How Arizona Wildcats fared in Week 9 of NFL season

NorthJersey.com via USA TODAY NETWORK

Nick Folk was the hero on Monday Night Football

Week 9 of the the NFL season is in the books! Here’s a rundown of how all the Arizona Wildcats in the league performed. (Note: This list does not include Reggie Gilbert who is on the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad and Will Parks, whose Eagles had a bye week.)

Nick Folk, New England Patriots

It wasn’t even clear if Folk was going to play on Monday night. He was listed as questionable with a back injury.

Not only did he give it a go, he was the hero.

Folk made 51-yarder as time expired to lead the Patriots to 30-27 win over the Jets. It’s the longest game-winning FG with no time left in the fourth quarter in Patriots history.

IT'S GOOOOOD. The @Patriots WIN! #GoPats pic.twitter.com/qVcw5Ccboh

— NFL (@NFL) November 10, 2020

Folk also made field goals of 29 and 45 yards. He has not missed a FG or extra point since Week 2.

Nick Foles, Chicago Bears

Foles put up some big numbers, completing 36 of 52 passes for 335 yards and two touchdowns against the Titans, but most of that came in garbage time.

The Bears were trailing 24-3 with eight minutes left before scoring two late touchdowns on their way to a 24-17 loss.

Foles had a lackluster performance, according to our friends at Windy City Gridiron:

Of his 36 completions, 17 of them were thrown just five yards beyond the line of scrimmage or fewer. He had as many completions beyond 10 yards as he did completions behind the line of scrimmage: six. Something along those lines is to expected from a West Coast-oriented offense, but the general lack of an intermediate passing game, let alone a vertical game, is concerning on Nagy’s end.

Foles made his fair share of questionable decisions under center. (Mitchell) Trubisky was blasted for his tendency to throw off of his back foot, but Foles has struggled with the exact same issue since he took over the starting job. He also had issues under pressure, taking three sacks and also causing an intentional grounding that cost the Bears more yards than a sack would have. His decision-making, mechanics, and accuracy all struggled when he was rushed, and that resulted in numerous throws into tight coverage: seven of Foles’ passes were broken up.

The Bears (5-4) have lost three straight.

Jace Whittaker, Arizona Cardinals

COVID-19 cases caused Whittaker to be promoted to the Cardinals’ active roster. Injuries allowed him to take his first NFL snaps on defense.

Filling in at cornerback, Whittaker played 48 snaps and received a 51.1 grade from Pro Football Focus (slightly below average) in the 34-31 loss to the Dolphins.

Unfortunately, Whittaker got burned for the game-tying touchdown early in the fourth quarter:

First catch? It's a TD. @mackhollins

@NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/3wCxHBgP1c

— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) November 9, 2020

Rob Gronkowski, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs surprisingly got blown out 38-3 by the New Orleans Saints on Sunday Night Football. Gronk caught one pass for two yards, snapping a three-game touchdown streak.

Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, San Francisco 49ers

DFF was inactive for Thursday Night Football as he battles a hamstring injury suffered on the opening kickoff of the previous game.

J.J. Taylor, New England Patriots

The rookie running back was inactive due to a non-COVID illness.

Dane Cruikshank, Tennessee Titans

Cruikshank played seven snaps on special teams and recorded one tackle.

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