Locals in the NFL: Why Mitch Wishnowsky was a star on Week 3's Sunday Night Football

AROUND THE SHIELD — Some people come to Sunday Night Football for the high-flying passes and feats of offensive strength, while others prefer the gritty defensive battles in the trenches.

Fans of the San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos were treated to neither Sunday night. Instead, an all-time punt-off broke out — and former Utah punter Mitch Wishnowsky was at the center of it.

Melvin Gordon scored the game-winning touchdown on a 1-yard dive with 4:10 remaining to lift the Broncos to an 11-10 win over the 49ers, a play that helped Denver to 88 total rushing yards. The Broncos edged the 49ers on first downs, 14-13, while San Francisco converted just 1-of-10 third downs (compared to 6-of-19 for Denver) and committed three turnovers.

The highlight of the 49ers' game, many argued, was Wishnowsky. The former Utah pig-booting specialist who recently signed a four-year extension reportedly worth up to $13 million punted seven times for 362 yards, a 51.7 yards-per-punt average that included a 74-yard boomer that became one of two touchbacks on the night.

The 30-year-old native of Gosnells, Australia, also downed six punts inside the 20-yard line.

Of course, in a game that featured just 21 total points and both teams failed to cross 300 yards of offense, the battle of punters was best described as … uhhh, riveting? In the duel with Wishnowsky, Broncos punter Corliss Waitman punted 10 times for 476 yards, with a long kick of 57 yards and six punts downed inside the 20.

It's the kind of performance that Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz was likely applauding.

Both punters outgained their respective offenses, with the Broncos totaling 267 yards and the 49ers finishing with 261 yards in the low-scoring slog. And yet former BYU linebacker Fred Warner, who classily raised his hand to address the San Francisco media after the loss, said there was plenty more that his side could've done to earn the win.

"I always look first at what we could've done better on defense," said Warner, who made seven tackles with one pass breakup for the 49ers. "I feel like we could've helped them out a lot on defense, getting the ball back for them or getting in a favorable position.

"At the end of the day," he added, "it always comes down to turnover margin. And when we have a goose egg on our side, it's always going to be tough to win."

Monday Night Football

New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys (1-1)

• Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham
• Simi Fehoko, WR, Brighton

Giants (2-0)

• No locals on the active roster

Sunday Night Football

Denver 11, San Francisco 10

Broncos (2-1)

• Garett Bolles, OT, Utah/Snow/Westlake: Started at left tackle

49ers (1-2)

• Fred Warner, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker made seven stops, one pass breakup on defense
• Mitch Wishnowsky, P, Utah: Punted seven times for 362 yards (51.7 yard average) with two touchbacks and three punts downed inside the 20, including a long kick of 74 yards

Carolina 22, New Orleans 14

Panthers (1-2)

• Brady Christensen, OT, BYU/Bountiful: Started at left guard

Saints (1-2)

• Taysom Hill, TE, BYU: Inactive for Week 3
• Daniel Sorensen, S, BYU: Reserve safety made two tackles on special teams
• Chase Hansen, LB, Utah/Lone Peak: Reserve linebacker played mostly on special teams
• Kaden Elliss, LB, Judge Memorial: Made one tackle on defense, one on special teams

Chicago 23, Houston 20

Bears (2-1)

• Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah: Inactive for Week 3
• Patrick Scales, LS, Utah State/Weber: Played nine snaps on special teams
• Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah/Murray: Started at left tackle

Texans (0-2-1)

• No locals on the active roster.

Indianapolis 20, Kansas City 17

Colts (1-1-1)

• Julian Blackmon, S, Utah/Layton: Starting safety made one tackle on special teams, was injured in the second quarter

Chiefs (2-1)

• No locals on the active roster.

Miami 21, Buffalo 19

Dolphins (3-0)

• Eric Rowe, S, Utah: Reserve safety made four tackles on defense

Bills (2-1)

• Zack Moss, RB, Utah: Reserve running back ran for 46 yards on four carries
• Taron Johnson, DB, Weber State: Starting safety made team-high six tackles on defense

Minnesota 28, Detroit 24

Vikings (2-1)

• No locals on the active roster.

Lions (1-2)

• Jamaal Williams, RB, BYU: Ran for 87 yards on 20 carries, including touchdown runs of 2 and 13 yards
• Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills: Started at right tackle

Baltimore 37, New England 26

Ravens (2-1)

• Tyler Huntley, QB, Utah: Active, but did not play
• Marcus Williams, S, Utah: Starting free safety had five tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup

Patriots (1-2)

• Harvey Langi, LB, BYU/Utah/Bingham: Reserve linebacker played mostly on special teams

Cincinnati 27, New York Jets 12

Bengals (1-2)

• Jalen Davis, CB, Utah State: Reserve cornerback played mostly on special teams
• Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham: Inactive for Week 3

Jets (1-2)

• Zach Wilson, QB, BYU/Corner Canyon: Inactive for Week 3

Tennessee 24, Las Vegas 22

Titans (1-2)

• No locals on the active roster.

Raiders (0-3)

• Jackson Barton, OT, Utah/Brighton: Inactive for Week 3
• Andre James, C, Herriman: Inactive for Week 3

Philadelphia 24, Washington 8

Eagles (3-0)

• Sua Opeta, OG, Weber State/Stansbury: Rotated on the offensive line
• Britain Covey, WR/PR, Utah/Timpview: Returned five punts for 34 yards (6.8 yard average) with two touchbacks and a long of 12 yards

Commanders (1-2)

• Dax Milne, WR, BYU/Bingham: Caught one pass for 12 yards, returned two punts with two fair catches

Jacksonville 38, LA Chargers 10

Jaguars (2-1)

• Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah: Starting linebacker had seven tackles, three pass breakups and a 10-yard interception return

Chargers (1-2)

• Michael Davis, BYU: Starting cornerback made 10 tackles on defense
• Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker had five tackles on defense
• Alohi Gilman, S, Orem: Reserve safety played mostly on special teams

LA Rams 20, Arizona 12

Rams (2-1)

• Terrell Burgess, S, Utah: Reserve safety made two tackles on defense
• Matt Gay, K, Utah/Utah Valley/Orem: Made field goals of 22 and 40 yards, with two PATs and kickoff duty
• Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State: Starting linebacker tied for the team-high with nine tackles on defense
• Jonah Williams, DE, Weber State: Reserve defensive lineman played mostly on special teams

Cardinals (1-2)

• Leki Fotu, DT, Utah/Herriman: Reserve defensive lineman made one tackle on defense

Atlanta 27, Seattle 33

Falcons (1-2)

• Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU: Ran for 25 yards on six carries off the bench, caught one pass for five yards

Seahawks (1-2)

• Cody Barton, LB, Utah/Brighton: Starting linebacker made five tackles on defense
• Bryan Mone, DT, Highland: Reserve defensive lineman made one tackle on defense

Green Bay 13, Tampa Bay 12

Packers (2-1)

• Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Active, but did not play
• Tipa Galeai, LB, Utah State: Reserve linebacker made one tackle on special teams
• Dallin Leavitt, S, Utah State/BYU: Reserve safety made one tackle on special teams

Buccaneers (2-1)

• No locals on the active roster.

Thursday Night Football

Cleveland 29, Pittsburgh 17

Browns (2-1)

• Sione Takitaki, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker made three tackles in 31 snaps on defense, added 22 snaps on special teams

Steelers (1-2)

• Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State/Snow/East: Ran for 30 yards on four carries, caught one pass in 12 offensive snaps
• Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah: Made one tackle in 19 snaps on special teams

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