Emeka Egbuka | WR | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buckeye wide receiver bloodline continues to dominate Sundays.
In Tampa Bay’s 38–35 shootout win over Seattle, rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka looked like a star in full bloom — catching all seven targets for 163 yards and a touchdown, including a 57-yard grab that flipped momentum for the Bucs in the second half.
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Egbuka’s impact on Tampa Bay’s offense has been immediate and electric. The 19th overall pick has become Baker Mayfield’s most trusted target and a mismatch nightmare for defenses. He’s the only rookie in NFL history with at least 25 receptions and five touchdowns through his first five games.
His 445 receiving yards and five scores place him in rare air — only Ja’Marr Chase (2021), Terry McLaurin (2019), and Randy Moss (1998) have reached 400 yards in the past 40 years.
Egbuka isn’t just chasing Rookie of the Year honors, he’s already performing like one of the league’s most complete receivers. His chemistry with Mayfield looks seasoned, and his confidence is growing by the week.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba | WR | Seattle Seahawks
On the opposite sideline, Jaxon Smith-Njigba reminded the world that he’s still very much part of the NFL’s elite receiver conversation.
The Seahawks’ playmaker kept pace with his fellow Buckeye, hauling in eight receptions for 132 yards and a touchdown. He repeatedly extended drives with clutch third-down grabs and almost engineered a comeback on his own.
After Egbuka’s score put Tampa Bay up 21-14, Smith-Njigba fired back — torching the Bucs’ secondary for a 53-yard deep strike that reignited Seattle’s hopes.
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Smith-Njigba has quietly become one of the league’s best downfield threats, recording six catches for 246 yards on passes of 20+ yards this season.
Sunday’s back-and-forth between the two Buckeyes was more than entertainment — it was a statement that Ohio State’s claim to “WRU” status is more legit than ever.
Dak Prescott | QB | Dallas Cowboys
Calm, efficient, commanding — Dak Prescott once again showed why he’s playing the best football of his career.
In a 37-22 win over the Jets, Prescott shredded New York’s defense with 237 yards and four touchdowns, mixing quick reads with precision deep shots — including a 43-yard strike to George Pickens that left Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner frozen.
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After a pair of tight contests, Prescott delivered the type of performance Cowboys fans have been craving. Even without CeeDee Lamb, he’s found rhythm and trust with Pickens, giving Dallas the vertical element it’s lacked for years.
If this is the version of Dak the Cowboys ride into January, the NFC will have a problem.
Drake Maye | QB | New England Patriots
Under the bright lights of Sunday Night Football, the second-year quarterback led the Patriots to a stunning 23-20 upset over the Buffalo Bills, completing 22-of-30 passes for 273 yards with no interceptions.
The deciding moment came on the final drive. With the game tied and a defender actively pulling him to the ground, Maye somehow slung a 12-yard pass to Stefon Diggs, keeping the drive alive and setting up Andy Borregales’ 52-yard game-winner.
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Maye’s composure, creativity, and ability to extend plays broke Buffalo’s 14-game home winning streak and gave Patriots fans something they haven’t felt in years — belief.
Stefon Diggs | WR | New England Patriots
Revenge never looked so smooth.
Two years after being traded from Buffalo, and not even a year removed from a torn ACL, Stefon Diggs saved his best performance of the season for the team that let him go.
Diggs erupted for ten catches and 146 yards, helping the Patriots hand the unbeaten Bills their first loss of the season and tighten the AFC East race.
It was classic Diggs: fiery, focused, and unstoppable. Every route was surgical. Every catch was a reminder that emotion can be fuel when harnessed the right way.
Diggs didn’t just make plays, he made a statement in his first return to Buffalo.
As we enter into a new quarter of the 2025 season, new stars are emerging, legacies are evolving and every snap carries weight beyond the scoreboard. Sunday wasn’t just another week of football, it was a showcase of players seizing their moment and rewriting expectations.