Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss pursues Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers during Sunday’s game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. (Getty Images)
Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss pursues Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers during Sunday’s game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. (Getty Images)
Christian Elliss (Idaho) delivered a crushing blind-side hit on Aaron Rodgers, a play that produced a viral response on social media and had many fans poking fun at the future Hall of Fame Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, joking that his impending retirement might come sooner than planned after he absorbed the biggest blow of the weekend.
Elliss, a rising player to watch at linebacker for the New England Patriots, was one of Sunday’s top trending stars after he crunched the 42-year-old Rodgers for a sack in the second quarter of the Pats’ 20-3 win over the visiting Steelers at Gillette Stadium.
Elliss rushed around the edge on a third-down blitz and forced a fumble when he launched full steam into Rodgers from behind. Players fought for the loose ball as it trickled about 30 yards backwards before it was finally recovered by Pittsburgh, which was knocked out of field-goal range and forced to punt.
OH MY CHRISTIAN ELLISS.
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/C6fqoQHhrd
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 20, 2026
“Coach called a great call, the running back went away and I just took the opportunity,” Elliss said on the Pats’ postgame show. “Hit it fast, hit it hard and got to Aaron, so that was great. We all try to create momentum, create opportunities for our offense and other guys. So, it was a good play. We had a few of those today, right?”
”I felt it. Not like felt it in a pain way. Felt it like, ‘Oh, that felt good,’ ” he added of the sack. “I didn’t even realize he fumbled it until like five seconds after. Then I see the ball rolling past midfield. It was a great play for us as a defense.”
To his credit, Rodgers got up quickly and continued to play.
“That was definitely a shot,” Rodgers told reporters postgame. “I haven’t taken too many of those in my career, because usually I have a feeling for (if a blitz is) picked up or not picked up. That was a lapse in communication, obviously.”
It was Elliss’ first sack since 2024, giving him 2½ for his career. Elliss’ last solo sack also came on Rodgers, when the latter was playing for the New York Jets.
A sixth-year pro, Elliss tallied a team-high 12 tackles – a handful near the line of scrimmage – and spearheaded a lock-down effort for a Pats defense that held Pittsburgh to 3.5 yards per play.
New England teammates Kyle Williams (WSU) and Efton Chism III (EWU), both second-year receivers, had a catch apiece. Williams converted a third down in the third quarter with a 10-yard grab, and returned a punt 29 yards earlier in the quarter. Chism was wrapped up for a loss of 2 on his one catch.
• Tennessee quarterback Cam Ward (WSU) had one of the better games of his young career, but the Titans defense couldn’t preserve a late lead. Philadelphia scored the go-ahead touchdown with nine seconds remaining and dealt the Titans a 24-20 loss.
Ward completed 13 of 20 passes for 183 yards with no turnovers. The second-year QB scored on a 1-yard sneak in the first quarter and scrambled outside for another 1-yard touchdown late in the third to tie the game at 17-all.
With under five minutes to play and the game tied, Ward connected with Elic Ayomanor on a 41-yard pass to kick-start a drive that ended with a go-ahead field goal with 1:56 to go. But the Eagles drained most of the clock on their final possession, ending with Darius Cooper’s 3-yard touchdown catch, and Ward couldn’t get a last-ditch Hail Mary attempt off cleanly.
• Cooper Kupp (EWU) wasn’t heavily involved in Seattle’s pass game. The veteran receiver didn’t need to be, because the Seahawks got 155 yards and three TD catches from superstar Jaxon Smith-Njigba in their 31-7 rout of the Arizona Cardinals.
Kupp settled for 20 yards on two catches while Smith-Njigba accounted for the explosive plays and Seattle’s ground game – powered by right tackle Abraham Lucas (WSU) and an offensive line that played a clean game, allowing one sack and paving the way for 162 rushing yards – wore down the Cardinals during a lopsided second half.
Cardinals WR Kendrick Bourne (EWU) didn’t get many opportunities, finishing with two catches for 11 yards.
• Jalen Thompson (WSU), a veteran safety in his first season with Dallas, finished with five tackles and a QB hit during the Cowboys’ 37-20 win over the Washington Commanders.
The only blemish in Thompson‘s performance was an unnecessary roughness penalty for lowering his head to make forcible contact on a second-quarter play. Otherwise, he helped Dallas hold Washington to just 207 passing yards – the Commanders played the second half without starting QB Jayden Daniels, who dislocated his elbow late in the second quarter.
• Jaden Hicks (WSU) gave a “Go Cougs” shout-out during starters introductions on Sunday Night Football, then had a productive game for Kansas City in its 33-30 overtime win over Indianapolis.
Hicks, a safety, finished second on the team with 10 tackles. He logged a tackle for loss early in the fourth quarter, deftly reading a crossing pattern and making a perfect form tackle on Colts tight end Tyler Warren for a 2-yard loss.
• Kaden Elliss (Idaho) helped New Orleans shut down Baltimore’s offense during the second half of the Saints’ 24-17 comeback win on the road.
Elliss, a Saints captain at linebacker, tallied six tackles (second on the team) with one for loss – he brought down Derrick Henry for a 1-yard loss early in the game, and in the third quarter stuffed the Ravens’ superstar running back at the line of scrimmage for no gain on a first-down play.
The Idaho great, who’s become an underrated standout in the league over the past few years, also recorded two pressures on Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson, who struggled to get the Ravens offense in motion during the second half – Baltimore was held to three points and just 84 yards after halftime.
• Samson Ebukam (EWU), a defensive end for Atlanta, teamed with Gervon Dexter for a sack of Carolina quarterback Bryce Young early in the second quarter. Not long after, Ebukam sustained a hamstring injury and missed the second half of the Falcons’ 34-3 loss to the Panthers.
Ebukam finished with two tackles, half a sack and two QB hits. His sack was one of the few bright spots for a Falcons defense that was picked apart by Young, who passed for 287 yards and three TDs.
• It was a game to forget for linebacker Daiyan Henley (WSU) and his Los Angeles Chargers, who were humbled at home by the Las Vegas Raiders 26-14.
Henley, an L.A. defensive captain, managed just three tackles.
With QB Justin Herbert (15 of 27, two interceptions) and the Chargers offense flailing, the L.A. defense needed a sharp performance, but there were too many faults in pass coverage – deep and shallow, with Henley involved in a few slips – and veteran Raiders QB Kirk Cousins took advantage, tossing three TD passes.
• Ryan Rehkow (Central Valley) averaged 43.1 yards on eight punts, placing four inside the 20-yard line, for the Cincinnati Bengals in a 20-6 win over the Houston Texans.
Rehkow also served as the holder for kicker Evan McPherson, who knocked through two field goals of over 50 yards.
• Veteran Washington linebacker Frankie Luvu (WSU) missed Sunday’s game against Dallas after suffering a groin strain during a Week 1 loss at Philadelphia. Carolina cornerback Chau Smith-Wade (WSU) was a healthy scratch against the Falcons.