Across the Shield: Michael Thomas Hits Milestones, Ryan Shazier Gets Cheers in Heinz Field & Jeff Heuerman Scores a 54-Yard Touchdown

Can't Guard Mike

This subheader might be getting trite at this point, but that's just because it's true nearly every week. This week was no different.

Michael Thomas finished the game with nine catches for 93 yards on 11 targets, and those numbers were less than an inch away from being drastically better as a review overturned a called touchdown in the third quarter. It was actually the second touchdown taken away from Thomas after a review.

A #Saints Michael Thomas touchdown that counted pic.twitter.com/tzHJAhc17n

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 17, 2017

Still, Thomas' performance was good enough to earn him an 83.7 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. Here's how they evaluated his play:

Thomas had a slow start to this game, but turned it on in the second half. He finished the game with nine catches on 10 targets for 93 yards and a touchdown. He would’ve had a second touchdown too if he had only dragged his second foot at the back of the endzone on a beautiful deep post route in the third quarter. Thomas finished the game with a 2.58 yards per route run average.

Somewhat quietly, Thomas has had one of the best first two years of any receiver uh... Ever.

With his performance on Sunday, Thomas became just the second player in NFL history to haul in at least 90 catches in his first two seasons in the league, joining Odell Beckham Jr.

So far this season, Thomas has 94 receptions for 1,085 yards with two games remaining, already surpassing his rookie numbers of 92 receptions for 1,137 yards.

Folks, he's going to be good for quite some time.

BIA

What if I told you that despite his eye-popping numbers, Thomas wasn't even the best former Buckeye on his own team on Sunday afternoon?

That honor goes to Marshon Lattimore.

Lattimore came back from an injury last week and seemed to be back to full strength this week against the Jets as he once again looked like one of the top cornerbacks in the league.

The former Buckeye finished the game with five total tackles, one tackle for a loss, 3 passes defended and a game-clinching interception in the fourth quarter. And once again, he was lockdown in coverage.

Feels like throwing at Marshon Lattimore might not be wise pic.twitter.com/QOrNeh1IW1

— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) December 17, 2017

The performance earned him an 85.6 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. Here's their evaluation of his game:

If you have been living under a rock, then you would not know that Marshon Lattimore has been one of the best corners in football, in this, his rookie season. After coming back from injury and struggling against the Falcons pass offense a week ago, Lattimore came back with a bang against the Jets. Lattimore gave up just four catches for 43 yards on eight targets and had one pass defense and one interception at the end of the game.

It's crazy to think that in just his second year as a starter since high school, he's already one of the best coverage cornerbacks in the NFL.

Zeke Back

If you're reading this, Ezekiel Elliott is now back with the Cowboys.

Elliott's six game suspension is now over as Dallas played its final game without its 2016 first-round draft pick on Sunday.

Elliott spent the past six weeks in Mexico with personal trainers, a life coach and NFL Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson, and from the looks of it, it seemed to do him well because he looks absolutely jacked.

After 6 weeks of training thanks to a NFL-mandated suspension, this is what #Cowboys RB Zeke Elliott looks like now: pic.twitter.com/7upcaegOyo

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 17, 2017

The former Buckeye running back returns to action on Christmas eve as the Cowboys host the Seahawks.

Of course, one downside to this is it means fellow former Buckeye Rod Smith will now get far fewer carries. Smith racked up 309 all-purpose yards and scored five touchdowns in relief of Elliott these past six games.

While he'll no longer get as many game reps, Smith's proved he can be a reliable NFL running back, which could help him find another home down the road. And he's possibly done enough to make it to the Pro Bowl?

Brothers playing in the Pro Bowl?

RT for Rod Smith and @thejaylonsmith! #ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/9ttj74wkwX

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) December 13, 2017

I'm not sure there's really much chance that actually happening, but I am absolutely here for Rod Smith: NFL Pro Bowler.

Jeff Heuerman Goes Deep

Jeff Heuerman created some fireworks on Thursday night as the former Buckeye hauled in a career-long 54-yard touchdown pass.

Beautiful toss by @bosweiler17.
And the stiff arm by @JHeuerman86!@Broncos extend their lead! #DENvsIND #BroncosCountry pic.twitter.com/SuCeDjTrmo

— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2017

With that 54-yard touchdown, Heuerman now has eight catches for 133 yards and two touchdowns this season, his third season in the NFL.

Shalieve

There's still a lot of uncertainty surrounding Ryan Shazier's status after he suffered a spinal injury on Monday night football two weeks ago, but Steelers fans – and everyone else with a pulse – had to be ecstatic when they saw the linebacker at the game on Sunday afternoon, waving a terrible towel.

According to a report by CBS' Tracey Wolfson during the broadcast of Sunday's game, Shazier's appearance was a surprise to his Steelers teammates, who were unaware he would be in attendance at the game.

Ohio Against the World

Last week, thanks to an absurd performance from Rod Smith and a typically great performance from Michael Thomas, I finished with a higher score than my opponent (who happened to start four players which did not play).

Unfortunately for my record, last week was only part one of a two-week playoff game. This week, one of those players, Rob Gronkowski, did play, while one of my players, Ted Ginn Jr., did not. And I lost.

Let us pray that Cardale Jones is a starting NFL quarterback next season.