Penn football alumni Brandon Copeland, currently a linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons, faces his former team the Patriots in Week 11.
As the 2021-22 NFL season continues on to its 11th week, let’s look at some Penn alumni and their work in the league.
Brandon Copeland — Linebacker, Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons have gone 2-1 in the last three games since our last roundup. The defense has given up 87 points in that stretch, notably giving up 43 to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 10. The Falcons narrowly escaped their rivals the Saints, after securing and then blowing an early lead — Atlanta kicked a last-second field goal to come away with the win. Copeland has recorded at least one solo tackle in each of the last three games, with four coming in Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints.
Coming up next week, Copeland and the Falcons will face his former team, the New England Patriots, on Thursday Night Football — in the "Copeland Revenge Game." The 4-5 Falcons will hope to get back into the win column and hope to shake up the NFC South with a win.
Greg Van Roten — Guard, New York Jets
Over the last three weeks, the Jets have fallen to a 2-7 record. The Jets have given up 121 points while only scoring 81. They were able to secure a slim victory over the Bengals but lost to the Colts and Bills in consecutive weeks. Notably, rookie quarterback Zach Wilson has not played in the last three weeks, after becoming injured with quarterback Mike White getting the start
Van Roten has started in the last three games, but over the last three games the offensive line has allowed White to be sacked three times, with two coming against the Bengals.
The Jets and their offensive line will hope to get back on track next week when they play the 3-7 Miami Dolphins.
Justin Watson — Wide Receiver, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Watson is still waiting on the Physically Unable to Perform list for the Buccaneers after a knee surgery in July. It is unknown how much of an impact he will make when he makes his season debut.
The Buccaneers have gone 2-1 in the last three weeks, bringing their record to 6-3, good enough for first in the NFC South. Shockingly, in Week 10, Tampa Bay lost to the 3-6 Washington Football Team by a score of 29-19. The Bucs will have a bit of a break before their next game on Monday Nov. 22 against the Giants in New York.
Kevin Stefanski — Head Coach, Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns have played against tough in-conference competition since our last roundup. Stefanski and the Browns have dropped to a 5-5 record. The Browns have gone 1-2 in the last three games, with one big 41-16 victory against the 5-4 Bengals. In Week 8, the Browns were unable to put away a lead in a crucial division matchup, losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Similarly, in Week 10, the New England Patriots put up 45 unanswered points after the Browns scored on the opening possession.
Stefanski and his team will hope to get back in the win column next week when they play a struggling 0-8-1 Detroit Lions team. The Browns need to get back on track in the coming weeks in order to capture the division crown in a tough AFC North or eke out a wildcard spot.
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