Pro Blue: Kwity Paye sacks Aaron Rodgers twice on final drive to help Colts beat Jets

In a tight win over the New York Jets, defensive end Kwity Paye came up clutch, sacking Aaron Rodgers twice on the final drive to help the Colts win the game:

With only seven weeks to go in the 2024 NFL season, the playoff picture is starting to take shape, and plenty of former Michigan Wolverines are working to help their respective teams improve in the standings.

Here is the Week 11 Pro Blue recap, starting with an edge who got to the quarterback at the best possible time.

Kwity Paye sacks Aaron Rodgers twice on final drive

Sacks are always important for a defense to kill offensive momentum, but they are especially impactful when they come on the final drive of a game. Indianapolis Colts defensive end Kwity Paye helped seal the win for his team, sacking Aaron Rodgers twice on the final drive, and forced a fumble, to squash any attempt at a New York Jets comeback.

Paye finished the game with seven tackles, two sacks and two tackles for loss. It’s his first game with multiple sacks this season, and his third game in four seasons with multiple sacks.

He wasn’t the only former Wolverine to come up with a key sack in the fourth quarter.

Rashan Gary sacks Caleb Williams late in the game

In a win over NFC North rival Chicago Bears , Green Bay Packers linebacker Rashan Gary had a fourth quarter sack to help kill any sort of momentum that rookie quarterback Caleb Williams had.

Gary finished the game with six tackles and two quarterback hits. The former Wolverine now has 15 tackles and 3.5 sacks midway through his sixth NFL season.

Brandon Graham’s still got it

Ever since Tom Brady retired, Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Brandon Graham has been the longest-tenured former Wolverine (15 seasons) in the NFL, all of them being played in Philadelphia.

The veteran defensive end is still making an impact, with his latest contribution being getting to the ever-elusive rookie Jayden Daniels in the second quarter in a win over the Washington Commanders .

Graham had four tackles, a quarterback hit and two tackles for loss. The 36-year-old is now up to 13 tackles and 2.5 sacks on the season.

In that same game, rookie cornerback Mike Sainristil had six tackles and two passes defensed for Washington.

Other notable performances

-In a win over the Cleveland Browns , New Orleans Saints guard Cesar Ruiz was part of a unit that helped the Saints rush for 214 yards and three scores while only giving up one sack. Ruiz was also on the cover of Sports Illustrated last week.

-In a season full of dominant performances as part of one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, Detroit Lions guard Graham Glasgow helped his squad rush for 196 yards and three rushing touchdowns while not allowing Jared Goff to be sacked in a dominant win over the Jacksonville Jaguars .

-In a win over the Tennessee Titans , Minnesota Vikings safety Josh Metellus had three tackles.

-In his return after being out five games with a hamstring injury, Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins caught four passes for 54 yards in a win over the Dallas Cowboys. In that same game, Cowboys defensive tackle Mazi Smith had four tackles, two of them solo.

-In a win over the New England Patriots , Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum had five carries for 21 yards and a catch for seven yards. He crossed the 100-yard season threshold after this week, but Corum is still looking for his first NFL touchdown.

-In a loss to the Buffalo Bills , Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Mike Danna had four tackles and a pass defensed.

-In a Sunday Night Football loss to Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers , Cincinnati Bengals cornerback D.J. Turner had a tackle and three passes defensed.