Locals in the NFL: Taron Johnson, takeaways turn the tide in the Bills’ win over the Patriots

AROUND THE SHIELD – Josh Allen didn’t have to make history with five touchdowns in Buffalo’s 24-21 win over New England.

The Bills defense did it for him.

Buffalo recovered two fumbles and added an interception, including Taron Johnson’s second defensive touchdown of the year, to power a 24-0 second-half run against the Patriots on Sunday afternoon.

New England (3-12) took an early 14-0 lead, but James Cook tied the game with two touchdowns as part of his 100-yard rushing day.

After the second, Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard forced a fumble, which set up Tyler Bass’ 50-yard field goal and gave Buffalo its first lead of the game. On the next drive, Cam Lewis intercepted New England quarterback Drew Maye in the end zone.

Then came the dagger. Standing at his own 8-yard line with 10:17 left, Maye attempted to throw a pass backwards to Rhamondre Stevenson, causing the running back to turn behind the line of scrimmage.

In a state of confession, an already lightning-quick Johnson pounced on the loose ball just inside the goal line, and the former Weber State star gave the Bills a 24-14 lead with his first touchdown since scoring on a pick on Nov. 6 that they would never give up again. 10 against the Colts.

“Guys just have a knack for getting the ball and once we see it, it’s in our minds the whole game,” Johnson told reporters after the game. “I feel like we did a good job of winning the ball today.”

Here’s how other outstanding former high school and college football players from Utah fared in Week 16 of the 2024 NFL regular season.

Football on Sunday evenings

Dallas 26, Tampa Bay 24

Cowboys (7-8)

• Nick Vigil, LB, Utah State/Fremont: The starting linebacker recorded a team-high 10 tackles, including five solo stops

Buccaneers (8-7)

• No locals in the active squad

Sunday afternoon

Cincinnati 24, Cleveland 6

Bengals (6-8)

• Ryan Rehkow, P, BYU: Punted four times for 206 yards (51.5 yards per punt) with a distance of 62 yards and one punt inside 20 yards
• Tanner McLachlan, TE, Southern Utah (via Arizona): Reserve tight end also played on special teams
• Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham (via USC): Reserve defensive tackle made a stop on a quarterback hit

Browns (3-11)

• Mohamoud Diabate, LB, Utah: The starting linebacker made four tackles on defense and two stops on special teams
• Winston Reid, LB, Weber State/Copper Hills: The starting linebacker made one tackle on special teams

Atlanta 34, New York 7

Falcons (8-7)

• Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU: The reserve tailback ran for 22 yards on 11 carries and caught one pass for 9 yards
• Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah: The reserve cornerback’s pass was defended
• Kaden Elliss, LB, Judge Memorial (via Idaho): The starting linebacker collected a team-high seven tackles, a sack, two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble

Giants (2-13)

• No locals in the active squad

Detroit 34, Chicago 17

Lions (12-2)

• Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills (via Oregon): Started with the right tackle
• Sione Vaki, RB, Utah: The reserve running back caught two passes for 20 yards and returned two kickoffs for 55 yards
• Tim Patrick, WR, Utah: The starting wide receiver was targeted once
• Jonah Williams, DE, Weber State: Inactive for week 16

Bears (4-10)

• Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah: Starting cornerback had three tackles
• Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah/Murray: Started at left tackle before exiting with an injury (ankle).
• Noah Sewell, LB, Orem (via Oregon): Inactive for week 16

Indianapolis 38, Tennessee 30

Colt (7-8)

• Blake Freeland, OT, BYU/Herriman: Reserve tackle was also played on special teams
• Julian Blackmon, S, Utah/Layton: The starting safety made three tackles
• Matt Gay, K, Utah/UVU/Orem: Scored a 31-yard field goal and five PATs with a tackle on a kickoff return

Titans (3-12)

• Gabe Jeudy-Lally, CB, BYU (via Tennessee): Inactive for week 16

Los Angeles 19, New York 9

Rams (9-6)

• Puka Nacua, WR, BYU/Orem: The starting receiver caught a team-high eight passes for 56 yards

Jets (4-11)

• No locals in the active squad

Washington 36, Philadelphia 33

Commanders (9-5)

• Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State: The starting linebacker recorded a team-high nine tackles, a quarterback hit and a team-high pass defended
• Michael Davis, CB, BYU: Inactive for week 16

Eagles (12-2)

• Great Britain Covey, WR/RS, Utah/Timpview: Inactive for week 16 (neck)

Carolina 36, ​​Arizona 30 (OT)

Panthers (3-11)

• Brady Christensen, OL, BYU/Bountiful: Started in the middle
• Deven Thompkins, WR/RS, Utah State: The reserve receiver caught one pass for 9 yards and returned two punts for 4 yards

Cardinals (7-7)

• Khyiris Tonga, DT, BYU/Granger: The reserve defenseman made three tackles

Minnesota 27, Seattle 24

Vikings (13-2)

• No locals in the active squad

Seahawks (8-7)

• Sataoa Laumea, OG, Utah: Started on the right side
• Jaren Hall, QB, BYU/Maple Mountain: Inactive for week 16

Buffalo 24, New England 21

Bills (12-3)

• Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State: The starting cornerback had three tackles and scored on a fumble recovery in the end zone
• Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah: The starting H-back caught a team-high four passes for 14 yards
• Cole Bishop, S, Utah: The starting safety made eight tackles with one tackle for loss

Patriots (3-12)

• Sione Takitaki, LB, BYU: The reserve linebacker recorded two tackles and a punt on special teams

Las Vegas 19, Jacksonville 13

Raiders (3-12)

• Andre James, OC, Herriman (via UCLA): Started in the middle
• Jackson Powers-Johnson, OG, Corner Canyon (via Oregon): Started on the left side

Jaguars (3-12)

• Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah: The starting linebacker made seven tackles

Miami 29, San Francisco 17

Dolphins (7-8)

• Tyler Huntley, QB, Utah: Active, but not played

49ers (6-9)

• Fred Warner, LB, BYU: The starting linebacker recorded a team-high 11 tackles

Saturday

Kansas City 27, Houston 19

Chiefs (14-1)

• Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU/Orem: Reserve tackle played five snaps on special teams

Texans (9-6)

• Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham (via Stanford): Starting tight end caught five passes for 45 yards and a touchdown

Baltimore 34, Pittsburgh 17

Ravens (10-5)

• Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU: Reserve linebacker totaled five tackles, 1.5 sacks, three quarterback hits and one fumble recovery
• Marcus Williams, S, Utah: Inactive for week 16

Steelers (10-5)

• Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State/Snow/East (via Oklahoma State): The reserve running back rushed for a team-high 48 yards on 12 carries, caught a team-high five catches for 44 yards, returned a kickoff for 34 yards and recovered a fumble
• Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah: Reserve safety played 18 snaps on special teams

Thursday

Los Angeles 34, Denver 27

Chargers (9-6)

• No locals in the active squad

Broncos (9-6)

• Zach Wilson, QB, BYU/Corner Canyon: Inactive for week 16
• Cody Barton, LB, Utah/Brighton: The starting linebacker recorded seven tackles and one tackle for loss
• Garett Bolles, OT, Utah/Snow/Westlake: The starting left tackle played all 64 snaps on offense
• Jonah Elliss, LB, Utah: The reserve linebacker had three tackles and one tackle for loss
• Devaughn Vele, WR, Utah: Reserve receiver caught two passes for 21 yards and a touchdown