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How much more can you say about former Wisconsin Badgers and current San Francisco 49ers linebacker Chris Borland?
A week after registering 18 tackles -- 15 solo -- in a loss against the St. Louis Rams, Borland went out and nearly replicated his performance against Nick Toon's New Orleans Saints. He finished the day with 17 tackles -- 11 solo -- with two tackles for loss and a key fumble recovery in overtime in a 27-24 victory.
Chris Borland with fumble recovery that gets the 49ers the ball and leads to the winning FG. #Badgers https://t.co/FJ0fewl8y4
— Zach Heilprin (@ZachHeilprin) November 9, 2014
Chris Borland may have just saved 49ers season with a head-first dive into scrum to recover fumble which set up game-winning FG in overtime
— Mike Lucas (@LucasAtLarge) November 9, 2014
In three starts, the Borland will have to step up for the rest of the season, as the 5-4 49ers announced Tuesday that All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis was placed on injured reserve and will miss the rest of the 2014 NFL season with a toe injury.
Other Badgers making news
The Cleveland Browns, with All-Pro left tackle Joe Thomas and Badger darling Jim Leonhard, are in sole possession of first place in the AFC North -- WHAT?!?!? -- after a 24-3 victory over Kevin Zeitler's Cincinnati Bengals Thursday night. The Browns sit at 6-3 after nine games in the NFL season. Can they keep this up?
Who's another former Badger on a first place team? That'd be linebacker DeAndre Levy on the 7-2 Detroit Lions. The Lions' defense is the backbone of the team this season, as they rank first in the league in total defense -- only allowing 283.4 yards per game. Levy had 11 tackles (9 solo) in yet another last-minute victory for Detroit over the Miami Dolphins Sunday. He has 81 tackles on the year.
The 7-2 Philadelphia Eagles owned the Carolina Panthers 45-21 on Monday Night Football. Darren Sproles and former Wisconsin captain Chris Maragos continue to spark the Eagles' special teams. Maragos had a nice block that helped Sproles take it 65 yards (and outrun former Badgers punter Brad Nortman) for a touchdown. That's five special teams touchdowns for the Eagles this year, including one by Maragos in October.
The Seattle Seahawks struck gold in the fourth quarter against the New York Giants, scoring three touchdowns to pull away in a 38-17 victory. Russell Wilson didn't have the greatest day, throwing for only 172 yards with two interceptions, but did run for 107 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown in the win.