Once a week, Mark Craig will get on and off the field quickly, then focus a spotlight on a player and a coach.
Beyond NFL Week 12
November 24, 2018 at 10:13PM
ON THE FIELD WITH ...
Kyle Rudolph, Vikings 'Ironman'
There was a time when the biggest knock on Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph was his lack of durability. After earning a Pro Bowl trip in his second season in 2012, Rudolph missed 15 of the next 32 games. He missed eight games in 2013 and seven in 2014.
Well, now he heads into Sunday night's game against the visiting Packers as one of the NFL's 15 current "ironmen." He'll play in his 60th consecutive regular-season game, which ranks No. 1 among active NFL tight ends. Washington's Vernon Davis is second at 54. The only other Viking close to the top of the ironmen list at his position is Adam Thielen. His 74 consecutive games ranks fourth.
The longest streak in the league is 203 games and belongs to Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers. It would belong to Eli Manning at 225 if former Giants coach Ben McAdoo hadn't benched him for a game right before being fired late last season.
Here's how Rudolph's "ironman" streak stacks up against the leaders at the other positions:
203 Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers
202 Sam Koch, P, Ravens
186 Mason Crosby, K, Packers
170 Julius Peppers, DE, Panthers
170 Brandon Carr, CB, Ravens
143 Glover Quin, S, Lions
123 Ryan Kerrigan, LB, Redskins
122 Frank Gore, RB, Dolphins
117 Demaryius Thomas, WR, Texans
110 Ndamukong Suh, DT, Rams
107 Mitchell Schwartz, OT, Chiefs
106 Ben Jones, C, Titans
91 Anthony Sherman, FB, Chiefs
75 Zack Martin, G, Cowboys
59 Kyle Rudolph, TE, Vikings
SPOTLIGHT PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Bobby Wagner, Seahawks linebacker
The 5-5 Seahawks can leap into the thick of the NFC wild-card race by beating a Panthers team that has lost two straight. But Carolina is at home, where it's 5-0. Wagner will be a pivotal part of slowing a Panthers run game that's No. 3 in yards per carry (5.01). He hasn't missed a tackle all season and he has the ability to cover Christian McCaffrey, who leads Carolina in receptions as well as rushing. Last week: Josh Reynolds, WR, Rams, caught six passes for 80 yards and a TD in a 54-51 win over Kansas City.
SPOTLIGHT COACH OF THE WEEK
Mike McCarthy, Packers coach
He has a Super Bowl ring, six division titles and nine playoff appearances in his first 12 seasons as Packers coach. His 121 wins through 12 seasons ranked behind only Don Shula (128), Tony Dungy (127) and Joe Gibbs (124). But … McCarthy also sits upon one of the league's coaching hot seats. As the creative Bears have zoomed past the Packers and Vikings, McCarthy's team looks stale, even with Aaron Rodgers healthy. The Packers are 0-5 on the road heading into Sunday night's game against the Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. A loss would drop the Packers to 4-6-1 and most likely sink their playoff chances for good.
MARK CRAIG
Mike Conley was in Minneapolis, where he sounded the Gjallarhorn at the Vikings game, on Sunday during the robbery.
