Wisconsin football players all over thrilling Cowboys-Steelers game, including T.J. Watt’s 100th sack

Those who stayed up late through the lightning delay saw a thriller of a Sunday Night Football Game, with Dallas scoring in the final 30 seconds to beat Pittsburgh, 20-17.

They also saw a full allotment of Wisconsin-connected football players.

From a milestone for Pewaukee native T.J. Watt to a huge play by a Dallas fullback from rural Wisconsin to another solid day from Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson, here’s what you missed if you went to bed early.

T.J. Watt becomes second fastest player to 100 career NFL sacks

If we didn’t already reach this point, it feels safe to start referring to Pewaukee and University of Wisconsin alumnus T.J. Watt as “future Hall of Famer,” just like his older brother.

Watt reached 100 career NFL sacks with a strip sack of Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott in the second quarter, making him the second-fastest player to reach that mark. He turned the feat in 109 games, with only Reggie White (96) reaching that plateau faster. DeMarcus Ware needed 113 games to hit 100, while Bruce Smith needed 115, J.J. Watt 120, Lawrence Taylor 122, Jared Allen 122 and Von Miller 124.

Among those on the list who are eligible, only Allen is not a Hall of Famer.

Not to be lost in the shuffle was that Nick Herbig joined him in registering the half-sack and forced fumble. The Hawaii native played for the Wisconsin Badgers, as well.

T.J. later registered a second sack in the game and now has 4.5 for the year and 101 in his career. Big brother approved of his arrival in the 100-sack club.

Hunter Luepke puts Dallas on the doorstep of a thrilling win

The only problem is that Pittsburgh didn’t win the game.

Prescott rallied the Cowboys for a 4th and goal touchdown in the final seconds on a pass to Jalen Tolbert, a 4-yard completion that tipped the scales. The Cowboys arrived inside the 5-yard line thanks to a checkdown pass to Hunter Luepke, the 2023 undrafted free agent from North Dakota State who attended Spencer High School and played for the co-op between Spencer and Columbus Catholic.

Luepke already has seven receptions this year for 91 yards, plus four rushes for another 14 yards and eight total first downs. He’s playing just more than half of the Cowboys’ offensive snaps.

Jake Ferguson continues strong year as Dallas tight end

Former Badgers standout and Madison Memorial alumnus Jake Ferguson closed the year in a big way last year when he caught a career-best 10 passes against the Packers in the postseason, en route to 93 yards and three touchdowns. He’s continued racking up stats in 2024.

Though he missed a game with injury in Week 2, Ferguson is up to 22 catches for 229 yards this season, though he’s still looking for his first touchdown. Against the Steelers, he brought in six balls on seven targets for 70 yards.

Isaiahh Loudermilk blocks Dallas field-goal attempt

Defensive tackle Isaiahh Loudermilk, a native of Kansas who played for Wisconsin, blocked a 38-yard field goal attempt by Dallas star field-goal kicker Brandon Aubrey in the third quarter.

Loudermilk sees the field of 17% of defensive snaps and 31% on special teams; he’s got a pass defended and five tackles this year.

With Watt and Loudermilk, the Steelers all told have four Badgers contributing to Pittsburgh’s defense.

Keeanu Benton, a native of Janesville, has started four of the five games and has 10 tackles while playing an even half of Pittsburgh’s defensive snaps.

Herbig has started two games this year, with a forced fumble, fumble recovery and 2.5 sacks. He plays regularly on special teams and sees the field for just less than half of Pittsburgh’s defensive snaps.

Did you see Andrew Van Ginkel’s pick-six of Aaron Rodgers in London?

In other action Sunday, Andrew Van Ginkel’s pick-six for Minnesota loomed large when the Vikings defeated Aaron Rodgers and the Jets, 23-17, in London.

Playing at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where the Packers played two seasons ago, the former UW player picked off Rodgers and ran 63 yards the other way for a touchdown that spotted the Vikings a 10-0 lead. It was one of three interceptions Rodgers threw in the loss.

Van Ginkel played his first five NFL seasons with the Miami Dolphins before joining the Vikings this year on a two-year deal. He’s started all five games at linebacker, with now two interceptions returned for touchdowns, three sacks, 19 tackles and three total passes defended.

Alec Ingold scores go-ahead touchdown for Dolphins

Bay Port High School alumnus and former Badgers fullback Alec Ingold got into the end zone for a huge Dolphins score Sunday, plowing up the gut on 1st and goal for a fourth-quarter score that gave his team a 15-10 lead over New England with 4:24 to play.

That wound up being the final score

Ingold only has three receptions and six rushes this year, but his primary task is to block, which earned him a spot on last year’s Pro Bowl roster.