SEC in the pros: Best performances from NFL’s Week 6 action

The SEC has produced more current NFL players than any other conference in America, and many of the Southeast’s former stars have continued to shine at football’s highest level.

Here are the best performances by SEC alums throughout the NFL in Week 6 action last weekend:

OFFENSE

• Jay Cutler: The former Vanderbilt quarterback led all NFL passers with 381 yards in the Chicago Bears’ 27-13 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. Cutler threw one touchdown pass and did not turn the ball over in the victory, amassing a quarterback rating of 109.6 for the game.
• Cam Newton: Auburn’s former national championship quarterback put his slow start to the 2014 season behind him, posting his best numbers of the season in a 37-37 tie with the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. He passed for 284 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Panthers offense, and although he threw an interception, he added 107 yards and a touchdown on the ground to keep the Bengals defense off balance all game. Newton led the Panthers to a field goal on their only possession in overtime, but was stuck watching on the sideline as the game ended in a tie.
• Arian Foster: The former Tennessee star had his fourth 100-yard game of the season last Thursday night against the Indianapolis Colts, rushing for 109 yards and two touchdowns in a 33-28 loss. Foster also caught three passes for 32 yards, including a 28-yard reception to aid the Texans in their close defeat.
• Darren McFadden: Arkansas’ former superstar rusher had an above-average game for the Oakland Raiders Sunday, rushing for 80 yards in a three-point loss to San Diego. McFadden failed to get into the end zone against the Chargers, and the Raiders are one of two NFL teams still searching for their first win of 2014.
• Isaiah Crowell: The former Georgia (and Alabama State) star had his best game as a pro, rushing for 77 yards and a touchdown in the Cleveland Browns’ 31-10 rout of the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday. Crowell’s previous career high for rushing was a 55-yard performance against the Baltimore Ravens earlier this season. The touchdown against Pittsburgh was Crowell’s fourth in five games.
• Alshon Jeffery: Jeffery was yet another former Gamecock to have a big day on Sunday, catching six passes for 97 yards and a touchdown in Chicago’s victory over Atlanta. He has now scored touchdowns in back to back weeks after being held scoreless in the first three weeks of the season.

DEFENSE

• Reggie Nelson: The former Florida star made plays all over the field in the Bengals’ awkward tie with Carolina on Sunday. Nelson had a season-high 11 tackles against the Panthers, and also pulled in an interception that he returned 31 yards to set up a score by the Cincinnati offense. He added two passes defended, but couldn’t help push the Bengals over the top in the 37-37 tie.
• Karlos Dansby: Auburn’s former star safety was huge in Cleveland’s win over Pittsburgh, registering 11 tackles and a sack in the Browns’ second straight victory. It was Dansby’s second sack of 2014, and his second game with at least 10 tackles.
• Kendrick Lewis: The former Ole Miss safety only made three tackles in Houston’s loss to Indianapolis last Thursday, but he also forced a fumble and pulled in an interception to help keep the Texans close on the scoreboard by game’s end. It was Lewis’ first interception of the season, but his third forced fumble from the back-end of Houston’s defense.

Ethan Levine

A former newspaper reporter who has roamed the southeastern United States for years covering football and eating way too many barbecue ribs, if there is such a thing.