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SALT LAKE CITY — Week 7 of the NFL season has come and gone. Looking back at the games, there were a few locals who made game-changing plays.
Kyle Van Noy (BYU)
Van Noy had a good defensive day for the New England Patriots in their win over the Chicago Bears. He had six tackles, one of which was for a loss. But Van Noy’s biggest play happened on special teams when the Bears lined up to punt. Fellow Patriot Dont’a Hightower fired like a cannon up the middle and blocked the punt. After a brief struggle to pick up the ball, Van Noy recovered it and took it to the house for a touchdown. This broke a tie and the Patriots went on to win the game.
Alex Smith (Utah)
Smith was able to help the Washington Redskins beat their division rival Dallas Cowboys to take the top spot of the NFC East with a 4-2 record. Smith was efficient as he completed 14-of-25 passes (56 percent) for 178 yards and one touchdown. He threw no interceptions and was also able to rush for 16 yards along the way.
Taron Johnson (Weber State)
Johnson continues to have an incredible rookie season for the Buffalo Bills. Although the Bills got smacked around by the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Johnson was a bright spot on the Bills defense. He had seven tackles, one for a loss of yards.
There were certainly some other locals who made plays as well, so here’s a look at some other locals.
BYU
Taysom Hill (New Orleans Saints) - Hill had six rushes for 35 yards. One of his runs came on the Saints’ first possession on a fake punt that was snapped directly to Hill. He was able to convert the first down.
Fred Warner (San Francisco 49ers) - After a slow last two weeks, Warner got back to being a tackling machine for the 49ers. He finished the game with nine tackles in a blowout loss to the Rams.
Michael Davis (Los Angeles Chargers) - Davis had two tackles in London in a narrow win over the Tennessee Titans.
Ezekiel Ansah (Detroit Lions) - Ansah missed Sunday’s win over the Miami Dolphins with an injury.
Utah
Eric Weddle (Baltimore Ravens) - Weddle totaled seven tackles in a heartbreaking loss to the New Orleans Saints due to a missed extra point with 24 seconds left.
Marcus Williams (New Orleans Saints) - Williams had four tackles against the Ravens, but had to leave the game early with an undisclosed injury.
Dominique Hatfield (Los Angeles Rams) - Hatfield had one tackle in a blowout win over the 49ers.
Star Lotulelei (Buffalo Bills) - Lotulelei had two tackles along the way, while the Bills got a beat down from the Indianapolis Colts.
Eric Rowe (New England Patriots) - Rowe had two tackles in a win over the Bears.
Utah State
Nevin Lawson (Detroit Lions) - Lawson had one tackle in a win over the Miami Dolphins.
Zach Vigil (Washington Redskins) - Vigil had one tackle in a win over the Dallas Cowboys.
Nick Vigil (Cincinnati Bengals) - Vigil missed Sunday night’s blowout loss to the Kansas City Chiefs with an injury.
Robert Turbin (Indianapolis Colts) - Turbin was out with an injury.
Southern Utah
Miles Killebrew (Detroit Lions) - Killebrew had one tackle in a win over the Miami Dolphins.
