Across The Shield: Malcolm Jenkins Schools Mac Jones, Justin Fields Returns to Ohio and Trey Sermon Scores First NFL Touchdown

By Matt Gutridge on September 27, 2021 at 1:45 pm
Urban Meyer
Nathan Ray Seebeck – USA TODAY Sports
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On a sunny day in Foxborough, Malcolm Jenkins and Marshon Lattimore shined bright to lead the New Orleans Saints to a victory.

The Saints’ stout defense held the New England Patriots to 47 rushing yards and intercepted Mac Jones three times. Four Buckeyes contributed in the 28-13 victory for New Orleans.

Jenkins nabs a pick-six

Veteran defensive back Malcolm Jenkins facing rookie quarterback Mac Jones isn't a fair battle on paper, and it wasn't fair on the field. To put the age disparity between Jenkins and Jones in perspective, Mac was 10 years old when Jenkins was selected by the Saints in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft. By the time Jones was a freshman at Alabama, Jenkins was already a two-time Pro Bowl player, Super Bowl champion and eight-year NFL veteran. 

So, how did the matchup play out? At the start of the third quarter, the visiting Saints were leading Bill Belichick's New England Patriots, 14-3. On the first offensive play of the half, the rookie signal-caller's pass was slightly wide and Jonnu Smith couldn't handle it. Jenkins plucked it from the air after Smith bobbled it and raced 34 yards for the pick-six. It was Jenkins' first interception return for a score since 2016 and the eighth defensive touchdown of his career.

Jenkins finished the day with seven tackles, broke up two passes and the pick-six above. For Jones, his bad day against Ohio State alums wasn't over.

Lattimore locks it down

The second half of the Saints/Patriots game ended like it began – with an Ohio State defender intercepting Jones. With New Orleans leading 28-13 and time running out on the Patriots, Jones threw for the end zone. This time, Marshon Lattimore was on the receiving end of the errant pass and gleefully sprinted down the sideline as he put the game on ice.  

New England is 0–2 at home for the first time since 2000.

Fields' first start

The scene was set for a feel-good Hollywood movie. Local college football hero returns to lead his NFL team to a victory in his first start. What was supposed to be the great homecoming film turned into a horror movie.

The Chicago Bears' abysmal offensive line left Justin Fields little time and often running for his life. Myles Garrett and the Cleveland Browns' defense dismantled the makeshift Chicago offensive line and sacked Fields nine times for a loss of 67 yards. 

Six different Cleveland defenders were credited with bringing Fields down, led by Garrett's franchise-record 4.5 sacks. The Bears' inept offense averaged 1.1 yards per play, which is the second worst this century.

Seeing the ridiculously low time Fields had in the pocket, it's astonishing he finished the day being able to complete any of his 20 pass attempts. Despite the difficulties, Fields was able to complete six passes for 68 yards. However, when you subtract the 67 yards lost by the nine sacks, the Bears had one net yard passing in the 26-6 thrashing.

The porous line might be a reason why Chicago's coach, Matt Nagy, wanted Andy Dalton to be the starter this season. It will be interesting to see how the quarterback situation plays out for the Monsters of the Midway for the rest of the season.

Jacksonville's remarkable return

Some of you want Urban Meyer updates. We'll oblige your requests with this sensational return by the Jaguars' Jamal Agnew.  

The Jags promptly botched the extra point, but led at the half for the first time this season. The second half belonged to Kliff Kingsbury and the undefeated Cardinals, however, as Arizona outscored Jacksonville 24-6 in the final two quarters. 

Meyer aided the Cardinals in the comeback as he dialed up a poorly time flea-flicker that was returned for a pick-six.

The Jaguars were up 19-17 late in the third quarter when the ill-fated play was called, but ended up losing 31-19.

How is Meyer's NFL venture into the NFL going?

Jacksonville is now 0–3 and has lost 18 consecutive games. Urban and the Jaguars will try to end the streak Thursday night when they take on Joe Burrow and the Bengals in Cincinnati. 

Sermon scores, Bosa gets bounced

What a difference a week makes. After getting knocked out of last week's win against the Eagles with a head injury on his very first NFL carry, Trey Sermon was called on 10 times in the 49ers' prime-time battle with the Green Bay Packers.  

The sledding was tough for Ohio State's single-game rushing record holder, but he did find the end zone.

Trailing 24-14 at the halfway point of the fourth quarter, Sermon capped off a nine-play, 81 yard drive with a one-yard plunge into the end zone. 

Sermon's score appeared to be the catalyst in the 49ers' comeback as Jimmy Garoppolo found Kyle Juszczyk for a 12-yard touchdown strike to give the home team a 28-27 lead with 0:37 remaining in the game. More on this later.

Nick Bosa is an immensely talented football player. On Sunday night, Little Bear recorded four tackles, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry. However, with the Packers driving deep in San Francisco territory, Bosa must have had blinders on as Green Bay's Robert Tonyan crashed down and knocked Nick into Monday Night Football. 

As hard as that shot was, Aaron Rodgers heroics and Mason Crosby's 51-yard field goal to win the game 30-28 as time expired probably hurt worse.

Saskatchewan scoop-and-score

Damon Webb's NFL dreams have yet to be fulfilled, but the former Ohio State safety is playing the game he loves in the Great White North.

On Friday, his Saskatchewan Roughriders had just scored to take a 25-24 lead on the host BC Lions. On the ensuing kickoff, the Lions' Lucky Whitehead secured the ball and began his attempt at a hero return. After a Saskatchewan defender knocked the ball free and into the waiting hands of Webb, though, Webb returned it to the opposing end zone for a game-sealing touchdown.

Webb's 43-yard scoop and score secured Saskatchewan's fifth victory of the season and second place in the CFL West standings.

Highlight Show

Need more Buckeye action from Week 3? Here are some more of the week's highs and lows from the NFL Buckeyes.

Buckeyes Around The NFL
PLAYER POS TEAM WEEK 3 STATS SEASON STATS
ELI APPLE CB BENGALS 7 tackles, 1 PBU 16 tackles, 2 PBU, 1 TFL
DAMON ARNETTE CB RAIDERS 1 tackle 1 tackle, 1 PBU
JEROME BAKER LB DOLPHINS 8 tackles 23 tackles, 1 FF, 1 PBU
VONN BELL S BENGALS 4 tackles, 1 PBU, 1 FF 17 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 PBU, 1 FF
TUF BORLAND LB VIKINGS Practice squad  
JOEY BOSA DE CHARGERS 3 tackles, 0.5 sack (4 yards), 2 QBH 10 tackles, 0.5 sack (4 yards), 2 QBH
NICK BOSA DE 49ERS 4 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 QBH 11 tackles, 3 sacks (21 yards), 5 TFL, 5 QBH, 1 FF
NOAH BROWN WR COWBOYS 1 catch, 9 yards 1 catch 9 yards
BARON BROWNING LB BRONCOS Played at LB 3 games played
PARRIS CAMPBELL WR COLTS 2 catches, 9 yards 3 catches, 33 yards
JONATHON COOPER LB BRONCOS 1 tackle 1 tackle
WYATT DAVIS OG VIKINGS Played at OG 3 games played
TAYLOR DECKER OT LIONS IR (finger)  
J.K. DOBBINS RB RAVENS IR (knee)  
NATE EBNER DB GIANTS Inactive 1 tackle
PAT ELFLEIN OG PANTHERS IR (hamstring) 2 starts
EZEKIEL ELLIOTT RB COWBOYS 17 rushes, 95 yards, 2 TD; 3 catches, 21 yards 44 rushes, 199 yards, 3 TD; 7 catches, 53 yards
LUKE FARRELL TE JAGUARS 1 catch, -1 yard 2 catches, 5 yards
JUSTIN FIELDS QB BEARS 6/20 passing, 68 yards, 3 rushes, 12 yards 14/35 passing, 138 yards, INT; 14 rushes, 46 yards
JORDAN FULLER S RAMS 5 tackles 21 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PBU
DaVON HAMILTON DT JAGUARS 1 tackle 10 tackles
JOHNATHAN HANKINS DT RAIDERS 5 tackles, 1 QBH 7 tackles, 1 QBH
MALIK HARRISON LB RAVENS 2 tackles, 1 QBH 7 tackles, 1 QBH
DWAYNE HASKINS QB STEELERS Inactive  
JAKE HAUSMANN TE GIANTS Practice squad  
CAMERON HEYWARD DT STEELERS 5 tackles 16 tackles, 1 sack (6 yards), 1 TFL, 1 PBU, 1 FF, 1 FR
K.J. HILL WR CHARGERS Played at WR 3 catches, 30 yards; 1 PR, 6 yards
JUSTIN HILLIARD LB GIANTS Inactive  
JALYN HOLMES DE SAINTS Practice squad 1 tackle
MALIK HOOKER S COWBOYS 1 PBU 3 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PBU
SAM HUBBARD DE BENGALS 6 tackles, 1 sack (8 yards), 1 TFL, 2 QBH 16 tackles, 1.5 sacks (12.5 yards), 1 TFL, 2 QBH
CARLOS HYDE RB JAGUARS 8 rushes, 44 yards 19 rushes, 95 yards; 2 catches, 14 yards
JONAH JACKSON OG LIONS Started at LG 3 starts
MALCOLM JENKINS S SAINTS 7 tackles, 1 INT, 2 PBU, 1 TD 16 tackles, 1 INT, 2 PBU, 1 TD
CAMERON JOHNSTON P TEXANS 6 punts, 44.5 avg, 3 inside 20 16 punts, 46.4 avg, 7 inside 20
DRE'MONT JONES DT BRONCOS 1 tackle, 1 TFL 4 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 QBH
JAMARCO JONES OT SEAHAWKS Started at RT 1 start, 3 games played
MICHAEL JORDAN OG PANTHERS Inactive  
MARSHON LATTIMORE CB SAINTS 10 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PBU 13 tackles, 1 INT, 2 PBU
TYQUAN LEWIS DT COLTS 3 tackles 4 tackles, 1 QBH, 1 PBU
COREY LINSLEY C CHARGERS Started at C 3 starts
TERRY McLAURIN WR WFT 4 catches, 62 yards 19 catches, 231 yards, TD
RAEKWON McMILLAN LB PATRIOTS IR (knee)  
JAKE McQUAIDE LS COWBOYS Played at LS 3 games played
JOSH MYERS C PACKERS Started at C 3 starts
ANDREW NORWELL OL JAGUARS Started at LG 3 starts
JEFF OKUDAH CB LIONS IR (leg) 4 tackles, 1 PBU
BILLY PRICE C GIANTS Started at C 2 starts
MALCOLM PRIDGEON OG STEELERS Practice squad  
ISAIAH PRINCE OT BENGALS Played at OT 2 games played
BRADLEY ROBY CB SAINTS Played at CB 2 tackles, 1 sack (7 yards), 1 TFL, 1 QBH
CURTIS SAMUEL WR WFT IR (groin)  
C.J. SAUNDERS WR PANTHERS Practice squad  
TREY SERMON RB 49ERS 10 rushes, 31 yards, 1 TD 11 rush, 39 yards, 1 TD
KENDALL SHEFFIELD CB FALCONS IR (foot)  
DEVIN SMITH WR JAGUARS Practice squad 1 target
MICHAEL THOMAS WR SAINTS PUP (ankle)  
TOMMY TOGIA DT BROWNS Inactive  
NICK VANNETT TE SAINTS IR (knee)  
BINJIMEN VICTOR WR RAVENS Practice squad  
SHAUN WADE CB PATRIOTS Inactive  
DENZEL WARD CB BROWNS 3 tackles, 1 PBU 13 tackles, 2 PBU
PETE WERNER LB SAINTS 2 tackles 2 tackles
CHASE YOUNG DE WFT 3 tackles, 1 QBH 9 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 QBH
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