Week 5: Auburn Players in the NFL – Sammie Coates Shines

Here we take a look at Auburn players in the NFL during week five, which was highlighted by Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Sammie Coates.

The future is progressively appearing brighter.

Whatever outcome may have been predicted against Mississippi State, whether it be a double overtime debacle or a game relying on fourth quarter drive, it should have been a no-brainer.

The prescription for cowbells at Starkville was determined to be one of the deciding factors for victory over Auburn on Saturday, even as it became a win that would inevitably boost Auburn back into ranking. Yet we forget how mightily Mississippi State struggled.

The SEC bias is ridiculous, for a team to still have a chance against an Auburn football team that thirsts for blood despite a loss to the University of South Alabama – who struggled against Georgia Southern who, in turn, barely edged out a win against Louisiana-Monroe.

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Remember Louisiana-Monroe?

With Auburn on the rise at the collegiate level, their professional counterparts continue to take strides on the field. Although our beloved Heisman winner is currently absent, and struggling with a fairly liberal offensive approach, other alumni are slowly etching their path to becoming Sunday stars.

Here is a list of Auburn football players in week five action:

Atlanta Falcons

A team quarterbacked by the league’s leader in passing yards, the Atlanta Falcons are taking strides in retaking the NFC South with the Panthers continuing to struggle. In a victory over the undefeated Denver Broncos 23-16, safety Robenson Therezie completed his first tackle of the season to help slow down a steady Bronco offense.

Baltimore Ravens

Football in Baltimore is running on newfound juice, much to the delight of Michael Phelps, the Ravens are looking to do more than they were capable of in the previous season. Despite a loss to Washington 16-10, cornerback Jerraud Powers completed four tackles with his new team after transitioning from Arizona.

Carolina Panthers

A season that many thought would end in a Super Bowl berth, the Carolina Panthers have officially collapsed. Without their reigning MVP at the helm, the Panthers were left with Derek Anderson at quarterback. Though he managed to throw the game away and fumble the ball on a potential game-winning drive in the fourth quarter, they were lucky to have Cameron Artis-Payne in the backfield. With 18 carries for 85 yards and two touchdowns, after only having one for his career prior to the game against the Buccaneers, Artis-Payne gave Carolina a shot. This was not enough, as the Buccaneers take the win in the final moments 17-14.

Cincinnati Bengals

Having Tyler Eifert out of the tight end position has been a blessing in disguise for C.J. Uzomah, who has shined bright for the Bengals offense. With five receptions for 43 yards, Uzomah has established himself as a blocking power on the offensive line, and has the capability to get the ball in crucial moments.

On defense, linebacker Karlos Dansby totaled three combined tackles alongside defensive tackle Pat Sims adding on four. Yet their effort was not enough to take down Dallas Cowboys’ superstar rookies in the 28-14 loss.

Cleveland Browns

Continuing their traditional ways, Cleveland is now winless through five weeks of play. Ricardo Louis is taking advantage of opportunities presented to him, with two receptions for 13 yards. Offensive tackle Shon Coleman, despite helping the Browns’ offense in an otherwise impressive rushing attack, only aided in a depressing 27-yard outing as a team in a 33-13 loss.

With linebacker Corey Lemonier out of play against the New England Patriots, it’s hard to say whether or not he would have been able to assist in stopping that quarterback. In fairness, no one would have been able to stop Tom Brady in his first week of play.

Indianapolis Colts

It’s always concerning how favored the Indianapolis Colts are in comparison to their actual performance over the season. How many MVP awards was quarterback Andrew Luck supposed to have by now? Luckily, their week five matchup was a blessing as they took on the Chicago Bears, who have now accepted Brian Hoyer as their quarterback. Wide receiver Quan Bray was only needed to reach for the first down marker in the 29-23 win, with two receptions for 29 yards.

Los Angeles Rams

A struggling rushing attack and a quarterback situation that remains an uncomfortable conversation, the Los Angeles Rams have potential to do great things. Offensive tackle Greg Robinson pushed the team ahead for 102 total rushing yards and a score, but it was not enough for the surging Buffalo Bills in a 30-19 loss.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Sammie Coates and Ben Roethlisberger have observably become well acquainted as the season churns on.  A selection of wide receivers capable of captaining an air raid is certainly frightening and intimidating, and Coates has become a weapon of mass destruction.

Let’s not get carried away, but he and Cam Newton are the only highlight reel material available on the Plains for Sunday. With six receptions for 139 yards and two touchdowns – one being a 72-yard bomb – Coates is showing he can be great. Overshadowed by fellow wide receiver Antonio Brown, his abilities to break away with both speed and size are exactly what the Pittsburgh Steelers deserve to salivate over.

Following a 31-13 spanking of the New York Jets, Coates will look to continue making a mark on this league.

San Diego Chargers

Watching the San Diego Chargers has been a treat this season – if you’re not a Chargers fan. Heartbreak has become the norm in San Diego, as they have routinely botched game after game, week after week. A loss to the Oakland Raiders 34-31 was highlighted in a 35-yard field goal attempt going nowhere. As offensive tackle King Dunlap assisted in pushing his team for 72 yards on the ground and aiding his quarterback tying Warren Moon for 9th most touchdowns, the Chargers look to find new ways to lose football games.

Next: Auburn Cracks the Top 25

Here’s to a week six return of Cam Newton, and a hopeful victory for Auburn against Arkansas on October 22.