The trajectory of the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers may be heading in different directions when it comes to the playoffs, but both franchises have a former University of Alabama football standout that shined during Sunday’s Week 13 edition of NFL games.
For San Francisco, linebacker Reuben Foster continues to show why he was awarded the National Football League’s Rookie of the Month for November. He followed up that campaign with a team-high seven solo tackles in the 49ers’ 15-14 victory over the Chicago Bears.
Behind Foster, Chicago was held to 62 yards rushing on 19 carries while getting eight first downs and totaling 147 yards on 36 plays. Bears’ quarterback Mitchell Trubisky did not have time to generate any kind of offense, seeing how Foster and San Francisco forced two sacks and collected five tackles for loss. Once a Butkus Award winner and unanimous All-American, the first-round pick assisted the 49ers to its second win and now has 45 total tackles.
In discussing Baltimore, cornerback Marlon Humphrey has started to grow his name.
Since getting selected 16th overall in this year’s draft, Humphrey is chirping as of late in all attempts to help the Ravens advance to the playoffs for the first time in three years.
Knocking out a premiere quarterback like Matthew Stafford is no small task; nevertheless, Humphrey carried a team-high seven tackles and one interception.
Stafford tosses this one up for grabs and rookie Marlon Humphrey snatches it from the sky pic.twitter.com/tPIMislYS6
— Ian (@NFLFilmStudy) December 3, 2017
His takeaway was one of two forced by the Ravens in powering to a 44-20 win at M&T Bank Stadium. He now has 25 tackles on the year and is tied for third on the team with two picks.
As it stands, Humphrey and Baltimore remain in a tight hold of the sixth and final AFC playoff spot at 7-5. Both he and Foster were members on three Southeastern Conference championship teams (2014-16) and a College Football Playoff national title team in 2015 at Alabama.
It’s great to see both carrying the same fire at the next level.
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.
