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#FromStateToSundays: Divisional Round Update
January 18, 2021 | Football
STARKVILLE – Eight former Bulldogs will represent Mississippi State in the NFL's conference championship games as the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs advanced with wins over the weekend.
Linebacker Preston Smith had a standout performance with a career-high two pass defenses in the Packers' victory over the Los Angeles Rams. Smith was the team's third-highest-graded defender according to Pro Football Focus.
Smith was joined by Will Redmond on defense who played 34 percent of snaps and long snapper Hunter Bradley who snapped seven times. Left guard Elgton Jenkins started and played every snap. Green Bay will play in the NFC Championship Game for the second consecutive season.
Chris Jones took the field with the Chiefs, but Willie Gay Jr. and Martinas Rankin were inactive. Jones made three tackles and recorded two pressures with one quarterback hit.
In a losing effort, Pernell McPhee picked up a sack for the Baltimore Ravens, and Tyre Phillips started at left tackle. J.T. Gray's New Orleans Saints also lost on Sunday night with Gray playing 22 snaps on special teams.
HUNTER BRADLEY | GREEN BAY PACKERS – LS | AT MSU: 2012-17
Career Postseason: 3 G
Last Week: 1 G vs. Los Angeles Rams (W, 32-18)
WILLIE GAY JR. | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS – LB | AT MSU: 2017-19
Career Postseason: None
Last Week: DNP vs. Cleveland Browns vs. Cleveland Browns (W, 22-17)
J.T. GRAY | NEW ORLEANS SAINTS – DB | AT MSU: 2014-17
Career Postseason: 3 G
Last Week: 1 G vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (L, 20-30)
BRAXTON HOYETT (PS) | BALTIMORE RAVENS – DT | AT MSU: 2014-18
Career Postseason: None
Last Week: DNP at Buffalo Bills (L, 3-17)
ELGTON JENKINS | GREEN BAY PACKERS – OG | AT MSU: 2014-18
Career Postseason: 3 G, 3 GS, 4 Pressures Allowed
Last Week: 1 GS, 2 Pressures Allowed vs. Los Angeles Rams (W, 32-18)
Season: 7 G, 5 GS, 4 TKL, 6 AST, 10 TT, 3 QBH, 9 PD
Last Week: 1 GS, 1 TKL, 2 AST, 3 TT, 1 QBH vs. Cleveland Browns (W, 22-17)
Career Postseason: 10 G, 1 GS, 12 TKL, 3 AST, 15 TT, 2.5 SK, 4 QBH, 3 PD, 1 FF, 1 FR
Last Week: 1 G, 1 TKL, 1 TT, 1.0 TFL, 1.0 SK, 1 QBH at Buffalo Bills (L, 3-17)
Career Postseason: 2 G, 1 GS, 4 Pressures Allowed
Last Week: 1 GS, 2 Pressures Allowed at Buffalo Bills (L, 3-17)
MARTINAS RANKIN | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS – OT | AT MSU: 2015-17
Career Postseason: 1 G
Last Week: DNP vs. Cleveland Browns vs. Cleveland Browns (W, 22-17)
WILL REDMOND | GREEN BAY PACKERS – S | AT MSU: 2012-15
Career Postseason: 3 G, 2 TKL, 2 TT
Last Week: 1 G vs. Los Angeles Rams (W, 32-18)
CHAUNCEY RIVERS (PS) | BALTIMORE RAVENS – LB | AT MSU: 2017-19
Career Postseason: None
Last Week: DNP at Buffalo Bills (L, 3-17)
PRESTON SMITH | GREEN BAY PACKERS – LB | AT MSU: 2011-14
Career Postseason: 4 G, 3 GS, 8 TKL, 5 AST, 13 TT, 2.0 TFL, 3.0 SK, 5 QBH, 2 PD
Last Week: 1 GS, 2 TKL, 1 AST, 3 TT, 1 QBH, 2 PD vs. Los Angeles Rams (W, 32-18)
Career Postseason: None
Last Week: DNP vs. Cleveland Browns vs. Cleveland Browns (W, 22-17)
Linebacker Preston Smith had a standout performance with a career-high two pass defenses in the Packers' victory over the Los Angeles Rams. Smith was the team's third-highest-graded defender according to Pro Football Focus.
Smith was joined by Will Redmond on defense who played 34 percent of snaps and long snapper Hunter Bradley who snapped seven times. Left guard Elgton Jenkins started and played every snap. Green Bay will play in the NFC Championship Game for the second consecutive season.
Chris Jones took the field with the Chiefs, but Willie Gay Jr. and Martinas Rankin were inactive. Jones made three tackles and recorded two pressures with one quarterback hit.
In a losing effort, Pernell McPhee picked up a sack for the Baltimore Ravens, and Tyre Phillips started at left tackle. J.T. Gray's New Orleans Saints also lost on Sunday night with Gray playing 22 snaps on special teams.
HUNTER BRADLEY | GREEN BAY PACKERS – LS | AT MSU: 2012-17
Career Postseason: 3 G
Last Week: 1 G vs. Los Angeles Rams (W, 32-18)
WILLIE GAY JR. | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS – LB | AT MSU: 2017-19
Career Postseason: None
Last Week: DNP vs. Cleveland Browns vs. Cleveland Browns (W, 22-17)
J.T. GRAY | NEW ORLEANS SAINTS – DB | AT MSU: 2014-17
Career Postseason: 3 G
Last Week: 1 G vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (L, 20-30)
BRAXTON HOYETT (PS) | BALTIMORE RAVENS – DT | AT MSU: 2014-18
Career Postseason: None
Last Week: DNP at Buffalo Bills (L, 3-17)
ELGTON JENKINS | GREEN BAY PACKERS – OG | AT MSU: 2014-18
Career Postseason: 3 G, 3 GS, 4 Pressures Allowed
Last Week: 1 GS, 2 Pressures Allowed vs. Los Angeles Rams (W, 32-18)
- Played every snap at left guard
Season: 7 G, 5 GS, 4 TKL, 6 AST, 10 TT, 3 QBH, 9 PD
Last Week: 1 GS, 1 TKL, 2 AST, 3 TT, 1 QBH vs. Cleveland Browns (W, 22-17)
- Posted two pressures according to PFF
Career Postseason: 10 G, 1 GS, 12 TKL, 3 AST, 15 TT, 2.5 SK, 4 QBH, 3 PD, 1 FF, 1 FR
Last Week: 1 G, 1 TKL, 1 TT, 1.0 TFL, 1.0 SK, 1 QBH at Buffalo Bills (L, 3-17)
- Picked up a first-down sack in the third quarter for a loss of six yards
Career Postseason: 2 G, 1 GS, 4 Pressures Allowed
Last Week: 1 GS, 2 Pressures Allowed at Buffalo Bills (L, 3-17)
MARTINAS RANKIN | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS – OT | AT MSU: 2015-17
Career Postseason: 1 G
Last Week: DNP vs. Cleveland Browns vs. Cleveland Browns (W, 22-17)
WILL REDMOND | GREEN BAY PACKERS – S | AT MSU: 2012-15
Career Postseason: 3 G, 2 TKL, 2 TT
Last Week: 1 G vs. Los Angeles Rams (W, 32-18)
CHAUNCEY RIVERS (PS) | BALTIMORE RAVENS – LB | AT MSU: 2017-19
Career Postseason: None
Last Week: DNP at Buffalo Bills (L, 3-17)
PRESTON SMITH | GREEN BAY PACKERS – LB | AT MSU: 2011-14
Career Postseason: 4 G, 3 GS, 8 TKL, 5 AST, 13 TT, 2.0 TFL, 3.0 SK, 5 QBH, 2 PD
Last Week: 1 GS, 2 TKL, 1 AST, 3 TT, 1 QBH, 2 PD vs. Los Angeles Rams (W, 32-18)
- Had a career-high two pass defenses
- Posted Green Bay's third-highest defensive grade (70.9) per PFF
- All three tackles were "stops" according to PFF, which are tackles that constitute a failure for the offense
Career Postseason: None
Last Week: DNP vs. Cleveland Browns vs. Cleveland Browns (W, 22-17)
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