Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders in the NFL: Week 8 Recap
October 29, 2014 | Football
Manuel Ramirez and Louis Vasquez boosted a Denver offensive line last week that failed to surrender a sack in a 35-21 victory over the San Diego Chargers. The Broncos currently rank second in the NFL with only eight sacks allowed this year.
Oct. 29, 2014
Week 8 Matchup: Bills 43, Jets 23
Amaro led the Jets with five catches for 51 yards Sunday in New York's 43-23 loss at home to the Buffalo Bills. Amaro's day was boosted by a 20-yard catch from Michael Vick late in the first quarter that set up a Jets touchdown. The performance marked the fourth time already this season where Amaro has totaled at least 50 yards in receiving yards. He leads all NFL rookie tight ends this year with 32 receptions for 285 yards and a touchdown. His 32 receptions lead all Jets players while his 285 yards are second only behind Eric Decker. The Jets will look to snap a seven-game losing streak this Sunday when New York travels to face the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Amaro played three seasons at Texas Tech (2011-13) before being drafted in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
Danny Amendola (WR) - New England Patriots
Week 8 Matchup: Patriots 51, Bears 23
Amendola caught two passes for five yards Sunday as the Patriots routed the Chicago Bears, 51-23, for their sixth win already this season. Amendola now has seven receptions this season as he has totaled 47 yards through the air for the Patriots, who are 6-2 heading into a Sunday showdown with the Denver Broncos. Amendola previously caught his first touchdown of the season in Week 7 as he was on the receiving end of a 19-yard reception from Tom Brady. Amendola played four seasons at Texas Tech (2004-07) before signing as an undrafted free agent in 2008 with the Dalas Cowboys. He signed with the Patriots prior to the 2013 season after spending the previous four years with the St. Louis Rams.
Students at Taylor Elementary #Boston loved meeting and reading w/ @DannyAmendola and @CatchesforKids! pic.twitter.com/HIWuozUhZC
-- Conventures (@Conventures) October 28, 2014Michael Crabtree (WR) - San Francisco 49ers
Week 8 Matchup: Open
Crabtree and the 49ers were idle during Week 8 as San Francisco returns home Sunday afternoon to host the St. Louis Rams at Levi's Stadium. Crabtree has been a regular target for the 49ers, who are 4-3 this season following a Week 7 loss to the Denver Broncos. Crabtree has 32 receptions, three of which that have gone for touchdowns, this year for 322 yards. The two-time Biletnikoff Award winner played two seasons at Tech (2007-08) before being selected with the 10th overall pick by San Francisco in the 2009 NFL Draft.
Cody Davis (DB) - St. Louis Rams
Week 8 Matchup: Chiefs 34, Rams 7
Davis and his fellow Rams had a difficult day this past Sunday as Kansas City routed St. Louis, 34-7, at Arrowhead Stadium. Davis recorded a tackle, his second this season, in the loss as he saw action for the seventh time already this year. Davis, who has played a crucial role for the Rams this year on special teams, has also been inserted in the defensive secondary as well as he previously recovered a fumble on Sept. 21 against the Dallas Cowboys. Davis was a four-year letterman with the Red Raiders (2009-12) before signing an undrafted free agent agreement with the Rams in 2013.
Small Town Hero: Cody Davis #Rams #StLouis http://t.co/DSiWp4F6I6
-- Rams blogger (@Ramsblogger1) October 22, 2014
Week 8 Matchup: Broncos 35, Chargers 21
The Broncos recorded 425 yards of total offense last Thursday night as Denver was able to take a commanding lead early in the third quarter of a 35-21 victory over the San Diego Chargers. The Denver offensive line failed to surrender a sack in the win despite 35 pass attempts from Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning. Through seven games this season, Ramirez and his fellow offensive linemen have allowed opposing defenses to record just eight sacks which is tied for the second-fewest so far in the NFL. The Broncos, who are 6-1 this season heading into a Sunday afternoon showdown at New England, are meanwhile averaging 398.4 yards per game which ranks sixth in the league. Ramirez played four seasons at Texas Tech (2003-06) before being selected in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions.
Louis Vasquez (OL) - Denver Broncos
Week 8 Matchup: Broncos 35, Chargers 21
The Broncos recorded 425 yards of total offense last Thursday night as Denver was able to take a commanding lead early in the third quarter of a 35-21 victory over the San Diego Chargers. The Denver offensive line failed to surrender a sack in the win despite 35 pass attempts from Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning. Through seven games this season, Vasquez and his fellow offensive linemen have allowed opposing defenses to record just eight sacks which is tied for the second-fewest so far in the NFL. The Broncos, who are 6-1 this season heading into a Sunday afternoon showdown at New England, are meanwhile averaging 398.4 yards per game which ranks sixth in the league. Vasquez played four seasons at Texas Tech (2005-08) before being selected in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers.
LaAdrian Waddle (OL) - Detroit Lions
Week 8 Matchup: Lions 22, Falcons 21
Waddle was held out of Detroit's 22-21 come-from-behind victory Sunday over the Atlanta Falcons that was played in London's Wembley Stadium. Waddle previously suffered a head injury during Detroit's 24-23 victory over New Orleans just a week prior and was held out for precautionary reasons. The right tackle, who has started four games for the Lions this year, was able to make the trip overseas to London. Waddle played four seasons at Texas Tech (2009-12) before being signed by the Lions as an undrafted free agent.
Wes Welker (WR) - Denver Broncos
Week 8 Matchup: Broncos 35, Chargers 21
Welker was on the receiving end of two passes for five yards last Thursday night in Denver's 35-21 victory over the San Diego Chargers. Welker was targeted just two times a week after he caught the 508th touchdown pass of Peyton Manning's career, which tied the NFL career passing touchdown record at the time. Welker now has 19 receptions for 181 yards this year in only five games. Now in his 10th year in the NFL, Welker has 860 receptions during his career which is the most ever by an undrafted player in league history. He previously passed former Denver Broncos wideout Rod Smith, who caught 849 passes during his career. Welker is in his second season with the Broncos after spending the previous six years with the New England Patriots. The former Red Raider has totaled an impressive 9,480 yards and 49 touchdowns during his career. Welker spent four seasons at Tech (2000-03) before being signed as an undrafted free agent in 2004 by the San Diego Chargers.
