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Marshon Lattimore helped the New Orleans Saints get back to their winning ways this week with five tackles (one for a big loss of yardage), three pass breakups (bringing him up to 13 on the season), and a win-securing interception in the closing minutes. Lattimore was instrumental in limiting the Jets to field goals on several drives following Saints turnovers, calling out plays to the rest of the secondary and making plays downhill as a tackler.
.@saints @shonrp2 doesn’t believe in 50/50 When the is in the air he believes he should catch it. Can you just feel the ❤️ in this kid? #BaldyBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/6vnDm36I7F
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) December 18, 2017
So it’s no surprise that he’s been nominated for the NFL’s Pepsi-sponsored Rookie of the Week Award again. You can vote for Lattimore by following this link.
Lattimore’s competition for the award includes Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White; the LSU Tigers graduate has tied Lattimore for the lead in interceptions (three) among rookies despite playing three more games. Those two should be in tight competition for Defensive Rookie of the Year honors down the stretch.
.@Saints @shonrp2 teaches YOU/ME about the game of football because he was taught well and it shows. #BaldyBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/tJGQ9fE162
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) December 18, 2017
On offense, Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt had his fifth good game of the year with 207 yards of offense and two scores on 31 combined touches. Carolina Panthers slot receiver Christian McCaffrey broke the 100-yard mark for the second time this year on 136 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown. Wide receiver Keelan Cole came out of nowhere to help the Jacksonville Jaguars blow out the Houston Texans with a score and 186 yards.
The Saints’ dynamic rookie class has effectively owned this award for most of the season, with Lattimore and running back Alvin Kamara trading it off early in the season before Kamara went on an unprecedented tear, winning it five weeks in a row. Rookie safety Justin Hardee also chimed in with a Special Teams Rookie of the Week nod back in Week Nine.
So let’s revive that streak, yeah? Would be nice to build a little more positive mojo with the playoffs on the horizon. Vote Lattimore:
1 INT
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) December 19, 2017
5 tackles (one tackle for loss)
3 pass breakups
Vote for @shonrp2 for @NFL Rookie of the Week! -> https://t.co/NucriBnFpf#GoSaints@OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/luYDrzDSrJ