Pro Bears Week 3

In Week 3 of the 2020 NFL season, 19 Cal Bears took the field again for 15 different teams. Veterans Aaron Rodgers and Cameron Jordan suited up against each other on Sunday Night Football, with Rodgers’ Packers sealing a 37-30 victory. Rodgers picked the Saints defense apart, connecting on a handful of beautiful bombs and thriving on rollout passes. Late in the game, Rodgers made some really clutch plays, drawing a pair of penalties to put Green Bay in the red zone with a lead with under four minutes to play. 

Keenan Allen was another shining Golden Bear, gaining 13 receptions, 132 yards, and a touchdown. Along the way he moved up to third on the Chargers’ all-time receptions list. Marvin Jones Jr also had a good game, making the game-winning catch for the Lions. Jaylinn Hawkins got his first career start and Devante Downs got a career-high 4 tackles. It was a solid weekend for the Bears.

Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers’ Packers are arguably the team to beat in the NFL, scoring at least 37 points in each of their first three games. Despite injuries at wide receiver, Rodgers found a way to get his team the win on Sunday, connecting on some classic Aaron Rodgers throws. In the play below, he lets it rip for 49 yards with zero hesitation on a play-action. This is Aaron Rodgers at his best:

Rodgers made some other nice throws, including a no look pass to his tight-end and a soft-handed lob for one of his other touchdowns. He finished 21/32 with 283 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Next week he’ll take on the Falcons for a Monday night showdown. 

Jared Goff

Goff had a tough matchup going against the undefeated Buffalo Bills. Despite leading the Rams out of a 28-3 deficit, the Bills inevitably won 35-32. Goff completed 23 of 32 passes for 321 yards, two touchdowns, a two-point conversion and an interception. He also rushed twice for four yards and a touchdown.

Goff struggled in the early going, throwing for just 94 yards and a pick in the first half en route to a 21-3 deficit. He turned it on in the third quarter, scoring on a one-yard QB sneak before hitting Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp for touchdowns of 25 and 16 yards , respectively. The latter was followed by a two point conversion, and the Rams pulled ahead 32-28 when the Rams starting running back capped a fourth consecutive touchdown run. Unfortunately for Goff and LA, the Bills responded with a game-winning touchdown drive of their own, but Goff will carry plenty of momentum into a Week 4 home date with the winless Giants. 

Keenan Allen

Allen caught 13 of his 19 targets for 136 yards and a touchdown in the 21-16 loss to the Panthers on Sunday. There should be no doubt who Justin Herbert’s favorite target is. Allen again proved to be invaluable to the rookie quarterback, routinely creating space with expert route running in the middle of the field. A myriad of crossing routes, which have been a staple in past years, were on full display as well, allowing for the savvy route runner to consistently find a way to get open.

The heavy target total for Allen isn’t something that will be repeatable considering the Chargers trailed for the majority of the game, but it’s obvious Allen’s stature as an NFL stat leader has not changed with the rookie under center.  

Marvin Jones Jr

    Jones caught all three of his targets for 51 yards during Sunday’s 26-23 win over the Cardinals. Jones finished fifth on the team in targets while ranking third in both receptions and receiving yards. He made the most of the looks he received, but his reduced role is a direct result of teammate Kenny Golladay, who led the league in touchdowns last year, making his season debut. With Golladay drawing attention from the Saints defense next Sunday, perhaps Jones will find himself called into action a bit more frequently. 

    In the second half of the Lions close win over the Cardinals, Jones Jr came in clutch to make two grabs in the Lions’ final game-winning drive. Tied 23 - 23, Stafford connected with Jones twice for 20 yards each. His final grab was made just inside the 30 yard line, where the Lions would run down the clock and kick a game-winning field goal with 4 seconds left on the clock. 

Tyson Alualu

    Tyson Alualu came back to Earth, registering just one tackle and one pass defense in the 3-0 Steelers’ win over the Houston Texans. He still remains a big part of a talented defense that shut out the Texans for the entire second half, and ranks first in the league in yards allowed per game, sacks per game, and fifth in points per game. He should have a big game next week against the Titans on Sunday. 

    Over the past three weeks, Alualu has served as a tremendous backup to the often-injured nose tackle Stephon Tuitt. Looking like the man who was a first-round pick many years ago, Tuitt’s play this year has helped solidify his resume as a big run-stopper. He readily sacrifices his body and opportunities to make head turning splash plays by anchoring well against the running game, often tying up multiple blockers and disrupting passing plays in the process. On the season Alualu has 8 solo tackles, 1 sack, 3 tackles for loss, 2 quarterback hits and 2 pass defenses. 

Cameron Jordan

Jordan had four tackles including a pair on the Saints’ one-yard line in a 37-30 loss to the Packers. Playing three games already, Jordan hasn’t gone this long without a sack to start a season since his rookie year. The Saints defense the last 17 times on the field has allowed 8 touchdowns, 5 field goals, and forced just 1 turnover and 1 punt. With 8 flags on Sunday night to add to that, a lot of work needs to be done. As the leader on defense, Jordan will look to improve next week against the 1-2 Lions.

Mitchell Schwartz

    Schwartz is one of three Golden Bears on this list remaining on an undefeated team, with Aaron Rodgers and Tyson Alualu as the other two. Beating the defending AFC East champions Ravens on Monday Night Football, Schwartz and his offensive line impressed, allowing zero sacks to the talented Ravens defense. The Chiefs did allow 4 pass hurries, but that can largely be attributed to QB Mahomes’ knack for running around in the pocket. Schwartz played well after giving up sacks in Weeks 1 and 2. He’ll look to move away from that next week in a heavy-weight showdown versus the Patriots. 

The Rookies

    Jaylinn Hawkins registered three tackles in his first career NFL start in the Falcon’s 30-26 loss to the Bears. Serving as the backup to injured strong safety Keanu Neal, Hawkins will have a lot of pressure on his shoulders as 0-3 Atlanta has struggled and ranks 31st against the pass. Ashtyn Davis was ruled out of Sunday’s game after leaving practice early on Wednesday with a groin injury. The third-round pick missed the first game of his career after missing practice Thursday and Friday. He’s played on 13 defensive snaps and has returned two kick-offs this year.

Other Cal Bears that played include:

• Stephen Anderson, TE, LA Chargers, 4th Season
  • Has played in all three games off the bench including a season-high 12 special teams snaps in a 23-20 Week 2 overtime loss to Kansas City when he contributed both of his special teams tackles on the season
• Bryan Anger, P, Houston Texans, 10^th Season
  • Averaged season highs of six punts, 48.5 yards per punt and 44.3 net yards per punt, as well booted as a season-long punt of 58 yards in a 28-21 Week 3 loss at Pittsburgh
• Devante Downs, LB, NY Giants, 3rd Season
  • Recorded a career-high four tackles in a 36-9 Week 3 loss to San Francisco
• DeSean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles, 13^th Season
  • Had two receptions for 11 yards and also a fair catch on a punt return in a 23-23 Week 3 home tie with Cincinnati that marked the third time in four career contests that teams he has played for have finished in ties with the Bengals (all three of his career)
• L.P. Ladouceur, LS, Dallas Cowboys, 16th Season
  • Has the NFL's longest current consecutive regular-season games played steak that is also tied for ninth all-time in the league at 240, having played in every regular-season game possible dating back to the final 13 contests of his 2005 rookie campaign all with Dallas
• Patrick Laird, RB, Miami Dolphins, 2nd Season
  • Played off the bench in a 31-13 Week 3 win at Jacksonville on Thursday Night Football but did not have any statistics other than participation, playing on one offensive and 15 special teams snaps
• Alex Mack, C, Atlanta Falcons, 12^th Season
  • Started his 83rd consecutive contest and played in all 68 offensive snaps in a 30-26 Week 3 loss to Chicago
• Patrick Mekari, G, Baltimore, 2^nd Season
  • Has played in all three games off bench
• Richard Rodgers, TE, Philadelphia, 7^th Season
  • Had his first receiving numbers of the season in a Week 3 23-23 tie with Cincinnati, recording two receptions for 15 yards
• Nick Sundberg, LS, Washington, 11^th Season
  • Has played in all three games this season with no stats other than participation and been in on 27 special teams snaps that he has made