SEC in the pros: AJ Green has career day against the Steelers

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 14 action last weekend:

OFFENSE

• Cam Newton: The Carolina quarterback dominated the New Orleans Saints in a crucial NFC South matchup. It turned out to be Newton’s best game of the season as he finished with 309 total yards and four total touchdowns.
• Matthew Stafford: Stafford took advantage of one of the NFL’s worst teams — the Tampa Bay Bucs — and threw for 311 yards and three touchdowns. He completed 26-of-34 passes in the Lions’ eighth win of the season.
• Jay Cutler: Chicago’s season hasn’t been much to write home about, but Cutler’s Week 14 performance should give Bears fans some hope. He torched the Dallas defense on Thursday Night Football for 341 yards and two touchdowns. The Bears still lost, however, 41-28.
• Arian Foster: The former Tennessee Vol helped the Texans to a 27-13 win over the Jaguars. Foster appears to be completely healed from his groin injury as he ran for 127 yards and one touchdown on 24 carries.
• AJ Green: No receiver had a bigger Sunday than AJ Green. He hauled in 11 receptions for 224 yards and one touchdown against the Steelers. His 224 receiving yards was a career-high and it was the third time in his last four games that he’s gone for more than 100 receiving yards.
• Odell Beckham: The former LSU wide receiver continues to have a stellar rookie season. He added another 100-yard game to his resume with 11 receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown against the Titans. It was his fourth 100-yard game of the season.

DEFENSE

• Rolando McClain: McClain continued his impressive comeback season with the Dallas Cowboys by recording a 10-tackle performance on Thursday Night Football in Dallas’ 41-28 win over the Bears. With the preseason injury to Sean Lee, McClain has stepped up big time for the Cowboys and has become the anchor of the linebacking corps.
• Sheldon Richardson: Not much has gone right for the New York Jets in 2014, but Richardson turned in a big performance in the Jets’ loss this weekend. He recorded seven total tackles, but had three sacks on the day.

Drew Laing

Drew Laing will be providing analysis and insight on Florida, Georgia, Missouri and South Carolina.