From a game-winning field goal to a career-long touchdown grab, it was a Christmas weekend to remember for some of Auburn's former players in the NFL.
That and more in this week's Auburn Made NFL rundown.
BEST OF WEEK 17
Roger McCreary, CB, Tennessee Titans
McCreary continued his strong play of late with seven tackles and two tackles for loss Sunday against the Houston Texans. The second-year cornerback has now tallied seven tackles in each of the last four games for the Titans, and with 77 tackles on the season, he's on pace to match last year's total (84) despite playing in two less games. McCreary earned a PFF grade of 70.5 for his performance Sunday. It was fourth highest grade on the defense.
Darius Slayton, WR, New York Giants
One week after hauling his longest NFL catch (69 yards), Slayton topped it with an 80-yard touchdown grab in Sunday's contest vs. the Los Angeles Rams. He's the first Giants receiver with touchdowns of 69+ yards in consecutive games since Odell Beckham Jr. did it in December 2015. Slayton finished his day with 106 yards receiving on four catches. It was his fifth career 100-yard receiving game and first since 2020.
TYROD 80-YARDS TO SLAYTON 🎯
— New York Giants (@Giants) December 31, 2023
📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/DEJwosN0cB
Braden Smith, OT, Indianapolis Colts
With a playoff spot on the line, Smith gutted it out to play Sunday after missing the last three games due to injury. He might not have been 100 percent, but he held his own and helped the Colts secure a 23-20 win over Las Vegas. Smith and fellow offensive tackle Bernhard Raimann were responsible for blocking Maxx Crosby, the Raiders' star pass-rusher. They held Crosby without a sack and to just one QB hit.
Jarrett Stidham, QB, Denver Broncos
Making his first start since last January, Stidham led the Broncos to a 16-9 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. The former Auburn quarterback finished 20 of 32 for 224 yards and connected with Lil'Jordan Humphrey on a 54-yard touchdown pass. "He played with that kind of poise, and I think you felt that on the field," head coach Sean Payton said of Stidham after the game. Stidham will start again Sunday in the season finale.
What a play. 🤯
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) December 31, 2023
📺: CBS | @LJ_Humphrey23 pic.twitter.com/kTqf8giXNb
Colby Wooden, DL, Green Bay Packers
Wooden picked up his first NFL sack Sunday, combining with Isaiah McDuffie to bring down Minnesota quarterback Jaren Hall for a 10-yard loss early in the second quarter. It was his lone tackle of the game. Despite only playing 10 snaps on defense, Wooden still graded out as one of the better players on the Packers' defense with a 67.8 grade per PFF.
Other Tigers in the NFL
Montravius Adams, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers
Tank Bigsby, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Angelo Blackson, DL, Jacksonville Jaguars
K.J. Britt, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Derrick Brown, DT, Carolina Panthers
Anders Carlson, K, Green Bay Packers
Daniel Carlson, K, Las Vegas Raiders
Marlon Davidson, DL, Tennessee Titans
Carlton Davis, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jamel Dean, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jack Driscoll, OL, Philadelphia Eagles
Rudy Ford, S, Green Bay Packers
Derick Hall, LB, Seattle Seahawks
Josh Harris, LS, Los Angeles Chargers
Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Dallas Cowboys
Jonathan Jones, CB, New England Patriots
Carl Lawson, DE, New York Jets
Eku Leota, LB, Carolina Panthers
Owen Pappoe, LB, Arizona Cardinals
Jamien Sherwood, LB, New York Jets
DNP (Reserve/Injured)
Daniel Thomas, S, Jacksonville Jaguars (IR)
C.J. Uzomah, TE, New York Jets (IR)
Prince Tega Wanogho, OT, Kansas City Chiefs (IR)
Chandler Wooten, LB, Carolina Panthers (IR)
Kilian Zierer, OT, Houston Texans (IR)
Practice Squad
Shedrick Jackson, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Anthony Schwartz, WR, Miami Dolphins
Seth Williams, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars