Football

Local NFL players roundup: Clowney and Patterson excel in losing efforts

By Bret McCormick

bmccormick@heraldonline.com
Buffalo Bills defensive back Jonathan Meeks, left, and Houston Texans outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney pose for a photograph after exchanging jerseys after an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015, in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Bills won 30-21. Meeks played at Rock Hill High and Clemson, while Clowney played at South Pointe and South Carolina.
Buffalo Bills defensive back Jonathan Meeks, left, and Houston Texans outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney pose for a photograph after exchanging jerseys after an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015, in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Bills won 30-21. Meeks played at Rock Hill High and Clemson, while Clowney played at South Pointe and South Carolina. Gary Wiepert AP

Jadeveon Clowney, Houston- Buffalo dropped Houston 30-21 but Clowney had one of the best games of his young NFL career, recording three tackles, two tackles-for-loss, a sack and a quarterback hit. The second-year player out of South Pointe hit Bills QB Tyrod Taylor for an eight-yard loss early in the fourth quarter.

Clowney has 2.5 sacks and 28 tackles on the season for 6-6 Houston.

Cordarrelle Patterson, Minnesota- the former Northwestern Trojan had a big day in the return game for Minnesota, even though the Vikings were trounced 38-7 by resurgent Seattle. Patterson took five kicks back for a total of 198 yards, with a big chunk of that coming on a 101-yard touchdown in the third quarter, with the game already pretty well out of hand.

The 101-yarder was Patterson’s fourth career kickoff return touchdown and his second in the last three weeks. Patterson leads the league with a 31.1-yard return average, and he also has the most returns, an interesting stat given the increasing commonality of touchbacks in the NFL.

Patterson’s touchdown:

Benjamin Watson, New Orleans- Watson caught four of eight balls thrown his direction for the second straight week, amassing 38 yards receiving and a touchdown that put the Saints in front of Carolina 7-0 midway through the first quarter. The Panthers came back to win 41-38.

Watson now has 54 catches for 642 yards and four touchdowns on the season. His best career year was in 2010 with Cleveland when he caught 68 passes. The former Northwestern Trojan currently ranks eighth in the league among tight ends for receptions.

Stephon Gilmore, Buffalo- Gilmore made two tackles as Buffalo held off Houston in a game where both secondaries struggled against standout receivers.

Johnathan Joseph, Houston- Joseph made three tackles and defended a pass, but also had his hands full with Bills receiver Sammy Watkins in a losing effort.

Vance Walker, Denver- Fort Mill grad made one tackle for the Broncos’ during their 17-3 win over San Diego.

This story was originally published December 8, 2015 at 3:16 PM with the headline "Local NFL players roundup: Clowney and Patterson excel in losing efforts."

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