Photo by: Benny Sieu/USA TODAY Sports
#FromStatetoSundays: Divisional Round Update
January 14, 2020 | Football
by Brian Ogden, Assistant Director/Communications
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State is tied for the highest total of former players on AFC and NFC Championship rosters with nine former Bulldogs just one win away from the Super Bowl, including those on practice squads and injured reserve.
Green Bay Packers' linebacker Preston Smith turned in a dominant second-half performance to help his team secure a 28-23 victory against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night, eliminating fellow former Bulldog K.J. Wright. Smith was the the Packers'second-highest graded pass rusher, totaling seven pressures.
He effectively ended the Seahawks' night with a six-yard sack on third down with 3:22 left to play in the game. Seattle was forced to punt, and Green Bay picked up two first downs before kneeling out the clock. On the offensive side of the ball, Elgton Jenkins played every snap at left guard for Green Bay and did not allow a single pressure.
Chris Jones' Kansas City Chiefs have also advanced to the conference championship after his team ended the Houston Texans' season with a 51-31 win at home. Jordan Thomas made his first career postseason reception for the Texans, picking up a gain of seven yards.
Rookie defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons is also moving on after the Tennessee Titans eliminated the top-seeded Baltimore Ravens on Saturday evening. Simmons recovered a fumble and recorded one hurry.
The Titans will travel to Kansas City for the AFC Championship Game at 2:05 p.m. CT on Sunday. That game will air on CBS. The Packers will travel to San Francisco to meet the 49ers for the NFC title at 5:40 p.m. on FOX.
Below is a list of former Mississippi State student-athletes who were active in the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs. Please use the link to view season and career statistics from NFL.com.
HUNTER BRADLEY | GREEN BAY PACKERS – LS | AT MSU: 2012-17
Career Postseason: 1 G
Last Week: 1 G vs. Seattle Seahawks (W, 28-23)
ELGTON JENKINS | GREEN BAY PACKERS – OG | AT MSU: 2014-18
Career Postseason: 1 GS, 0 Pressures Allowed
Last Week: 1 GS, 0 Pressures Allowed vs. Seattle Seahawks (W, 28-23)
Career Postseason: 4 G, 3 GS, 2 TKL, 2 AST, 4 TT, 1 QBH, 6 PD
Last Week: DNP vs. Houston Texans (W, 51-31)
BENARDRICK MCKINNEY | HOUSTON TEXANS – LB | AT MSU: 2011-14
Career Postseason: 6 G, 6 GS, 23 TKL, 21 AST, 44 TT, 2 PD, 1 QBH
Last Week: 1 GS, 2 TKL, 2 AST, 4 TT at Kansas City Chiefs (L, 31-51)
Career Postseason: 1 G
Last Week: 1 G vs. Seattle Seahawks (W, 28-23)
JEFFERY SIMMONS | TENNESSEE TITANS – DL | AT MSU: 2016-18
Career Postseason: 2 G, 2 TKL, 2 TT, 1 QBH, 1 FR
Last Week: 1 G, 1 TKL, 1 TT, 1 FR at Baltimore Ravens
Career Postseason: 2 G, 1 GS, 4 TKL, 1 AST, 5 TT, 2.0 TFL, 3.0 SK, 5 QBH, 1 Safety
Last Week: 1 GS, 2 TKL, 2 TT, 1.0 TFL, 2.0 SK, 4 QBH vs. Seattle Seahawks (W, 28-23)
Career Postseason: 3 G, 1 GS, 1 REC, 7 YDS
Last Week: 1 G, 1 REC, 7 YDS at Kansas City Chiefs (L, 31-51)
Career Postseason: 14 G, 13 GS, 64 TKL, 41 AST, 105 TT, 6.0 TFL, 1.5 SK, 1 INT, 4 PD, 4 QBH
Last Week: 1 GS, 4 TKL, 3 AST, 7 TT, 0.5 SK, 1 QBH at Green Bay Packers (L, 23-28)
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State is tied for the highest total of former players on AFC and NFC Championship rosters with nine former Bulldogs just one win away from the Super Bowl, including those on practice squads and injured reserve.
Green Bay Packers' linebacker Preston Smith turned in a dominant second-half performance to help his team secure a 28-23 victory against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night, eliminating fellow former Bulldog K.J. Wright. Smith was the the Packers'second-highest graded pass rusher, totaling seven pressures.
He effectively ended the Seahawks' night with a six-yard sack on third down with 3:22 left to play in the game. Seattle was forced to punt, and Green Bay picked up two first downs before kneeling out the clock. On the offensive side of the ball, Elgton Jenkins played every snap at left guard for Green Bay and did not allow a single pressure.
Chris Jones' Kansas City Chiefs have also advanced to the conference championship after his team ended the Houston Texans' season with a 51-31 win at home. Jordan Thomas made his first career postseason reception for the Texans, picking up a gain of seven yards.
Rookie defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons is also moving on after the Tennessee Titans eliminated the top-seeded Baltimore Ravens on Saturday evening. Simmons recovered a fumble and recorded one hurry.
The Titans will travel to Kansas City for the AFC Championship Game at 2:05 p.m. CT on Sunday. That game will air on CBS. The Packers will travel to San Francisco to meet the 49ers for the NFC title at 5:40 p.m. on FOX.
Below is a list of former Mississippi State student-athletes who were active in the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs. Please use the link to view season and career statistics from NFL.com.
HUNTER BRADLEY | GREEN BAY PACKERS – LS | AT MSU: 2012-17
Career Postseason: 1 G
Last Week: 1 G vs. Seattle Seahawks (W, 28-23)
ELGTON JENKINS | GREEN BAY PACKERS – OG | AT MSU: 2014-18
Career Postseason: 1 GS, 0 Pressures Allowed
Last Week: 1 GS, 0 Pressures Allowed vs. Seattle Seahawks (W, 28-23)
- Played every snap at left guard and did not allow a pressure
Career Postseason: 4 G, 3 GS, 2 TKL, 2 AST, 4 TT, 1 QBH, 6 PD
Last Week: DNP vs. Houston Texans (W, 51-31)
BENARDRICK MCKINNEY | HOUSTON TEXANS – LB | AT MSU: 2011-14
Career Postseason: 6 G, 6 GS, 23 TKL, 21 AST, 44 TT, 2 PD, 1 QBH
Last Week: 1 GS, 2 TKL, 2 AST, 4 TT at Kansas City Chiefs (L, 31-51)
- Was Houston's third-highest-graded tackler (78.4) according to Pro Football Focus
- Did not allow a reception while being targeted twice in coverage
Career Postseason: 1 G
Last Week: 1 G vs. Seattle Seahawks (W, 28-23)
JEFFERY SIMMONS | TENNESSEE TITANS – DL | AT MSU: 2016-18
Career Postseason: 2 G, 2 TKL, 2 TT, 1 QBH, 1 FR
Last Week: 1 G, 1 TKL, 1 TT, 1 FR at Baltimore Ravens
- Recovered a fumble in the third quarter
- Recorded one hurry
Career Postseason: 2 G, 1 GS, 4 TKL, 1 AST, 5 TT, 2.0 TFL, 3.0 SK, 5 QBH, 1 Safety
Last Week: 1 GS, 2 TKL, 2 TT, 1.0 TFL, 2.0 SK, 4 QBH vs. Seattle Seahawks (W, 28-23)
- Was Green Bay's second-highest-graded defender (71.7) and pass rusher (76.4) according to Pro Football Focus
- Eighth in the NFL in pass rush grade across all Divisional Round games
- Made a crucial sack for a loss of six yards on third down to end the Seahawks' final drive of the game and preserve a five-point lead
Career Postseason: 3 G, 1 GS, 1 REC, 7 YDS
Last Week: 1 G, 1 REC, 7 YDS at Kansas City Chiefs (L, 31-51)
- Made his first career postseason reception with a seven yard pickup on first down in the fourth quarter
Career Postseason: 14 G, 13 GS, 64 TKL, 41 AST, 105 TT, 6.0 TFL, 1.5 SK, 1 INT, 4 PD, 4 QBH
Last Week: 1 GS, 4 TKL, 3 AST, 7 TT, 0.5 SK, 1 QBH at Green Bay Packers (L, 23-28)
- Moved into a tie for 17th among active players with 13 career postseason starts
- Tied for the team lead with seven total tackles
- Now ranks fourth among active players in career postseason tackles
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