Sooners in the NFL 2023: Week 18
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It was a weird week in the NFL, as some teams rest starters while others put everything on the line to clinch a playoff berth. The Sooners in the NFL had a little bit of both, but a handful of inspiring performances to go around.
Starting with CeeDee Lamb, who was once again magnificent. After setting Cowboys single-season receiving records for receptions and yards, he followed it up with another dominating performance. In the team’s 38-10 win over Washington, Lamb racked up 13 catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns. It was the cherry on top to the best season in franchise history.
Lamb finished the season second in the NFL in yards and touchdowns, and first in receptions. His two rushing touchdowns give him the most total touchdowns of any wide receiver in the NFL. Lamb also ranks first in scrimmage yards, touches, and targets. He finished the season on a nine-game tear, recording a touchdown in each game. That’s the longest streak by a wide receiver in the NFL since 2012.
His 135 catches rank fifth all-time in an NFL single-season, and his 1,749 yards equals the seventh-best season in NFL history. He added 14 total touchdowns.
In addition to Lamb’s dominance, Joe Mixon capped off another terrific season in the NFL. It wasn’t the finish he’d hoped for, as the Bengals lost star quarterback Joe Burrow early on in the season and didn’t qualify for the playoffs, but Mixon made the most of it.
On Sunday, he recorded his best game of the season, rushing for 111 yards on 14 carries and adding two touchdowns — one rushing, and one receiving.
Despite playing with a backup quarterback all season long, Mixon still found a way to rush for 1,034 yards and nine touchdowns. He added 376 receiving yards and three more scores through the air.
Kyler Murray finished his shortened season off on a high note, too, throwing for 262 yards and a touchdown and a .733 completion percentage. In eight games healthy, Murray totaled 1,799 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also added 244 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground. The Cardinals committed to him as the quarterback of the future.
The eyes of the football world will be on two former Oklahoma quarterbacks in playoff prime time next Monday night. Baker Mayfield and Jalen Hurts will clash in a wildcard game in Tampa Bay, as Mayfield’s dream season meets Hurts and the reeling Eagles. You can read more about Mayfield’s impressive campaign and bonuses hit HERE.
It’s been an impressive regular season for Oklahoma’s NFL stars, and there’s projecting to be a lot of talent deep into the playoffs this season.
Here's how the rest of the Sooners in the NFL performed:
Arizona Cardinals
(L 21-20 vs Seattle)
- WR Marquise Brown: DNP
- OL Marquis Hayes: Practice squad
- QB Kyler Murray: 22-of-30 for 262 yards, 1 touchdown, 5 rushes for 33 yards
Baltimore Ravens
(L 17-10 vs Pittsburgh)
- TE Mark Andrews: IR
Buffalo Bills
(W 27-21 vs New England)
- DL Jordan Phillips: DNP, IR
Cincinnati Bengals
(W 31-14 vs Cleveland)
- RB Joe Mixon: 14 rushes for 111 yards and 1 touchdown, 1 reception for 6 yards and 1 touchdown
- OT Orlando Brown Jr: Started at tackle
- OT Cody Ford: Played
Cleveland Browns
(L 31-14 at Cincinnati)
- DE Isaiah Thomas: (Practice Squad)
- WR Mike Woods: (PUP)
- LB Ogbo Okoronkwo: DNP, torn pectoral
Dallas Cowboys
(W 38-10 at Washington)
- DT Neville Gallimore: Played, team captain
- WR CeeDee Lamb: 13 catches for 98 yards and 2 touchdowns, 1 rush for 7 yards
Denver Broncos
(L 27-14 vs Los Angeles Chargers)
- OLB Nik Bonitto: 1 tackle, 1 sack
- S Delarrin Turner-Yell: Played, no stats recorded, injured
- RB Samaje Perine: 3 rushes for 7 yards, 3 catches for 23 yards
- WR Marvin Mims Jr: 1 catch for 16 yards, 1 rush for 1 yard, 3 punt returns for 33 yards, 2 kick returns for 55 yards
- OG Ben Powers: started at guard
- OLB Ronnie Perkins: No stats recorded
Jacksonville Jaguars
(L 28-20 at Tennessee)
- OT Anton Harrison: Started at tackle, injured during game
Kansas City Chiefs
(W 13-12 at Los Angeles Chargers)
- TE Blake Bell: 1 catch for 3 yards
- C Creed Humphrey: started at center
- LS James Winchester: started
- OL Wanya Morris: active, played
Las Vegas Raiders
(W 27-14 vs Denver)
- LB Curtis Bolton: 1 tackle
Los Angeles Chargers
(L 13-12 vs Kansas City)
- LB Kenneth Murray: OUT
Minnesota Vikings
(L 30-20 at Detroit)
- LB Brian Asamoah: No stats recorded
- Tyrese Robinson: Practice squad
New England Patriots
(L 17-3 vs New York Jets)
- RB Rhamondre Stevenson: DNP, injured
New York Giants
(W 27-10 vs Philadelphia)
- WR Sterling Shepard: No stats recorded
- RB Eric Gray: 1 rush for 2 yards, 1 catch for 6 yards stats
New York Jets
(W 17-3 at New England)
- DL Perrion Winfrey: IR
Philadelphia Eagles
(L 27-10 at New York Giants)
- QB Jalen Hurts: 7-of-16 for 55 yards and 1 interception, 2 rushes for 4 yards, left the game with a finger injury
- OL Lane Johnson: Started at tackle
San Francisco 49ers
(L 21-20 vs Los Angeles Rams)
- OL Trent Williams: Started at LT
- TE Brayden Willis: No stats recorded, played
Seattle Seahawks
(W 21-20 at Arizona)
- CB Tre Brown: 1 tackle
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
(W 9-0 at Carolina)
- QB Baker Mayfield: 20-of-32 for 137 yards, 5 rushes for 7 yards
Washington Commanders
(L 38-10 vs Dallas)
- P Tress Way: 1 punt for 50 yards
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