Locals in the NFL: Jamaal Williams' 1st touchdown with Saints rankled Falcons. Here's why

AROUND THE SHIELD — Jamaal Williams led the NFL with 17 rushing touchdowns a year ago, breaking Barry Sanders' single-season record with the Lions in his final year in Detroit.

But his lone rushing touchdown after moving to New Orleans may have caused an even bigger stir.

The BYU graduate barreled into the end zone from a yard out to lift the New Orleans Saints to a 48-17 margin over Atlanta, which left Falcons coach Arthur Smith none-too-pleased postgame.

Smith confronted Saints head coach Dennis Allen at midfield after the game with an expletive-laced commentary that Allen simply responded with, "I understand," in attempts to apologize before the Atlanta coach stormed off in frustration.

But Allen explained to New Orleans media after the game that the plan after Tyrann Matheiu intercepted Atlanta backup Logan Woodside and returned the ball 74 yards to the Atlanta 1 was for quarterback Jameis Winston to kneel out the game in victory formation with 1:10 remaining.

"They did that on their own. That's not acceptable," Allen said, per the Associated Press, adding that Smith "should be" upset about it.

Winston said the decision to run the ball into the end zone was "a team decision" made by the players on the field after coaches had called a different play. But he didn't regret handing off the ball to the fun-loving native of Rialto, California, in his seventh season out of BYU.

"We know how much Jamaal means to this team," Winston said in the locker room. "I understood from DA's perspective, so I give him that, but he didn't condone it at all. We decided as a team to do it, and we had an interception to the 1-yard line; if we had scored (on the pick), would it have still been disrespectful? ... When you return the ball to the 1-yard line, you have an opportunity. We had that opportunity, we decided."

After the incident at midfield and following a cooling off period, Smith largely passed on any opportunity to criticize the Saints for the way the game ended, saying "they can do whatever they want" in his final media interviews before being dismissed as head coach later Sunday night in Atlanta.

Falcons defensive lineman Calais Campbell didn't take exception with Williams' touchdown, but said he wished the Saints hadn't deceptively lined up as if they were taking a knee before running it in.

"I was just frustrated with that because I just feel like there was a way to do it, if you're gonna do it," Campbell said.

Williams, who ran for 26 yards on 14 carries in Week 18, finished the regular season with 306 yards on 106 carries, a 2.9 yards-per-rush average after gashing the league for 1,066 yards with the Lions.

"I'm happy for Jamaal, but I understand the whole situation," Saints quarterback Derek Carr said. "I know that's not what (offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr.) called."

Here are other highlights from former Utah high school and college football players as the playoffs were cemented in the final week of the NFL's 2023 regular season:

• Former Weber State standout and Pro Bowl nominee Rashid Shaheedcaught three passes for a team-high 65 yards and a touchdown, and former BYU quarterback Taysom Hill accounted for 79 yards of offense in New Orleans' 48-17 win, but the Saints missed the playoffs with other results.
• Former BYU and Orem High receiver Puka Nacua caught four passes for 41 yards and a touchdown, breaking a 63-year-old NFL record for receiving yards and catches by a rookie in the Los Angeles Rams' 21-20 win over the San Francisco 49ers.
• Former Utah State quarterback Jordan Love threw for 316 yards and two touchdown passes to lead the Green Bay Packers to a 17-9 win over the Chicago Bears and clinch a wild-card berth in his first season as a full-time starter.
• Former Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid broke a 30-year record for most catches by a tight end in a single season in Buffalo Bills history with seven receptions for 84 yards in the Bills' 21-14 win over the Miami Dolphins to clinch the AFC East title.

Sunday Night Football

Buffalo 21, Miami 14

Bills (11-6)

• Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah: Starting tight end caught seven passes for 84 yards.
• Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State: Starting nickel tied for the team lead with nine tackle, including a tackle for loss.

Dolphins (11-6)

• Chris Brooks, RB, BYU: Reserve running back also played on special teams.

Sunday afternoon

Tampa Bay 9, Carolina 0

Buccaneers (9-8)

• Deven Thompkins, WR, Utah State: Reserve receiver caught one pass for 1 yard, added three fair catches on punt returns.

Panthers (2-15)

• No locals on the active roster.

Cincinnati 31, Cleveland 14

Bengals (9-8)

• Jalen Davis, CB, Utah State: Reserve cornerback made two tackles on defense.
• Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham (via USC): Reserve defensive tackle had two stops.

Browns (11-6)

• Sione Takitaki, LB, BYU: Active, but did not play.
• Mohamoud Diabate, LB, Utah: Starting linebacker had one tackle on defense.
• Siaki Ika, DT, East (via Baylor): Reserve nose tackle had a quarterback hit on defense.

Detroit 30, Minnesota 20

Lions (12-5)

• Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills (via Oregon): Pro Bowl offensive lineman started at right tackle.

Vikings (7-10)

• Jaren Hall, QB, BYU/Maple Mountain: Inactive for Week 18.
• Khyiris Tonga, DT, BYU/Granger: Starting defensive tackle had two stops, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hit on defense.
• Nick Vigil, LB, Utah State/Fremont: Reserve linebacker had a tackle on special teams.

New York 17, New England 3

Jets (7-10)

• Zach Wilson, QB, BYU/Corner Canyon: Inactive for Week 18 (concussion).

Patriots (4-13)

• No locals on the active roster.

New Orleans 48, Atlanta 17

Saints (9-8)

• Taysom Hill, TE, BYU: Starting tight end ran for 51 yards on six carries, caught a team-high four catches for 28 yards.
• Jamaal Williams, RB, BYU: Reserve running back ran for 26 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, caught three passes for 8 yards on offense.
• Rashid Shaheed, WR/RS, Weber State: Starting wide receiver caught three passes for a team-high 65 yards and a touchdown on offense, and returned two punts for 18 yards with a fair catch on special teams.
• Nephi Sewell, LB, Utah/Desert Hills: Placed on injured reserve (knee).

Falcons (7-10)

• Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU: Reserve running back ran for 24 yards on six carries, caught three passes for 10 yards on offense.
• Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah: Starting nickel totaled eight tackles and a pass defended.
• Kaden Elliss, LB, Judge Memorial (via Idaho): Starting linebacker had three tackles.

Tennessee 28, Jacksonville 20

Titans (6-11)

• No locals on the active roster.

Jaguars (9-8)

• Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah: Starting linebacker posted six tackles and a quarterback hit.

Seattle 21, Arizona 20

Seahawks (9-8)

• Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State: Starting linebacker posted a team-high 15 tackles.

Cardinals (4-13)

• Jackson Barton, OL, Utah/Brighton: Active, but did not play.
• Leki Fotu, DT, Utah/Herriman: Reserve nose tackle made three tackles on defense.

Green Bay 17, Chicago 9

Packers (9-8)

• Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Starting quarterback completed 27-of-32 passes for 316 yards and two touchdowns with a sack taken and a fumble
• Zayne Anderson, S, BYU/Stansbury: Reserve safety made one tackle on special teams.

Bears (7-10)

• Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah: Inactive for Week 18.
• Patrick Scales, LS, Utah State/Weber: Played six snaps on special teams.
• Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah/Murray: Started at left tackle.
• Noah Sewell, LB, Orem (via Oregon): Reserve linebacker also played on special teams.

Kansas City 13, Los Angeles 12

Chiefs (11-6)

• No locals on the active roster, but coached by former BYU offensive lineman and graduate assistant Andy Reid.

Chargers (5-12)

• Michael Davis, CB, BYU: Started at cornerback.
• Alohi Gilman, S, Orem (via Notre Dame): Starting safety had three tackles, an interception and two passes defended.

Las Vegas 27, Denver 14

Raiders (8-9)

• Andre James, OC, Herriman (via UCLA): Started at center.

Broncos (8-9)

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

New York 27, Philadelphia 10

Giants (6-11)

• No locals on the active roster.

Eagles (11-6)

• Sua Opeta, OG, Weber State/Stansbury: Rotated at offensive guard.
• Britain Covey, WR/RS, Utah/Timpview: Reserve receiver caught three passes for 35 yards on offense, returned one punt for 8 yards on three catches.

Los Angeles 21, San Francisco 20

Rams (10-7)

• Puka Nacua, WR, BYU/Orem: Starting receiver caught four passes for 41 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown.
• Jonah Williams, DE, Weber State: Starting defensive end had four tackles and a quarterback hit.

49ers (12-5)

• Fred Warner, LB, BYU: Pro Bowl-bound linebacker started at linebacker.
• Mitch Wishnowsky, P, Utah: Punted three times for 144 yards (48.0 yards per punt) with one punt downed inside the 20.

Dallas 38, Washington 10

Cowboys (12-5)

• No locals on the active roster.

Commanders (4-13)

• Cody Barton, LB, Utah/Brighton: Starting linebacker made eight tackles on defense.
• Terrell Burgess, S, Utah: Starting safety totaled 10 tackles on defense.

Saturday afternoon

Pittsburgh 17, Baltimore 10

Steelers (10-7)

• Jaylen Warren, RB, East/Snow/Utah State (via Oklahoma State): Reserve running back ran for 33 yards on nine carries, caught five passes for 17 yards with two fumbles (one lost) in 27 offensive snaps.
• Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah: Pro Bowl-bound special teams ace had four tackles and a quarterback hit in 25 defensive snaps and 22 on special teams.
• Eric Rowe, S, Utah: Starting safety made a team-high 12 tackles, defended a pass and forced a fumble.

Ravens (13-4)

• Tyler Huntley, QB, Utah: Starting quarterback completed 15-of-28 passes for 146 tards and a touchdown, ran for 40 yards with four sacks taken on offense.
• Marcus Williams, S, Utah: Starting safety had nine tackles and a pass defended in 62 defensive snaps.
• Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker had two tackles, a sack and a pass defended in 30 defensive snaps.

Houston 23, Indianapolis 19

Texans (10-7)

• Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham (via Stanford): Starting tight end caught five passes for 42 yards in 44 offensive snaps.

Colts (9-8)

• Blake Freeland, OT, BYU/Herriman: Reserve tackle played 21 snaps on offense, four on special teams.
• Matt Gay, K, Utah/UVU/Orem: Converted field goals of 38, 52 and 35 yards in nine snaps on special teams.
• Zack Moss, RB, Utah: Reserve running back ran for 30 yards on six carries in 11 offensive snaps.

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