Locals in the NFL: Alex Smith stuns Patriots; Nick Vigil has 10 tackles in loss


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SALT LAKE CITY — Week 1 featured locals contribute to their teams from all positions on the field. Alex Smith throws four touchdowns in win against reining champions. Nick Vigil shows he can be the next standout line backer from Utah State. Kerwynn Williams will be the new starter in Arizona. Miles Killebrew returns interception for a touchdown.

Alex Smith (Utah):

Kansas City opened its 2017 season against reigning NFL champions the New England Patriots on Thursday night. Alex Smith was the star of the show, even with Tom Brady on the other sideline. Smith has been criticized for his spate of down field throws, which he dispelled against a daunting Patriots secondary.

Smith finished the game with 28 of 35 throws, which is an 80 percent completion percentage, with 368 yards in the air. Smith’s average yards per pass was 10.51 for the game, compared to last year's 7.16 average.

Smith showed he could throw the long ball, with two passes for touchdowns. The first throw came early in the third quarter, when Smith connected with a wide open Tyreek Hill on a 75-yard pass, to take the lead for the first time in the game. The Chiefs then had to regain the lead with a 78-yard bomb to Kareem Hunt early in the fourth. From that point, Kansas City scored two more times to seal the game.

Smith finished the game with a quarterback rating of 148.6, well over the 85.8 for his career. Smith finished the game with four touchdown passes and no interceptions. With the win, Kansas City became the first team to beat the Patriots in Gillette Stadium after being behind at halftime.

Nick Vigil (Utah State):

There weren't many bright spots for the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, but Nick Vigil stood out for the Bengals on the defensive side of the ball. Vigil is in his sophomore season in the NFL and is following Bobby Wagner's footsteps, showing the talent Utah State can produce at the line backer position.

Vigil recorded a combined 10 total tackles with one interception. In 2016, he played 16 games, with a total of 21 tackles for the whole year; he is almost halfway to that total after one game. Vigil's interception came at the beginning of the second quarter, when the Bengals were down 17-0. His interception gave the Bengals the ball on the Baltimore 26, but it was then fumbled on the six-yard line, six plays later.

Kerwynn Williams (Utah State):

David Johnson is the No. 1 running back in Arizona but was injured in the game against the Lions, with a wrist sprain, and could miss a few weeks or more due to the injury. The Cardinals will look to his back up, former Utah State running back Kerwynn Williams.

Williams ran for the Cardinals lone rushing touchdown, with a three-yard carry, to extend the lead late in the third quarter to 17-9. Williams carried the ball five times, for a total of 10 yards in the game. He will undoubtably get the majority of the work load for the next few weeks while Johnson recovers. Williams has the speed and agility to be a starter and is going to get the chance to show it.

Miles Killebrew (SUU):

Miles Killebrew had three tackles for the Detroit Lions in the win against Arizona. He also had an interception return for a touchdown, to ice the game for the Lions. His interception came with four minutes left in the fourth quarter, to extend the lead to 17-35. Killebrew ran the pick 35 yards for the touchdown. He also had two pass deflections in the game.

BYU

  • Ezekiel Ansah, DE, Detroit Lions - recorded one tackle against Arizona.
  • Daniel Sorensen, S, Kansas City Chiefs - had three tackles against New England.
  • Kyle Van Noy, LB, New England Patriots - recorded six combined tackles against Kansas City.
  • Jamall Williams, RB, Green Bay Packers - ran for nine yards on two attempts.
  • Kai Nacua, DB, Cleveland Browns - played against the Pittsburgh Steelers and recorded no stats.

Utah

  • Star Lotulelei, DT, Carolina Panthers - had three tackles and half a sack in a win against San Francisco.
  • Sean Smith, CB, Oakland Raiders - had two tackles in a win against Tennessee.
  • Eric Weddle, S, Baltimore Ravens - had two tackles against Cincinnati.
  • Dominique Hatfield, CB, Los Angeles Rams - recorded one tackle against Indianapolis.
  • Brice McCain, CB, Tennessee Titans - had one tackle in a loss against Oakland.
  • Eric Rowe, CB, New England Patriots - had one tackle in a loss against Kansas City.

Utah State

  • Robert Turbin, RB, Indianapolis Colts - had seven yards rushing on two attempts and one interception for negative four yards.
  • Bobby Wagner, LB, Seattle Seahawks - recorded nine total tackles and one pass deflection in a loss against Green Bay.
  • Nevin Lawson, CB, Detroit Lions - had three tackles and one pass deflection in a win against Arizona.
  • Maurice Alexander, S, Los Angeles Rams - had two tackles in a win against Indianapolis.
  • Marwin Evans, S, Green Bay Packers - had one tackle in a win against Seattle.
  • Kyler Fackrell, LB, Green Bay Packers - had one tackle in a win against Seattle.

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