SALT LAKE CITY — This past week was a good week for defensive players from Utah across the board. BYU alum Kyle Van Noy continues to see playing time for the Patriots after being inactive for his first two games with the team. Rams quarterback Jared Goff was hit while throwing and Van Noy jumped high in the air, securing his first career interception that led to a Patriots field goal.

Meanwhile in Baltimore, University of Utah alum Eric Weddle has been having one of his best seasons for interceptions. In the starting drive of the second half, Ryan Tannehill started clicking with his offense, and the Dolphins were driving down the field. A tipped pass was grabbed by Weddle at the Ravens’ 2-yard line. Weddle returned the interception for 53 yards before he was brought down. The Ravens went 3-and-out on the ensuing drive, but the punt drove the Dolphins deep in their territory, and the Dolphins didn’t score until the fourth quarter.

New Orleans is typically a hard place to play, but rookie from Southern Utah Miles Killebrew didn’t seem fazed. On the last play of the game, the Saints went to score a garbage-time touchdown. With two seconds left on the clock and the Saints down by two touchdowns, the game was already over. Killebrew refused to allow the score, aggressively attacking Drew Brees' pass, intercepting it and ending the game.

In other news, Dennis Pitta lit it up this week. The BYU product has struggled with injuries since his breakout season in 2012. Pitta was the leading receiver for the Ravens this week, getting the most receptions with nine, yards with 90, and touchdowns with two. Pitta hadn’t found the end zone since Week 14 in 2013.

BYU

• Ezekiel Ansah: Detroit Lions, DE — Ansah had one solo and an assist tackle in the Lions’ 28-13 win over the Saints.
• Dennis Pitta: Baltimore Ravens, TE — Pitta went off, having his best yardage game since Week 2 against the Browns. In this game, Pitta pulled in nine passes for 90 yards and found the end zone twice, in the first game he’s seen the end zone this season. Pitta was the leading receiver in the Ravens' 38-6 thrashing of the Dolphins.
• Daniel Sorensen: Kansas City Chiefs, DB — Sorensen had four solo tackles and an assist tackle along with a defended pass in the Chiefs' 29-28 thriller over the Falcons.
• Kyle Van Noy: New England Patriots, LB — Van Noy continues to be a passing down specialist, getting one solo tackle and four assist tackles. He also pulled down a third quarter interception (the first interception of his NFL career) after Goff’s arm was hit while throwing. The interception led to a Gostkowski field goal in the Patriots’ 26-10 win over the Rams.

Utah

• Matt Asiata: Minnesota Vikings, RB — Asiata had six carries for 30 yards, along with one catch that went for negative yardage in the Vikings' 15-17 loss against the Cowboys.
• Devontae Booker: Denver Broncos, RB — Booker was mostly corralled by Jacksonville, getting 18 carries for 35 yards and one catch for 2 yards. Booker, however, was able to find the end zone, breaking his three-game dry spell, in a hard-fought score in the Broncos’ 20-10 win over the Jaguars.
• Paul Kruger: New Orleans Saints, DE — Kruger had one solo tackle in the Saints’ loss to the Lions.
• Star Lotulelei: Carolina Panthers, DT — Lotulelei had two assisted tackles in the Panthers’ 40-7 loss against the Seahawks.
• Brice McCain: Tennessee Titans, cornerback — McCain and the Titans had a bye week.
• Keith McGill: Oakland Raiders, CB — McGill played but did not record a stat in the Raiders’ 38-24 comeback win over the Bills.
• Jared Norris: Carolina Panthers, linebacker — Norris played, but he also did not record a stat in the Panthers’ loss.
• Tenny Palepoi: San Diego Chargers, DT — Palepoi had an assist tackle in the Chargers’ 28-21 loss against the Buccaneers.
• Eric Rowe: New England Patriots, CB — Rowe got the starting job for the third week in a row and had two solo tackles in the Patriots’ win over the Rams.
• Sealver Siliga: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, defensive tackle — Siliga saw playing time but didn’t record a stat in the Buccaneers’ win.
• Sean Smith: Oakland Raiders, CB — Smith had five solo tackles in the Raiders’ win over the Bills.
• Alex Smith: Kansas City Chiefs, QB — Smith had one of his best games of the season, having his season best in completion percentage at 84.0, throwing 21-25. He had second in passing yards with 270, second in QB rating at 125.0 and best in average yards per attempt with 10.8. Along with one touchdown and no interceptions, Smith’s season day resulted in a Chiefs' 29-28 win over the Falcons.
• Steve Smith Sr.: Baltimore Ravens, WR — Smith continues to be a target monster, bringing in six catches for 53 yards in the Ravens’ win.
• Paul Soliai: Carolina Panthers, DT — Soliai did not see playing time in the Panthers’ loss.
• Eric Weddle: Baltimore Ravens, S — Weddle two solo tackles and an assist tackle, along with two defended passes. He also made a third-quarter interception off a tipped pass on his own 2-yard line, returning the interception 53 yards, stopping what was looking like a scoring drive for the Dolphins.

Utah State

• Maurice Alexander: Los Angeles Rams, S — Alexander had five solo tackles and one assist tackle in the Rams’ loss to the Patriots.
• Marwin Evans: Green Bay Packers, S — Evans had playing time but did not record a stat in the Packers’ 21-13 win over the Texans.
• Kyler Fackrell: Green Bay Packers, LB — Fackrell did not play for the second week in a row due to a hamstring injury in the Packers’ win over the Texans. Nevin Lawson: Detroit Lions, CB — Lawson tied his season high in solo tackles with six. He also had one assist tackle in the Lions' win over the Saints.
• Robert Turbin: Indianapolis Colts, RB —Turbin had six carries for 16 yards, including a 5 yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter in the Colts’ 41-10 dismantling of the New York Jets.
• Zach Vigil: Miami Dolphins, LB — Vigil continues to see playing time, but has yet to record a stat for the Dolphins this season.
• Nick Vigil: Cincinnati Bengals, LB — Vigil saw playing time, but failed to record a stat in the Bengals’ 32-14 win over the Eagles.
• Bobby Wagner: Seattle Seahawks, LB — Wagner had four solo tackles and six assist tackles in the Seahawks’ win over Carolina.
• Kerwynn Williams: Arizona Cardinals, RB — Williams is still active but has yet to record a stat for the Arizona Cardinals so far this season.

Southern Utah

• Miles Killebrew: Detroit Lions, S — Killebrew had three solo tackles, and reeled in an interception in the end zone as time expired, giving him his first NFL interception and ending the game.
• LeShaun Sims: Tennessee Titans, CB — Sims and the Titans had a bye week.

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