Brock Purdy
Purdy followed up what might be the worst game of his career in last week’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs with a very solid performance in the San Francisco 49ers’ 30-24 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
Purdy went 18-for-26 with 260 yards and a touchdown through the air, but he also produced on the ground.
He ran the ball eight times for 56 yards and a touchdown, just one yard short of his career-high, which was 57 rushing yards in 2023 against the Cincinnati Bengals, which was coincidentally also in week 8.
Purdy’s legs have been a big factor this season. The third-year quarterback has run for a career-high 210 yards this season, surpassing his career-high of 144 rushing yards through just eight games this season.
The 49ers needed this type of performance from Purdy, as a loss would’ve dropped them to 3-5. But after the win, the defending NFC Champions sit at 4-4 and right in the thick of the NFC West hunt.
David Montgomery
Purdy isn’t the only former Cyclone who can throw touchdown passes in the NFL.
In the second quarter of the Detroit Lions’ 52-14 blowout victory over the Tennessee Titans, Montgomery threw a three-yard touchdown pass to tight end Sam LaPorta, joining teammate Amon-Ra St. Brown as the only non-quarterbacks to throw for a touchdown this season.
On the ground, Montgomery added 33 yards and a touchdown on nine carries, a rather pedestrian rushing performance by his standards, but it didn’t matter as the Lions cruised to victory.
Detroit has looked like the best team in the NFL since their week two loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as the Lions have averaged 38.4 points per game over its five-game winning streak.
The Lions find themselves at the top of the NFC at 6-1, with every other team in the conference having at least two losses.
Breece Hall
Hall, for the third week in a row, had a very solid day. He ran for 80 yards on five yards per attempt and hauled in one pass for nine yards.
Hall’s performance brings his season total to 428 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 3.9 yards per attempt on the ground.
Despite only nine receiving yards in week 8, his total of 316 receiving yards remains the highest of any running back in the NFL.
Unfortunately for Hall and the rest of the Cyclones on the Jets, New York lost to the New England Patriots 25-22, dropping to 2-6 after five straight losses. In what was supposed to be a great season for the Jets, it now looks like it will take a miracle for them to make it to the postseason.
Xavier Hutchinson
Hutchinson had one catch for 19 yards in the Houston Texans’ 23-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts, but he may be in for more opportunities going forward.
In the third quarter of Sunday’s game, four-time Pro Bowler and star wide receiver Stefon Diggs went down with a torn ACL, which will end his season.
This injury leaves playing time on the table, meaning Hutchinson should be in line for more snaps in the coming weeks.
Will McDonald IV
McDonald played in the Jets’ loss to the Patriots, but did not record any stats.
Despite the slow day, the second-year pass rusher remains second in the NFL in sacks with eight, trailing the New York Giants’ defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, who has nine.
Charlie Kolar
Kolar had one catch for nine yards in the Baltimore Ravens’ 29-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
Kolar has seven receptions for 121 yards and a touchdown this season.
