C.J. Mosley wants to return to the NFL playoffs.
Regardless of earning his second trip to the Pro Bowl and second team All-Pro honors last season, the fourth-year linebacker and former University of Alabama standout led a fierce Baltimore Ravens defense to a 20-0 win against divisional rival – Cincinnati.
Mosley was around the ball on every play, finishing with eight tackles.
He anchored a front seven that affected Bengals’ quarterback Andy Dalton, sacking him five times while recording five total turnovers. Mosley was credited with one of the five takeaways in the second quarter, as he picked off Dalton in the red zone. Cincinnati was on the verge of taking a 7-3 lead during its 11-play, 82-yard drive prior to the backer baiting Dalton into a poor throw.
Mosley would also chime in with a fumble recovery, following a Terrell Suggs sack of Dalton.
https://twitter.com/BamaVideo_/status/907007328398069760
After ending both 2015 and 2016 with strong numbers, it wasn’t enough as Mosley and the Ravens missed the postseason. His leadership to open this campaign against an AFC North rival was infectious, seeing how Baltimore shut down the Bengals’ offense to 221 total yards.
Behind Mosley, the Ravens allowed four third down conversions on 13 attempts and forced either a punt, interception, fumble or turnover on downs in Cincinnati’s 11 possessions.
Hailing from Theodore, Ala., Mosley never shies away from taking pride in his work.
During his four-year career with the Crimson Tide, he twice led the program in tackles (2012, 2013) and was a member of two BCS national championship squads. Mosley carried home numerous awards in 2013 – including consensus All-American, first team All-SEC, SEC Defensive Player of the Year and Butkus Award, which goes to the nation’s top linebacker.
He was selected in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, and now he anticipates navigating this year’s defense to a Super Bowl title.
Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
