Across the Shield: Rod Smith Runs Wild, Marshon Lattimore Locks Down Julio Jones and Michael Thomas Has a Season High

Rod Smith Runs Wild

Try to wrap your head around this: on Sunday afternoon, Rod Smith accounted for more yards in a single NFL game than he did in three of his four seasons at Ohio State.

Playing in relief of the suspended Ezekiel Elliott, Smith accounted for 150 all-purpose yards during Sunday's game against the Giants, rushing for 47 yards and a touchdown on six carries and hauling in five passes for 113 receiving yards and a touchdown.

The play of the game was Smith's 81-yard touchdown to put the Giants to bed and seal a Cowboys victory.

Of course, Ezekiel Elliott, who Smith backed up briefly at Ohio State and now does the same in Dallas, was watching.

BOOBIE !

— Ezekiel Elliott (@EzekielElliott) December 10, 2017

Rod Smith . . . #45 . . . Boobie Miles ? https://t.co/zSPA5aRQQj

— Ezekiel Elliott (@EzekielElliott) December 10, 2017

Still Can't Guard Mike

Michael Thomas has been having an unbelievable season up to this point, ranking No. 6 in the league in receiving yardage and No. 5 in receptions. He had his best game yet on Thursday night against the Falcons.

Thomas tied a season-high 117 yards and scored a touchdown, catching 10 passes on 14 targets. The performance earned Thomas the Saints' highest overall grade, a 92.7, according to Pro Football Focus.

Here's their evaluation of his game:

Thomas tied a season-high with 117 receiving yards, but it was his effectiveness of those yards that really made a difference. Out of his ten catches, nine went for first downs or a touchdown, including four on third down. His performances leaves him just eight yards shy of back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons with three games to go.

Can Guard Julio

Marshon Lattimore is just 13 games into his NFL career and he's already locking down arguably the best receiver in the NFL.

Lattimore, playing man-to-man coverage on the Falcon's star receiver for much of the game, helped limit Jones to just five catches on 11 targets. He had one pass defense and jumped in front of Jones for his third interception of the season, which he returned for 33 yards.

This is so impressive by Marshon Lattimore. He knew what route was coming well before it happened. Leads to his third interception of the season. pic.twitter.com/MmdAXVvXIq

— J.R. (@JReidDraftScout) December 8, 2017

Lattimore is ready for his matchup with another top NFL receiver in a couple of weeks.

1 for 13....I'm good https://t.co/mLviWBA7Xp

— Marshon Lattimore (@shonrp2) December 5, 2017

Shalieve

Ryan Shazier got nothing but support from his Steelers teammates on Sunday night when they took on the Ravens. From start to finish, someone was doing something to honor the former Buckeye linebacker who suffered a spine injury on Monday night.

It began with Shazier's former Ohio State teammate and now Steelers teammate Cameron Heyward carrying his No. 50 jersey onto the field when the team came through the tunnel.

Steelers Cam Heyward enters the field with Ryan Shaziers jersey before taking on the Ravens Sunday. pic.twitter.com/O5jO3oIx2T

— Matt Freed (@mattfreedpghpg) December 11, 2017

Then Steelers linebacker James Harrison payed homage to Shazier during his warmup routine, going shirtless despite the freezing temperatures, just as the former Buckeye is known to do.

James Harrison (@jharrison9292) honors @RyanShazier by coming out shirtless tonight. #SHALIEVE #prayfor50 pic.twitter.com/UlAfcadSrg

— Teresa Varley (@Teresa_Varley) December 10, 2017

Harrison then led a pregame huddle which featured a chant of 5-0 – Shazier's number – shortly before kickoff.

The Steelers continued to honor Shazier throughout the game as well. At least half of the Steelers defense wore custom cleats in support of Shazier, according to ESPN producer Dominique Goodwin.

We got you bro @RyanShazier pic.twitter.com/CsbHU64YWg

— Mike Hilton (@MikeHilton_31) December 9, 2017

More of the cleats Steelers teammates will be wearing tomorrow in support of Ryan Shazier pic.twitter.com/EhBR1elgy2

— Dominique Goodridge (@DomGoodridge) December 9, 2017

The team also wore custom undershirts in support of Shazier, which Roosevelt Nix proudly displayed after making a huge hit during the game's opening kickoff.

The best part: Shazier saw it all. He watched the game on television from the hospital, and even FaceTimed Heyward after the game and posted a postgame reaction video on social media.

The Steelers gutted out a win over the Ravens, 39-38, clinching the AFC North Title. Who's going to bet against this team winning the Super Bowl?

Ohio Against the World

Last week, I prematurely declared this fantasy season over.

Folks, I forgot about the consolation playoffs – and so did my opponent.

All he had to do to beat me was start Jonathan Stewart, but instead he got 0 points from five different positions and I got a 25-point win.

I'm not actually going to claim this as a win, for obvious reasons, but let's just appreciate how ridiculous it is that about my receivers are injured, my best player is suspended and I'm taking an automatic zero at the quarterback position but I still managed to put up almost 100 points.

Who would have thought Rod Smith would account for 33 points to propel me to a fantasy win?