Local NFL players roundup: Watson turns back the clock with huge night

At 34 years young, Benjamin Watson had the best receiving game of his lengthy NFL career last Thursday.

The former Northwestern Trojan caught 10 Drew Brees passes for 127 yards and a third quarter touchdown, helping the New Orleans Saints to a 31-21 division win over Atlanta.

“It was very meaningful, very meaningful,” Watson said afterward to NFL Network reporter Kimberly Jones. “I’ve got family that are Falcons fans, I went to Georgia, there are a lot of ties there. But to come out and get a win here, it’s been a struggle this year, but hopefully this will get us on the right track.”

Watson entered the game with 15 catches through the first five weeks of the season but nearly doubled that output against the Falcons.

“I would be misleading you if I envisioned Ben having that many catches for that many yards,” Saints coach Sean Payton told reporters on Friday. “All of a sudden, progression-wise, it happened. Sometimes that’s how it works and he did a great job. He was big in the play action passing game.

The Saints have felt the absence of Jimmy Graham, who was traded to Seattle, but Watson’s big game gives them hope for more production from the tight end spot moving forward.

▪ Former Rock Hill Bearcat Phillip Adams made two tackles during the Falcons’ loss.

▪ South Pointe’s Stephon Gilmore made five tackles and broke up a pair of passes but couldn’t prevent Buffalo from a 34-21 loss to undefeated Cincinnati on Sunday.

▪ Rock Hill High’s Jonathan Meeks made two tackles during 18 snaps on special teams for Buffalo against Cincinnati. The tackles were Meeks’ first of the season after being called up from the Bills’ practice squad several weeks ago.

▪ Denver beat Cleveland 26-23 and Fort Mill grad Vance Walker made five tackles, with three solo efforts. Walker played 28 defensive snaps (35 percent) and also appeared on eight special teams snaps.

▪ Houston got back in the win column against Jacksonville, thanks in part to a big effort from Northwestern’s Johnathan Joseph. He made six tackles and broke up a pass during 78 defensive snaps.

▪ Cordarrelle Patterson returned a pair of kickoffs for a combined 51 during the Vikings’ 16-10 win over Kansas City.

This story was originally published October 20, 2015 at 8:09 PM with the headline "Local NFL players roundup: Watson turns back the clock with huge night."