Locals in the NFL: Tyler Allgeier's 1st receiving TD helps Falcons to Week 8 win

AROUND THE SHIELD — A week after scoring his first NFL touchdown on the ground for the Atlanta Falcons, Tyler Allgeier doubled his total tally with another through the air.

The former BYU running back caught a 25-yard touchdown pass in the Atlanta Falcons' 37-34 overtime win Sunday over the Carolina Panthers in Week 8.

With the win, the Falcons (4-4) snuck to the top of the NFC South. Atlanta is the only team in the division with a .500 record, one game ahead of 3-5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints, with 2-6 Carolina trailing.

The Falcons never led by more than four until a 14-10 halftime lead after a pick six. The Panthers opened the second half with a field goal, but Allgeier stretched the lead to a game-high 21-13 with the first touchdown catch of his career.

Allgeier, the fifth-round pick from Fontana, California, whose BYU career began as a preferred walk-on before moving to linebacker and back to running back, caught three passes for 36 yards and also ran for 39 yards on 14 carries.

The rookie connected with quarterback Marcus Mariota on a third-quarter screen pass, followed two blockers up field, then sprinted toward the left corner pylon ahead of another would-be tackler with 1:40 on the clock.

But the Panthers came back when PJ Walker tied the game on a last-ditch 62-yard Hail Mary pass to D.J. Moore on the final play from scrimmage. Moore saw a flag for excessive celebration, pushing the extra-point attempt back enough to miss a chance to win with 12 seconds on the clock, and the two teams went to a mistake-filled overtime session.

That set up Younghoe Kim for a 41-yard field goal, which the former Alliance of American Football standout booted through the uprights to give Atlanta their fourth win of the year and the No. 1 spot in the NFC South.

"It was one of the craziest games I've ever been a part of," Falcons coach Arthur Smith said. "Happy to get the win any way we can, but I think I got a little grayer today."

After the game, Allgeier exchanged jerseys with former BYU teammate Brady Christensen, the second-year offensive guard for the Panthers. The duo played key roles in the Cougars' 2020 season, the 11-1 campaign that helped launch several NFL careers.

Allgeier wasn't the only former local running back to find the end zone Sunday. The Cougars' all-time leading rusher Jamaal Williams scored two touchdowns in the Lions' 31-27 loss to Miami, and former East High star Jaylon Warren led the Steelers on the ground.

Not a running back, but former BYU quarterback Taysom Hill — now settled in at tight end in New Orleans — led the Saints with 6.1 yards per carry for 61 yards on 10 carries in a 24-0 shutout of the Raiders.

Here's how other former high school and college football standouts from Utah fared in Week 8 of the 2022 NFL regular season.

Teams on bye

• Kansas City Chiefs (5-2)
• Los Angeles Chargers (4-3)

Monday Night Football

Cleveland 32, Cincinnati 13

Browns (3-5)

• Sione Takitaki, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker posted a team-high 13 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble

Bengals (4-4)

• Jalen Davis, CB, Utah State: Reserve cornerback played mostly on special teams
• Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham: Started at linebacker

Sunday Night Football

Buffalo 27, Green Bay 17

Bills (6-1)

• Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State: Starting nickel had seven tackles and a tackle for loss on defense
• Zack Moss, RB, Utah: Active, but did not play in Week 8

Packers (3-5)

• Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Active, but did not play in Week 8
• Dallin Leavitt, S, Utah State/BYU: Reserve safety played mostly on special teams

Seattle 27, New York 13

Seahawks (5-3)

• Cody Barton, LB, Utah/Brighton: Reserve linebacker had five tackles, a sack and a quarterback hit on defense, one tackle on special teams
• Bryan Mone, DT, HIghland: Reserve defensive lineman had one tackle on defense

Giants (6-2)

• No locals on the active roster

San Francisco 31, Los Angeles 14

49ers (4-4)

• Fred Warner, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker posted team-high 12 tackles, a sack, two quarterback hits and a pass breakup on defense
• Mitch Wishnowsky, P, Utah: Punted three times for 123 yards, all downed inside the 20, plus kickoff and holder duties

Rams (3-4)

• Matt Gay, K, Utah/UVU/Orem: Made two extra points, plus kickoff duties
• Terrell Burgess, S, Utah: Reserve safety played mostly on special teams
• Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State: Starting linebacker totaled five tackles and a pass breakup on defense
• Jonah Williams, DE, Weber State: Reserve defensive lineman played mostly on special teams

Washington 17, Indianapolis 16

Commanders (4-4)

• Dax Milne, WR/PR, BYU/Bingham: Reserve receiver caught one pass for 4 yards, returned three punts for 23 yards with one fair catch
• Tyler Larsen, OC, Utah State/Jordan: Started at center

Colts (3-4-1)

• Julian Blackmon, FS, Utah/Layton: Reserve safety made two tackles on defense, one on special teams

Philadelphia 35, Pittsburgh 13

Eagles (7-0)

• Sua Opeta, OG, Weber State/Stansbury: Reserve guard rotated on offense and special teams
• Britain Covey, WR/PR, Utah/Timpview: Returned three kicks for 67 yards, one punt for 5 yards with one fair catch

Steelers (2-6)

• Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State/Snow/East: Reserve running back had team-high 50 yards on six carries, caught three passes for 25 yards, and made a tackle on interception return
• Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah: Reserve safety played mostly on special teams

New England 22, New York 17

Patriots (4-4)

• No locals on the active roster

Jets (5-3)

• Zach Wilson, QB, BYU/Corner Canyon: Starting quarterback completed 20-of-41 passes for 355 yards and two touchdowns with three interceptions and two sacks, ran for 2-yard gain on one carry on offense

New Orleans 24, Las Vegas 0

Saints (3-5)

• Taysom Hill, TE, BYU: Reserve tight end averaged team-high 6.1 yards for 61 rushing yards, caught one pass for 11 yards, and made one completion for 2 yards on offense
• Rashid Shaheed, WR, Weber State: Starting wide receiver caught three passes for 38 yards on offense, returned two punts for 15 yards with three fair catches on special teams
• Chase Hansen, LB, Utah/Lone Peak: Reserve linebacker made one tackle on special teams
• Kaden Elliss, LB, Judge Memorial: Starting linebacker had one tackle, quarterback hit on defense

Raiders (2-5)

• Andre James, OC, Herriman: Started at center
• Jackson Barton, OT, Utah/Brighton: Inactive for Week 8

Minnesota 34, Arizona 26

Vikings (6-1)

• Khyiris Tonga, DT, BYU/Granger: Reserve defensive lineman had a quarterback hit that forced an interception

Cardinals (3-5)

• Leki Fotu, DT, Utah/Herriman: Starting defensive tackle had five tackles on defense, blocked a field goal on special teams

Miami 31, Detroit 27

Dolphins (5-3)

• Eric Rowe, DB, Utah: Inactive for Week 8

Lions (1-6)

• Jamaal Williams, RB, BYU: Starting running back ran for 53 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries, added three catches for 23 yards on offense
• Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills: Started at right tackle

Dallas 49, Chicago 29

Cowboys (5-2)

• Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham: Starting tight end caught team-high six passes for 74 yards

Bears (3-4)

• Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah: Starting cornerback had one tackle, one pass breakup on defense
• Braxton Jones, OL, Southern Utah/Murray: Started at left tackle
• Patrick Scales, LS, Utah State/Weber: Made one tackle in nine snaps on special teams

Denver 21, Jacksonville 17

Broncos (3-5)

• No locals on the active roster

Jaguars (2-6)

• Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah: Starting linebacker totaled five tackles, one quarterback hurry

Thursday Night Football

Baltimore 27, Tampa Bay 22

Ravens (5-3)

• Tyler Huntley, QB, Utah: Active, but did not play

Buccaneers (3-5)

• No locals on the active roster

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