Top 5 performances for Alabama Football in the NFL Week 3

With Alabama Football on a bye week, fans looking for their Crimson Tide fix could look at games on Thursday, Sunday, and Monday and see former standouts from Tuscaloosa putting together impressive performances in the NFL in Week 3.

For the 87th week in a row, a former Alabama player scored a touchdown. I still have no clue if that's an NFL record, but it almost has to be. The run of talent that came through the University of Alabama during Nick Saban's 17-year run was unprecedented.

Narowing it down to five performances remains a difficult task with the talent level across the league. One honorable mention who nearly cracked the list was Tony Brown. Brown was elevated off of the Browns' practice squad and made the most of his shot at game action by forcing a fumble on the opening kickoff. That fumble directly led to an Amari Cooper touchdown on the next play.

The Top 5:

5. Will Reichard

The NCAA's all-time leading scorer is off to a strong start to his NFL career. He's made all 15 of his professional kicks, going 10/10 on extra points, and 5/5 on field goals as the Vikings have started a surprising 3-0.

Reichard hit both of his attempts in Minnesota's 34-7 win over Houston, including a career-long 58-yarder.

Reichard famously didn't miss a kick during his freshman season at Alabama - could he have an encore in his first pro season?

4. Xavier McKinney

Another week, another Xavier McKinney interception. In his first season with the Green Bay Packers, McKinney has intercepted a pass in all three games so far.

In Sunday's win over the Titans, McKinney picked off a Will Levis pass in the fourth quarter to officially shut the door on the Packers win.

3. Jahmyr Gibbs

Jahmyr Gibbs had one of the most interesting statlines I've ever seen on Sunday. His rushing stats were normal enough: 16 carries, 83 yards. But his receiving numbers make you raise an eyebrow: 0 catches, 20 yards, 1 touchdown.

How did he manage 20 receiving yards without a single catch? Well, because of this beautifully drawn up play by Lions OC Ben Johnson, that was one of the highlights of the week in the NFL:

Gibbs has formed a potent backfield duo with David Montgomery. Both running backs have over 275 yards from scrimmage and 2+ touchdowns, becoming the first duo to achieve those marks through three games since 1980.

The Lions are consistently one of the most fun teams to watch each week with a host of former Tide players making big plays. Terrion Arnold had his best game as a pro, shutting down fellow rookie Marvin Harrison Jr., and Brian Branch continues to look like one of the very best safeties in the league.

2. Amari Cooper

It's been a slow start to the season for Amari Cooper in Cleveland, largely due to poor QB play by Deshaun Watson. But you knew it was only a matter of time before Cooper got going; he's been one of the most consistent receivers in the NFL since the Raiders picked him 4th overall back in 2015.

Albeit in another losing effort for Cleveland, Cooper had 7 catches for 86 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He directly benefited off of Tony Brown's forced fumble to score a touchdown in the first quarter, and then he this silky smooth route later in the game for his second:

1. Derrick Henry

The King stays the King. Most assumed that Derrick Henry's career was on the decline as he left Tennessee for Baltimore after turning 30 in January. 30-year old running backs are rarely as good as they were, but that's true only of mere mortals.

Derrick Henry is no mortal.

Henry had his best game with the Ravens as John Harbaugh and company finally figured out how to use him. Henry racked up 151 rushing yards on 25 carries, and picked up 23 receiving yards on a single catch.

Henry's big game puts him 5th in the NFL in rushing. Alabama has four other running backs in the Top 15 in Josh Jacobs, Najee Harris, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Brian Robinson.