Fourth-year linebacker C.J. Mosley is two wins away from getting back to the playoffs for the first time since his rookie season in 2014 with the Baltimore Ravens.
A former first-round pick from the University of Alabama, the 2013 Butkus Award winner and Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year is growing within his leadership role as a defensive anchor inside.
He posted five games with at least 10 tackles this season, and despite not reaching the mark on Sunday, Mosley’s performance landed the Ravens with a 27-10 win over Cleveland.
His lateral quickness in pass coverage led to Baltimore shutting down one of the more explosive weapons in the National Football League. He helped limit Browns’ wide receiver Josh Gordon to just five receptions for 47 yards on 11 targets.
With Mosley, rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer completed only 54 percent of his attempts and averaged nearly four yards per completion.
Hailing from Theodore, Ala., the two-time Pro Bowl selection (2014, 2016) chimed in with six tackles – including five solo tackles, three pass breakups and a forced fumble. Mosley assisted in creating four turnovers (two interceptions), while holding Cleveland to 266 yards on 58 plays.
After leading all rookies in tackles (133) in 2014, Mosley is the high-man in the department for the Ravens in two of his four seasons. He has accounted for at least 100 tackles in three of the last four years, dating back to his first Pro Bowl and second-team NFL All-Pro honors.
Currently, Mosley has 121 tackles, eight tackles for loss, one sack, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, two interceptions and six pass breakups.
Now at 8-6, the Ravens have a clear path to the postseason as one of two AFC wildcard teams. Should it win its final two games against Indianapolis and Cincinnati — both are 8-20 combined — Mosley and Baltimore will be playoff bound.
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.
