... came with two tackles and a pass defended in his most recent outing in a Week 16 loss at Carolina ... recorded his second interception of the season in a Week 13 loss to Cleveland and also added a tackle before being knocked out of the game with a concussion ... had his first interception and returned it 21 yards while totaling two passes defended in a Week 8 win at Kansas City ... posted a season-high eight stops in a Week 4 loss at Denver ... had seven tackles in a Week 12 loss at Cincinnati, along with his other pass defended, and a Week 3 victory over Pittsburgh ... had six tackles in a Week 14 loss to Denver

• Tony Gonzalez, TE, Atlanta Falcons (13-2) - Has started all 15 games for a team that has clinched home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs, the NFC South title and a playoff berth with a 13-2 record that is the best in the NFL ... tied for eighth in the league with 88 receptions for 889 yards and eight touchdown catches ... limited to season lows of one catch for nine yards in his most recent outing in a Week 16 win at Detroit ... had six catches for 49 yards and a touchdown that was his eighth of the season and 103rd of his career in a Week 15 win over the New York Giants ... had eight catches for 61 yards in a Week 14 loss at Carolina ... had a touchdown catch among his four receptions for 58 yards in a Week 13 victory over New Orleans ... scored the 100th and 101st receiving touchdowns of his career to move into sixth place on the NFL's all-time list for touchdown receptions and become the first tight end to crack triple digits in scoring catches in a Week 10 loss at New Orleans, moving past a pair of legendary NFL wide receivers in Steve Largent and Tim Brown who are now tied for seventh with 100 each ... finished with 11 catches for 122 yards in the Week 10 game against the Saints in the first blemish on Atlanta's 2012 record ... had a 13-yard reception to set up Matt Bryant's game-winning 55-yard field goal with 0:01 remaining in a 23-20 Week 6 win over Oakland ... had season highs of 13 receptions and 123 yards receiving with a touchdown catch for the fourth time in the first five games of the season in a Week 5 win at Washington ... had nine catches and 91 receiving yards with a touchdown reception for the third consecutive game during a Week 3 win at San Diego ... has five or more catches nine times including each of his first five games, adding seven catches for 70 yards and a touchdown in a Week 2 win vs. Denver, five catches for 62 yards in a Week 12 win at Tampa Bay, five catches for 53 yards and a touchdown in a Week 1 win at Kansas City, and five catches for 51 yards in a Week 4 victory vs. Carolina ... ranks among the NFL's all-time leaders in receptions (1237, 2nd), touchdown catches (103, 6th) and receiving yards (14227, 7th) in 253 games and 235 starts, having only missed two contests in his 16th NFL campaign and two starts over the last 15 seasons after coming off the bench in every game as a rookie with Kansas City in 1997 ... leads all active NFL players in receptions, while ranking second behind Randy Moss of the San Francisco 49ers in both receiving touchdowns and receiving yards

• Nick Harris, Detroit Lions (4-11) - Has punted 62 times for 2,564 yards and a 41.4 yard average over the last 12 contests after signing with Detroit following the third game of the 2012 season ... has a net punting average of 37.2 yards per game ... posted a season-best 49.5 yards per punt in a Week 9 win over Jacksonville, while punting a season-high-tying eight times on three occasions in a Week 7 win at Philadelphia, a Week 12 overtime loss vs. Houston and a Week 15 loss at Arizona when his 47.0 average was his second-best of the season ... has pinned opponents inside their 20-yard line on 19 occasions, including a season-high four times in his first game of the campaign in a Week 4 loss vs. Minnesota and a Week 12 overtime loss to Houston ... has forced 23 fair catches, including at least one in 11 of 12 games ... had his longest punt of the season with a 58-yarder in a Week 7 loss at Chicago and has had one of at least 50 yards five times ... in his 12th NFL season, including a previous eight-season stint with the Lions (2003-10) as well as two-plus campaigns with Cincinnati (2001-03) to begin his career and one with Jacksonville (2011)

• Lavelle Hawkins, WR, Tennessee Titans (5-10) - Has four catches for 20 yards and returned seven kicks for 205 yards, playing in six of the first 15 games including his first start of the season in a Week 16 loss at Green Bay in which he had three kick returns for 75 yards ... had a season-high 71-yard kick return in a Week 2 loss at San Diego among his four kick returns for 130 yards ... had season highs of two catches and eight receiving yards in a Week 1 loss to New England ... added one catch each in a Week 8 loss vs. Indianapolis (season-long seven yards) and a Week 5 loss at Houston (five yards)

• DeSean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles (4-11) - Had 45 catches for 700 receiving yards and two touchdowns receptions, with an average of 15.6 yards per catch in the first 11 games (all starts) before suffering a season-ending injury in a Week 12 loss vs. Carolina that landed him on the injured reserve list for the remainder of the season ... posted season bests of seven receptions and 114 yards receiving in a Week 2 win vs. Baltimore and his second 100-yard receiving game in a Week 9 loss at New Orleans when he had an even 100 yards receiving on three catches, including a season-long 77-yard touchdown reception that was his NFL-leading third touchdown reception of 75 or more yards since 2008 ... added six catches for 99 yards and a touchdown on a 19-yard reception in a Week 4 win vs. the New York Giants; five grabs for 74 yards in a Week 6 loss to Detroit; five for 62 yards in a Week 10 loss to Dallas; five for 59 yards in a Week 8 loss to Atlanta; four for 77 yards in a Week 1 win at Cleveland; four for 58 yards in a Week 5 loss at Pittsburgh; and three for 43 yards in a Week 3 loss at Arizona

• Marvin Jones, WR, Cincinnati Bengals (9-6) - Has made 13 catches for 156 yards, playing in 10 of 15 games including the first four starts of his career in the last four weeks ... posted career highs of five catches and 65 receiving yards, including a career-long 23-yarder, while adding a rush for no gain in his most recent outing in a Week 16 win at Pittsburgh ... had one rush for 10 yards but did not make a catch in a Week 15 win at Philadelphia ... had three catches for a team-high 45 yards receiving, as well as a 37-yard gain on his first career rush on a reverse in a Week 14 loss at Dallas ... posted two receptions for 20 yards receiving in the first start of his career in a Week 13 win at San Diego ... had two catches for 21 receiving yards in a Week 6 loss at Cleveland ... made his first NFL catch for five yards in a Week 4 win at Jacksonville

• Cameron Jordan, DE, New Orleans Saints (7-8) - Has started all 15 games and contributed 61 tackles, 8.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, three passes defended and one fumble recovery ... had two tackles and a pass defended in his most recent outing in a Week 16 overtime win at Dallas ... picked up his eighth sack, third forced fumble and first fumble recovery of the season as well as three tackles in a Week 15 win vs.Tampa Bay ... had a huge game in a Week 9 win over Philadelphia, with a career-high 3.0 sacks among his six tackles while adding his second forced fumble of the season ... had a career and game-high 11 stops in a Week 1 loss to Washington ... notched 1.0 sack each in a Week 13 loss at Atlanta, a Week 7 win at Tampa Bay, a Week 5 victory vs. San Diego, and a Week 2 loss at Carolina, adding a forced fumble against the Buccaneers ... had five tackles and his second pass defended in a Week 14 loss at the New York Giants

• Mychal Kendricks, LB, Philadelphia Eagles (4-11) - Has played in all 15 games with 14 starts and compiled 75 tackles, 1.0 sack and nine passes defended in his rookie NFL campaign ... has had a career-high-tying seven tackles in two of his last three games in a Week 16 loss to Philadelphia and a Week 14 win at Tampa Bay, while adding a career-high three passes defended against the Buccaneers ... also posted a career-high-tying seven tackles in consecutive games in a Week 10 loss to Dallas and a Week 11 win at Washington, adding his first career sack against the Cowboys ... had six tackles in a Week 3 loss at Arizona and a Week 13 loss at Dallas ... had a pair of passes defended in a Week 2 win against Baltimore

• L.P. LaDouceur, LS, Dallas Cowboys (8-7) - Has played in all 15 games off the bench but not recorded any stats other than participation in 2012 ... last missed a game during his 2005 rookie season, playing in all 111 regular-season contests during the last seven campaigns beginning in 2006

• Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seattle Seahawks (10-5) - Second in the NFL in rushing yards with a career-high 1,490 that gives him his fourth 1,000-yard rushing season in his sixth NFL campaign ... also is sporting a career-best 5.0 yards per carry that is the fourth-highest among the league's top-10 yardage gainers ... ranks tied for second in the NFL in rushing touchdowns (11) and fourth in carries (297) ... had 111 yards rushing and one TD on 26 carries, while adding two catches for 19 yards and a touchdown reception with both scores coming in the first quarter in his most recent game in a Week 16 win vs. San Francisco that was his third straight 100-yard rushing game against the 49ers and clinched a playoff spot ... had 113 yards on 10 carries including his second longest run of the season with a 54-yarder, while adding one reception for 14 yards in a Week 15 win at Buffalo ... had a season-high 128 yards rushing and a career-high-tying three touchdowns on the ground on only 11 carries vs. Arizona ... went over the 1,000-yard mark in a Week 10 win over the New York Jets, rushing a season-high 27 times for 124 yards after also totaling 124 yards on 26 carries in a Week 9 win against Minnesota, with a rushing TD in each game ... has nine 100-yard rushing games, adding 122 yards on 26 carries in a Week 2 win over Dallas; 118 yards on 20 rushes in a Week 4 loss at St. Louis; 105 yards on 12 carries including a career long 77-yard touchdown run in a Week 8 loss at Detroit; and 103 yards on 19 carries in a Week 7 loss at San Francisco ... also had 25 rushes for 98 yards in a Week 3 win vs. Green Bay, 19 rushes for 87 yards and a touchdown in a Week 13 loss at Chicago; and 21 attempts for 85 rushing yards both in a Week 1 loss at Arizona and a Week 5 victory at Carolina ... has at least 85 rushing yards in 13 of 15 games, with the only exceptions 46 yards in a Week 12 loss at Miami and a season-low 41 yards in a Week 6 win against New England ... also has 21 catches for 182 yards and a touchdown reception, including season bests of four receptions and 37 receiving yards in a Week 4 victory at St. Louis and a season-long catch of 26 yards in a Week 10 win over the New York Jets ... has played in all 15 games with 14 starts

• Alex Mack, C, Cleveland Browns (5-10) - Started his 63rd consecutive regular-season NFL game (all 63 games possible since beginning his NFL career in 2009) and 15th straight contest of the season in a Week 16 loss at Denver in his most recent outing

• Brandon Mebane, DT, Seattle Seahawks (10-5) - Has 53 tackles, 3.0 sacks and three passes defended in 15 games (all starts) for a team that clinched a playoff spot in its most recent outing with a Week 16 win vs. San Francisco ... posted a season-high seven tackles in a Week 6 win vs. New England, 2.0 sacks in a Week 3 victory over Green Bay and two of his passes defended in a season-opening Week 1 loss at Arizona ... had a sack among his six tackles in a Week 8 loss at Detroit and also had six tackles in a Week 10 win over the New York Jets

• Cameron Morrah, TE, Seattle Seahawks (10-5) - Has not played in the team's first 15 games and is on the injured reserve list

• Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers (11-4) - The NFL's top-rated passer (106.2) for all quarterbacks with more than one attempt per game for a team that has won two straight NFC North titles ... also among the league's top 10 in touchdown passes (35, 2nd), completion percentage (343-512, 67.0%, 4th among QB's with more than one attempt per game), completions (343, 8th) and passing yardage (3930, 9th) ... has thrown only eight interceptions and none in his last three games ... was 27-of-38 (71.1%) for a season-high-tying 342 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 125.1 quarterback rating, while adding one touchdown run among four rushes for 11 yards, in his most recent outing in a Week 16 victory vs. Tennessee ... was 23-of-36 for 291 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a 116.8 quarterback rating in a Week 15 win at Chicago that clinched Green Bay's second consecutive NFC North title, while also making his first career reception for -1 yards and rushing four times for 14 yards ... had his lowest passing totals of the season in a Week 14 win over Detroit, going 14-of-24 for 173 yards with neither a touchdown or interception, but did have a 27-yard TD run that was the longest of his career among his three rushes for 32 yards ... was 27-of-35 for 286 yards, with a touchdown and an interception in a Week 13 win vs. Minnesota on his 29th birthday ... was 14-of-25 for 219 yards, with a touchdown and an interception in a Week 12 loss at the New York Giants ... was 19-of-27 for 236 yards, with two touchdown passes and an interception in a Week 11 win at Detroit ... threw four touchdown passes (third time of season with four or more TD passes) in a 31-17 Week 9 victory over Arizona on a 14-of-30 day for 218 yards with one interception, while adding a season-high eight rushes for 33 yards ... was 22-of-35 for 186 yards with two touchdown passes in a Week 8 win vs. Jacksonville to move into second place on Green Bay's all-time list for touchdown passes ... posted a season-high 342 passing yards and a season-best 81.1 completion percentage (30-of-37), with three touchdown passes and no interceptions for a 132.2 quarterback rating in a Week 7 win at St. Louis ... had a career-high and Green Bay franchise-record-tying six touchdown passes with no interceptions for a season-high 133.8 quarterback rating in a Week 6 win at Houston in which he was 24-of-37 for 338 yards ... had three TD throws in a Week 5 loss at Indianapolis in which he completed 20-of-32 passes for 235 yards and also ran for a season-high 57 yards on five carries ... posted four TD passes in a Week 4 win vs. New Orleans in which he completed a season-high 31-of-41 passes for 319 yards ... completed 26-of-39 passes for 223 yards in a Week 3 loss at Seattle ... completed 22-of-32 passes for 219 yards with a touchdown in a Week 2 win over Chicago ... was 30-of-44 for 303 yards, with two TD passes in a Week 1 loss to San Francisco ... has added 54 rushes for 259 yards and two TDs on the ground ... has started all 15 games in 2012

• Jeremy Ross, WR, Green Bay Packers (11-4) - Has played in four career NFL games off the bench (all wins) for a team that has won the NFC North title each of the past two seasons, making his league debut in Week 13 against Minnesota ... returned two punts for 62 yards, including a career-long 58-yarder in a Week 16 win vs. Tennessee

• Mitchell Schwartz, OL, Cleveland Browns (5-10) - Has started each of the first 15 games of his NFL career in 2012, most recently in a Week 16 loss to Washington that snapped a three-game win streak

• Craig Stevens, TE, Tennessee Titans (5-10) - Has started all 15 games and recorded 23 receptions for 275 yards and a touchdown, with at least one catch in 14 of his 15 contests and each of the first 11 ... had his first touchdown catch of the season and fourth of his career in a Week 4 loss at Houston ... had season highs of five catches and 63 yards receiving in a wild 44-41 Week 3 overtime win vs. Detroit and a season-long 46-yard reception at San Diego in Week 2 ... has two catches on five different occasions in a Week 9 loss vs. Chicago (26 yards), a Week 4 loss at Houston (24 yards), a Week 15 win over the New York Jets, a Week 8 loss vs. Indianapolis (15 yards) and a Week 5 loss at Minnesota (14 yards)

• Nick Sundberg, LS, Washington Redskins (9-6) - Has returned from the injured reserve list to play in each game of the team's current six-game win streak that is the second-longest in the NFL and has moved the squad into a sole possession of first place in the NFC East ... has played in a total of seven games off the bench with the Redskins 7-0 during those contests, also playing in a Week 1 victory at New Orleans off the bench before missing the next eight games on the injured reserve list

• Shane Vereen, RB, New England Patriots (11-4) - Has rushed for 213 yards and three touchdowns on 54 carries, while adding eight receptions for 149 yards and a touchdown for the AFC East Division champions ... played off the bench but did not have any stats in his most recent outing in a Week 16 win at Jacksonville ... did not carry the ball but had one reception for four yards in a Week 15 loss vs. San Francisco ... rushed eight times for 40 yards in a Week 14 win vs. Houston ... rushed three times for 14 yards in a Week 13 win at Miami ... had a career-long 83-yard touchdown catch in a Week 12 win at the New York Jets, finishing with 10 rushes for 42 yards and a career-high two catches for a career-high 91 yards ... rushed a career-high 11 times for 40 yards and a score, while adding one catch for 11 yards in a Week 11 win vs. Indianapolis ... had five rushes for five yards and one catch for 11 yards in a Week 10 win over Buffalo ... scored on a fourth-and-one play from the Rams' one-yard line among his seven carries for 22 yards and one reception for 17 yards in a Week 8 win at St. Louis ... rushed for a career-high 49 yards on eight carries and caught one pass for 10 yards in the first start of his career in a Week 7 win over the New York Jets ... scored on a one-yard run in a Week 5 win over Denver ... played for the first time in 2012 during a Week 4 win at Buffalo, catching his first career pass for five yards and rushing one time for no gain