Those who stayed up late by the lightning delay noticed a thriller of a Sunday Night Football Game, with Dallas scoring within the closing 30 seconds to beat Pittsburgh, 20-17.
They additionally noticed a full allotment of Wisconsin-connected soccer gamers.
From a milestone for Pewaukee native T.J. Watt to an enormous play by a Dallas fullback from rural Wisconsin to a different strong day from Cowboys tight finish Jake Ferguson, this is what you missed when you went to mattress early.
T.J. Watt turns into second quickest participant to 100 profession NFL sacks
If we did not already attain this level, it feels secure to start out referring to Pewaukee and University of Wisconsin alumnus T.J. Watt as “future Hall of Famer,” identical to his older brother.
Watt reached 100 profession NFL sacks with a strip sack of Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott within the second quarter, making him the second-fastest participant to achieve that mark. He turned the feat in 109 video games, with solely Reggie White (96) reaching that plateau sooner. DeMarcus Ware wanted 113 video games to hit 100, whereas Bruce Smith wanted 115, J.J. Watt 120, Lawrence Taylor 122, Jared Allen 122 and Von Miller 124.
Among these on the record who're eligible, solely Allen will not be a Hall of Famer.
Not to be misplaced within the shuffle was that Nick Herbig joined him in registering the half-sack and compelled fumble. The Hawaii native performed for the Wisconsin Badgers, as nicely.
T.J. later registered a second sack within the recreation and now has 4.5 for the yr and 101 in his profession. Big brother accredited of his arrival within the 100-sack membership.
Hunter Luepke places Dallas on the doorstep of an exciting win
The solely downside is that Pittsburgh did not win the sport.
Prescott rallied the Cowboys for a 4th and aim landing within the closing seconds on a move to Jalen Tolbert, a 4-yard completion that tipped the scales. The Cowboys arrived contained in the 5-yard line due to a checkdown move to Hunter Luepke, the 2023 undrafted free agent from North Dakota State who attended Spencer High School and performed for the co-op between Spencer and Columbus Catholic.
Luepke already has seven receptions this yr for 91 yards, plus 4 rushes for an additional 14 yards and eight complete first downs. He's enjoying simply greater than half of the Cowboys' offensive snaps.
Jake Ferguson continues sturdy yr as Dallas tight finish
Former Badgers standout and Madison Memorial alumnus Jake Ferguson closed the yr in a giant manner final yr when he caught a career-best 10 passes towards the Packers within the postseason, en path to 93 yards and three touchdowns. He's continued racking up stats in 2024.
Though he missed a recreation with harm in Week 2, Ferguson is as much as 22 catches for 229 yards this season, although he is nonetheless in search of his first landing. Against the Steelers, he introduced in six balls on seven targets for 70 yards.
Isaiahh Loudermilk blocks Dallas field-goal try
Defensive deal with Isaiahh Loudermilk, a local of Kansas who performed for Wisconsin, blocked a 38-yard area aim try by Dallas star field-goal kicker Brandon Aubrey within the third quarter.
Loudermilk sees the sector of 17% of defensive snaps and 31% on particular groups; he is acquired a move defended and 5 tackles this yr.
With Watt and Loudermilk, the Steelers all advised have 4 Badgers contributing to Pittsburgh's protection.
Keeanu Benton, a local of Janesville, has began 4 of the 5 video games and has 10 tackles whereas enjoying a good half of Pittsburgh's defensive snaps.
Herbig has began two video games this yr, with a compelled fumble, fumble restoration and a couple of.5 sacks. He performs often on particular groups and sees the sector for simply lower than half of Pittsburgh's defensive snaps.
Did you see Andrew Van Ginkel's pick-six of Aaron Rodgers in London?
In different motion Sunday, Andrew Van Ginkel's pick-six for Minnesota loomed giant when the Vikings defeated Aaron Rodgers and the Jets, 23-17, in London.
Playing at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the place the Packers performed two seasons in the past, the previous UW participant picked off Rodgers and ran 63 yards the opposite manner for a landing that noticed the Vikings a 10-0 lead. It was considered one of three interceptions Rodgers threw within the loss.
Van Ginkel performed his first 5 NFL seasons with the Miami Dolphins earlier than becoming a member of the Vikings this yr on a two-year deal. He's began all 5 video games at linebacker, with now two interceptions returned for touchdowns, three sacks, 19 tackles and three complete passes defended.
Alec Ingold scores go-ahead landing for Dolphins
Bay Port High School alumnus and former Badgers fullback Alec Ingold acquired into the tip zone for an enormous Dolphins rating Sunday, plowing up the intestine on 1st and aim for a fourth-quarter rating that gave his group a 15-10 lead over New England with 4:24 to play.
That wound up being the ultimate rating
Ingold solely has three receptions and 6 rushes this yr, however his main process is to dam, which earned him a spot on final yr's Pro Bowl roster.
