Bulls in the NFL: Week 14

Bulls in the NFL: Week 14

By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, DEC. 15, 2020 – Record-breaking USF receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling reached a new pro career high while former Bulls defensive playmaker Jason Pierre-Paul kept applying pressure in Week 14 of the NFL season.

Valdes-Scantling helped Green Bay capture their second straight NFC North title by hauling in six passes for 85 yards and a touchdown in the Packers' 31-24 victory at Detroit.

MVS showcased his strong hands, athleticism and concentration by holding onto a 14-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers that put the Packers ahead in the second quarter. Tight coverage and a physical play by Lions cornerback Amani Oruwariye couldn't stop MVS from extending his season TD reception total to five.
 

Already having a career year in the scoring department, Valdes-Scantling has reached another personal NFL single-season milestone with 603 receiving yards – 22 more yards than his previous best as a rookie in 2018. MVS also is approaching his top collegiate season total of 879 yards that set USF's receiving record in 2017.

Known throughout his career as a dangerous deep threat, Valdes-Scantling currently leads the NFL with 19.5 yards per catch on 31 receptions this season. The third-year pro has averaged 17.2 yards per catch through 45 career regular-season games and he's just five receptions away from No. 100 during the span.

JPP Adds to Potential Pro Bowl Season
Disruptive Jason Pierre-Paul delivered another huge play for the Buccaneers in their very important 26-14 victory over Minnesota at Raymond James Stadium.

JPP shut the door on any potential late Vikings comeback with a strip sack and incredible fumble recovery while quarterback Kirk Cousins was trying to throw on fourth down from midfield. Tampa Bay was ahead by the decisive score at the time of game-sealing sack just seconds before the two-minute warning.
 

Pierre-Paul finished with two tackles in the win that strengthened the 8-5 Bucs' playoff position. The 11th-year pro ranks seventh in the NFL with 9.5 sacks (four strip sacks) and has four takeaways, including two interceptions, through 13 games (all starts at OLB).

JPP currently ranks 11th among active players with 89.0 career sacks and he's just a half-sack away from posting his fourth double-digit season total. One of those 10-plus sack years came in 2012 during Pierre-Paul's second Pro Bowl season.

Fans can help Pierre-Paul earn Pro Bowl honors for the third time by casting their votes HERE.

Find out how other former USF standouts fared in Week 14 of the 2020 NFL season below.
  • C AUSTIN REITER: The fifth-year pro started for the fifth straight time in Kansas City's 33-27 win at Miami that clinched the Chiefs' fifth consecutive AFC West title. Reiter has started 10 of the 13 games he's played in this season for 12-1 Kansas City.
  • RB D'ERNEST JOHNSON: The second-year pro returned one kickoff for 16 yards and logged eight plays on special teams in Cleveland's dramatic 47-42 loss to Baltimore on Monday Night Football. Season stats – 29 carries for 142 yards (4.9 ypc); three receptions for 14 yards and six kickoff returns for 149 yards in 13 games.
  • DE/OLB AARON LYNCH: The seventh-year pro made one solo tackle and was on the field for 25 snaps in Jacksonville's 31-10 loss to Tennessee. Lynch has totaled a sack and four tackles in five games since being reinstated from the reserve/retirement list.
  • DT DEADRIN SENAT: The third-year pro was not active for Atlanta's 20-17 loss to the L.A. Chargers. Season stats – three tackles (two solo) in four games.
  • RB MARLON MACK: #MackAttack's fourth NFL season unfortunately came to a close after he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Week 1.
Bulls on NFL Practice Squads  
About USF Football
The USF football program first took the field in 1997 and completed its 23rd season (20th at the FBS level) in 2019. The Bulls have posted 15 winning seasons, earned 14 All-America selections and 29 first-team all-conference selections and has seen 30 players selected in the NFL Draft. USF has made 10 bowl games appearances (going 6-4 in those games) and posted a program record six straight appearances from 2005-2010. The Bulls most recently made four straight bowl appearances from 2015-18 and posted back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2016 and 2017, logging a program-record 11-2 mark in 2016 while finishing both seasons ranked in the Top 25. USF spent a program record 20 straight weeks ranked in the Top 25 during the 2016 and 2017 seasons and reached as high as No. 2 in the national rankings during the 2007 season.
                                                                                
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