UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - A total of 35 Penn State football alumni are populating the rosters of 22 National Football League teams. The Nittany Lions are perennially a top-20 program in producing players in the NFL. Each week throughout the year, GoPSUsports.com provides updates on the exploits of these former Nittany Lion greats.
The playoff picture became clearer for some Nittany Lions in Week 16. Despite three field goals from former Penn Stater Robbie Gould, Adrian Amos and Allen Robinson II both had big games to lead the Bears past the 49ers and secure at least the No. 3 seed in the NFC. Former Penn State men's lacrosse player Chris Hogan helped the Patriots clinch their ninth-straight AFC East title. DaQuan Jones and Austin Johnson both made tackles for the Titans in a win over the Redskins, setting up a win-or-go home regular-season finale against the Colts on Sunday Night Football in Week 17.
Stefen Wisniewski and the Eagles are also still in the playoff hunt, as Wisniewski made his 100th career start and helped Philly fend off the Texans to improve to 8-7.
Other notable performances during the week included DaeSean Hamilton scoring a touchdown on Monday Night Football and defensive tackle Jack Crawford pulling in his first career interception.
Marcus Allen (2014-17) S, Pittsburgh Steelers
Saints 31, Steelers 28
Allen was listed as inactive.
Adrian Amos (2011-14) FS, Chicago Bears
Bears 14, 49ers 9
Amos made eight tackles as the Bears clinched at least the No. 3 seed in the NFC and their first 11-win season since 2010.
Troy Apke (2014-17) S, Washington Redskins
Titans 25, Redskins 16
Apke is on injured reserve.
Saquon Barkley (2015-17) RB, New York Giants
Colts 28, Giants 27
Barkley rushed for 43 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries and caught five passes for 34 yards.
Barkley has 1,198 rushing yards on the season, which is third behind the Cowboys' Ezekiel Elliott (1,434 yards) and the Rams' Todd Gurley (1,251 yards).
Brandon Bell (2013-16) LB, Cincinnati Bengals
Browns 26, Bengals 18
Bell saw extensive action on special teams, making a tackle on the opening kickoff.
Saeed Blacknall (2014-17) WR, Oakland Raiders
Raiders 27, Broncos 14
Blacknall is on the Raiders practice squad.
Jason Cabinda (2014-17) LB, Oakland Raiders
Raiders 27, Broncos 14
Cabinda made one tackle, seeing action on defense and special teams.
Chris Campbell (2014-17) CB, New Orleans Saints
Saints 31, Steelers 28
Campbell is on the Saints practice squad.
Curtis Cothran (2013-17) DT, Minnesota Vikings
Vikings 27, Lions 9
Cothran is on the Vikings practice squad.
Jack Crawford (2008-11) DL, Atlanta Falcons
Falcons 24, Panthers 10
Crawford started at defensive tackle and tallied his first career interception, assisted on a sack and assisted on three total tackles. Crawford's pick was inside the 5-yard line and prevented the Panthers from scoring against from just before halftime.
Mike Gesicki (2014-17) TE, Miami Dolphins
Jaguars 17, Dolphins 7
Gesicki made one reception for 5 yards.
Garry Gilliam (2010-12) OL, San Francisco 49ers
Bears 14, 49ers 9
Gilliam saw limited action on special teams.
Chris Godwin (2014-16) WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cowboys 27, Buccaneers 20
Godwin made his fourth start of the season and caught three passes for 39 yards.
Malik Golden (2012-16) S, Pittsburgh Steelers
Saints 31, Steelers 28
Golden is on injured reserve with a knee injury.
Robbie Gould (2001-04) K, San Francisco 49ers
Bears 14, 49ers 9
Gould accounted for all of the 49ers scoring with three field goals in the second quarter. He has converted his last 22 consecutive field goals attempts and is now 32-of-33 on field goal attempts on the season to lead the NFL with a 97 percent success rate.
Grant Haley (2014-17) CB, New York Giants
Colts 28, Giants 27
Haley made his eighth consecutive start and recorded four solo tackles.
DaeSean Hamilton (2014-17) WR, Denver Broncos
Raiders 27, Broncos 14
Hamilton started for the fourth time this season and had six catches for 40 yards and a touchdown in a Monday Night loss to the Raiders.
Gerald Hodges (2009-12) LB, Arizona Cardinals
Rams 31, Cardinals 9
Hodges made a pair of tackles on defense and saw extensive action on special teams.
Chris Hogan (men's lacrosse - 2007-10) WR, New England Patriots
Patriots 24, Bills 12
Hogan started in a win over the Bills that clinched the Patriots' ninth consecutive AFC East Division title.
Mike Hull (2011-14) LB, Miami Dolphins
Jaguars 17, Dolphins 7
Hull started at linebacker for the first time this season and fourth time in his career. He finished the day with two tackles
Jesse James (2012-14) TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Saints 31, Steelers 28
James saw action on offense and special teams.
DaQuan Jones (2010-13) DE, Tennessee Titans
Titans 25, Redskins 16
Jones started and made three tackles in a crucial win over the Redskins. The Titans and Colts will play a de facto playoff game on Sunday Night Football next week, as the winner will advance to the playoffs and the loser is eliminated from playoff contention.
Austin Johnson (2012-15) DL, Tennessee Titans
Titans 25, Redskins 16
Johnson made a pair of solo tackles in a win over the Redskins. The Titans and Colts will play a de facto playoff game on Sunday Night Football next week, as the winner will advance to the playoffs and the loser is eliminated from playoff contention.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009) MLB, Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys 27, Buccaneers 20
Lee was inactive.
Jordan Lucas (2012-15) CB, Kansas City Chiefs
Seahawks 38, Chiefs 31
Lucas saw action on defense and special teams and made a tackle on a kickoff.
Brendan Mahon (2013-17) OL, Carolina Panthers
Falcons 24, Panthers 10
Mahon is on injured reserve.
Carl Nassib (2011-15) DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cowboys 27, Buccaneers 20
Nassib started for the Buccaneers at defensive end for the ninth time in 10 weeks and made two tackles for loss.
Allen Robinson (2011-13) WR, Chicago Bears
Bears 14, 49ers 9
Robinson led the Bears with six receptions for 85 yards, as they clinched at least the No. 3 seed in the NFC and their first 11-win season since 2010.
A.Q. Shipley (2005-08) C, Arizona Cardinals
Rams 31, Cardinals 9
Shipley is on injured reserve with an ACL injury and out for the season.
Garrett Sickels (2013-16) LB, Los Angeles Rams
Rams 31, Cardinals 9
Sickels is on injured reserve.
Donovan Smith (2012-13) T, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cowboys 27, Buccaneers 20
Smith started at left tackle for the Buccaneers and has started all 63 games of his career.
Nate Stupar (2008-11) LB, New York Giants
Colts 28, Giants 27
Stupar made a pair of tackles in extensive action on special teams.
Ross Travis (men's basketball - 2011-14) TE, Indianapolis Colts
Colts 28, Giants 27
Travis is on injured reserve with an ACL injury.
Cameron Wake (2000, 02-04) DE, Miami Dolphins
Jaguars 17, Dolphins 7
Wake tallied a sack in a loss to the Jaguars.
Trevor Williams (2012-15) CB, Los Angeles Chargers
Ravens 22, Chargers 10
Williams was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury.
Stefen Wisniewski (2007-10) G/C, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles 32, Texans 30
Wisniewski's 100th career start was a memorable one, as he protected quarterback Nick Foles as Foles threw for 471 yards to lead the Eagles to a 32-29 victory over the Texans to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Anthony Zettel (2012-15) DL, Cleveland Browns
Browns 26, Bengals 18
Zettel saw limited action in a win over the Bengals.
