It was a breakout week for Baltimore offensive lineman Daniel Faalele, with his star QB believing the Aussie giant shut up the many critics he’s had this season.
Meanwhile, it was a mixed day for our quartet of starting punters.
Read on for our Aussies in the NFL wrap for Week 3!
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Daniel Faalele (Baltimore Ravens – offensive line)
What a difference a week makes!
Seven days ago, Faalele was copping it from Ravens fans and the Baltimore media for some uninspiring offensive line play in an upset loss to Las Vegas.
That followed a poor showing in the season opener against the Chiefs.
But didn’t the Aussie turn things around against the fierce defensive front of the Dallas Cowboys, who didn’t record a sack on Ravens QB Lamar Jackson.
In addition, Faalele helped anchor an offensive line that let the Ravens run all over the Cowboys to the tune of 274 yards – an NFL season high.
It was the definition of a breakout game for Faalele, who showed that perhaps there’s hope he can carve out a decent NFL career.
One of his many highlights came on a Jackson touchdown pass to Rashod Bateman, with Faalele effectively blocking two Dallas pass rushers.
Coach Jim Harbaugh has always shown faith in Faalele and stressed that fans had to be patient.
But perhaps the most glowing endorsement the 172kg giant has received publicly is from star QB Jackson, who called out Faalele’s critics on social media.
“I’ve been seeing a lot of stuff that people be tweeting. That’s just social media but at the end of the day, he busting his behind each and every time,” Jackson said in his post-match press conference.
“He came in clutch for us today. I want the same people who was giving him that doubt, to give him that credit.”
Jordan Mailata (Philadelphia Eagles – offensive line)
With the addition of stud running back Saquon Barkley in the offseason, it was expected the Eagles would become a hard-nosed running team that would set up the pass with the run.
They’ve proven to be that through three games, given their third in the NFL in rushing yards (502).
Barkley has been as advertised and more, but it sure helps to run behind an offensive line like Philly’s, who have been among the league leaders over the last several seasons.
Their well-paid left tackle Jordan Mailata is a big reason why that’s the case.
Once again, he was prolific on Philly’s left edge against the Saints as Barkley galloped for a season-high 147 yards from just 17 carries.
The highlight came at the start of the fourth, with Mailata creating the gap that Barkley ran through to put the Eagles ahead.
Tory Taylor (Chicago Bears – punter)
While solid, it wasn’t the rookie’s best game against the Indianapolis Colts.
Taylor was only relied upon three times, landing one inside 50.
With his last punt, which came midway through the third quarter when the Bears trailed 7-3, he had the chance to pin the Colts deep in their own end, but only managed a 37-yard punt.
This gave the Colts some breathing room, and they were able to march down the field and score a touchdown to extend the lead to 11.
Still, for a rookie in just his third NFL game, Taylor it tracking up pretty nicely.
Matthew Hayball (New Orleans Saints – punter)
Much has been made about how good the Saints’ offence had been in the first two games in the season, meaning Hayball only had to punt it three times in those.
He was needed in Week 3 with the Saints offence mostly held in check by the Eagles.
Saints fans finally got a decent look at the Aussie, and it seems he impressed with his four punts on Monday morning, with a couple of Saints reporters singing his praises on social media.
He averaged 40.5 yards from those four punts, with two inside-20s.
Michael Dickson (Seattle Seahawks – punter)
Impressive outing for Dickson, who saved a punt return touchdown by covering well and forcing a Dolphins receiver out of bounds.
Dickson boomed the 61 yarder, but it was returned by Braxton Berrios, who found a passage down the left sideline. If it wasn’t for Dickson in coverage, Berrios likely scores a touchdown.
A former Aussie Rules player, Dickson has shown he isn’t afraid of contact during his NFL career, and he was fully prepared to lay a hit on Berrios if the returner had taken him on.
For the game, Dickson averaged a very good 48.8 yards a punt from four kicks, with a long of 61 as Seattle coasted to a 24-3 home win.
Through three games, Dickson is ninth in the NFL for punt average (50.4).
Mitch Wishnowskey (San Francisco 49ers – punter)
It was a quiet game for Wishnowsky, who was only called upon twice during the 49ers’ upset loss to the Rams.
He had a 43 yarder and a 47 yarder from those, including one inside 20.
OUT FOR SEASON
Cam Johnston (Pittsburgh Steelers – punter)
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