Chris Boswell and Vance McDonald helped Pittsburgh match its best start in team history while Boswell moved past a Steeler legend to highlight action for the Owls in the eighth week of NFL action. On the flip side, McDonald's former running mate at tight end with Rice (Luke Willson) was released by the Seahawks after appearing in five games this season.
THIS WEEK IN NFL BIRTHDAYS
King Hill (11/8)
This week's trivia question is a two-parter…. Boswell's four points on Sunday moved him past 600 career points and past a Steeler's legend into fourth place on Pittsburgh's career scoring list. Can you name the player Boswell passed, and name the former Rice standout who was drafted by Pittsburgh in the same year as this player?
Before you find the answer, here's a rundown on the rest of the Owls in Week Eight.
Calvin Anderson—The first Owl offensive lineman to appear in the league since Courtney Hall from 1989-96 Andersen made his debut vs. Tennessee in the opener on special teams and has continued in that role in each of the first seven games, playing a career-best seven snaps in the win over the Jets on October 1. The Broncos travel to face Atlanta this Sunday at noon. (CBS)
Chris Boswell—Boswell and fellow Owl Vance McDonald helped the Steelers remain the NFL's lone remaining unbeaten team with a 28-24 win at Baltimore. Pittsburgh's 7-0 start matches the 1978 Super Bowl champs for the best start in franchise history. The Steelers travel to Dallas on Sunday to face the Ravens at 3:25. (CBS)
Bryce Callahan- Callahan has been a model of consistency in 2020, playing every defensive snap through seven games. He matched his career high by picking off his second pass of the season in the end zone to help set the stage for a dramatic fourth quarter rally for the Broncos over the Chargers. The Broncos travel to face Atlanta this Sunday at noon. (CBS)
Christian Covington—Covington made his sixth start of the year and fifth consecutive and matched his season best with four tackles as the Bengals surprised Tennessee 31-20. His six starts match his career best set last season with the Cowboys. The Bengals will be off this weekend. THIS WEEK IN NFL BIRTHDAYS
Scott Solomon (11/5) Jack Fox—So good has his season been to this point that Fox averaged 52.4 yards on five punts in the Lions 41-21 loss to Indianapolis and saw his average "drop" to 53.2. He continues to lead the NFL in punting (53.2) and net punting (47.6) The Lions travel to take on Minnesota on Sunday at noon. (CBS)
Phillip Gaines— The Texans were idle last weekend and return to action on Sunday when they travel to Jacksonville for a noon kickoff. (CBS)
Vance McDonald— McDonald did not catch a pass in Sunday's win at Baltimore and remains four yards shy of reaching 2,000 in his NFL career. The Steelers travel to Dallas on Sunday to face the Ravens at 3:25. (CBS)
Andrew Sendejo— Has played every defensive snap for the Browns in the first eight games and was credited with five tackles in the Browns' 16-6 loss to Las Vegas. He moved into a tie with Courtney Hall for 11th on the Owls career list of NFL games played with 118. Larry Izzo holds the school mark with 200 games. The Browns are idle this weekend.
NFL Debut
Tommy Kramer (11/6/77)Luke Willson— Willson saw action on seven special teams snaps in the Seahawks 37-27 win over San Francisco but was released the following Tuesday. He is one game from reaching 100 career games in the NFL.
Rice has had nine players see action in 2020, matching the most Owls to play in an NFL season. Nine Owls saw action in 2015 to set a school record, but only eight were active for the opening weekend. Rice also had nine former players active in professional football between the NFL and AFL in 1961 and nine between the NFL and the All American Football Conference in 1948.
Answer— Boswell's four points on Sunday gave him 602 in his career and moved him past Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris into fourth on the Steelers career scoring list. The three players in front of him were all kickers (Gary Anderson, 1343; Jeff Reed 919; Roy Gerela 731). Harris was the Steelers first pick in 1972. Nine picks later, they selected running back Stahle Vincent from Rice in the eighth round.
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