Photo by: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports
#FromStateToSundays: Divisional Playoff Update
January 24, 2022 | Football
STARKVILLE – Despite the best efforts of Denico Autry and Jeffery Simmons, the Tennessee Titans will not be moving on to the AFC Championship game.
Simmons and Autry certainly did their part to aid the Titans' defense, combining for half of a team playoff-record nine sacks in a 19-16 loss to Cincinnati.
Simmons tied a career-high three sacks in the contest to go along with eight total tackles, three tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry. Autry combined for a sack on the first play of the game and added another solo sack during the opening quarter and finished with three tackles, two hurries and a pass deflection.
Autry had Tennessee's highest overall defensive grade of 82.7 according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).
Preston Smith also had a stellar defensive performance in a losing effort for Green Bay. Smith led the Packers with nine tackles but fell 13-10 to the 49ers.
The former Bulldog defensive end turned outside linebacker posted Green Bay's highest defensive run grade according to PFF and also the team's second-best overall defensive grade.
The Kansas City Chiefs remain the lone team remaining in the playoffs with MSU alumni on the roster. Chris Jones and Willie Gay Jr. helped the Chiefs advance to the AFC Championship for the fourth consecutive season.
Jones only recorded one tackle in Kansas City's 42-36 win over Buffalo but he made it a big one, stopping the Bills for a seven-yard loss on third down during the fourth quarter.
Gay started at linebacker and notched four tackles.
DENICO AUTRY | TENNESSEE TITANS – DT/DE | AT MSU: 2012-13
Career Postseason: 5 G, 4 GS, 9 TKL, 6 AST, 15 TT, 4.0 SK, 6.0 TFL, 7 QBH, 2 PD, 1 FF
Last Week: 1 GS, 1 TKL, 2 AST, 3 TT, 1.5 SK, 1.0 TFL, 2 QBH, 1 PD vs. Cincinnati Bengals (L, 16-19)
Career Postseason: 2 G, 2 GS, 4 TKL, 2 AST, 6 TT, 1 QBH, 1 FF
Last Week: 1 GS, 2 TKL, 2 AST, 4 TT vs. Buffalo Bills (W, 42-36)
Career Postseason: First appearance
Last Week: DNP vs. San Francisco 49ers (L, 10-13)
ELGTON JENKINS (IR) | GREEN BAY PACKERS – OG | AT MSU: 2014-18
Career Postseason: 4 G, 4 GS
Last Week: DNP vs. San Francisco 49ers (L, 10-13)
CHRIS JONES | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS – DT | AT MSU: 2013-15
Career Postseason: 11 G, 9 GS, 8 TKL, 11 AST, 19 TT, 1.0 TFL, 4 QBH, 9 PD
Last Week: 1 GS, 1 TKL, 1 TT, 1.0 TFL vs. Buffalo Bills (W, 42-36)
Career Postseason: Practice Squad
Last Week: DNP vs. San Francisco 49ers (L, 10-13)
JEFFERY SIMMONS | TENNESSEE TITANS – DL | AT MSU: 2016-18
Career Postseason: 5 G, 2 GS, 10 TKL, 4 AST, 14 TT, 3.0 SK, 4.0 TFL, 4 QBH, 1 FR
Last Week: 1 GS, 7 TKL, 1 AST, 8 TT, 3.0 SK, 3.0 TFL, 3 QBH vs. Cincinnati Bengals (L, 16-19)
Career Postseason: 5 GP, 4 GS, 10 TKL, 3 AST, 13 TT, 3.0 SK, 2.0 TFL, 6 QBH, 2 PD
Last Week: 1 GS, 6 TKL, 3 AST, 9 TT vs. San Francisco 49ers (L, 10-13)
Career Postseason: Practice Squad
Last Week: DNP vs. Buffalo Bills (W, 42-36)
Simmons and Autry certainly did their part to aid the Titans' defense, combining for half of a team playoff-record nine sacks in a 19-16 loss to Cincinnati.
Simmons tied a career-high three sacks in the contest to go along with eight total tackles, three tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry. Autry combined for a sack on the first play of the game and added another solo sack during the opening quarter and finished with three tackles, two hurries and a pass deflection.
The man can't be stopped. @GrindSimmons94
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) January 22, 2022
📺: Watch #CINvsTEN on @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/ixCYKCJEae
Autry had Tennessee's highest overall defensive grade of 82.7 according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).
Preston Smith also had a stellar defensive performance in a losing effort for Green Bay. Smith led the Packers with nine tackles but fell 13-10 to the 49ers.
The former Bulldog defensive end turned outside linebacker posted Green Bay's highest defensive run grade according to PFF and also the team's second-best overall defensive grade.
NINE SACKS FOR THE GOOD GUYS!
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) January 23, 2022
📺: Watch #CINvsTEN on @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/lgLBZgfnaX
The Kansas City Chiefs remain the lone team remaining in the playoffs with MSU alumni on the roster. Chris Jones and Willie Gay Jr. helped the Chiefs advance to the AFC Championship for the fourth consecutive season.
Jones only recorded one tackle in Kansas City's 42-36 win over Buffalo but he made it a big one, stopping the Bills for a seven-yard loss on third down during the fourth quarter.
Gay started at linebacker and notched four tackles.
Three sacks for @GrindSimmons94! #CINvsTEN #BudLightCelly | @budlight pic.twitter.com/Y8ai25gNSK
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) January 23, 2022
DENICO AUTRY | TENNESSEE TITANS – DT/DE | AT MSU: 2012-13
Career Postseason: 5 G, 4 GS, 9 TKL, 6 AST, 15 TT, 4.0 SK, 6.0 TFL, 7 QBH, 2 PD, 1 FF
Last Week: 1 GS, 1 TKL, 2 AST, 3 TT, 1.5 SK, 1.0 TFL, 2 QBH, 1 PD vs. Cincinnati Bengals (L, 16-19)
- Helped Tennessee set an NFL Postseason record with nine sacks
- Split a sack on Cincinnati's first snap of the day
- Added a sack on second down later in the first quarter
- Posted Tennessee's highest overall defensive grade (82.7) and the NFL's No. 4 run defense grade (84.8) in the Divisional Round
Career Postseason: 2 G, 2 GS, 4 TKL, 2 AST, 6 TT, 1 QBH, 1 FF
Last Week: 1 GS, 2 TKL, 2 AST, 4 TT vs. Buffalo Bills (W, 42-36)
- Will host Cincinnati in the AFC Championship
Career Postseason: First appearance
Last Week: DNP vs. San Francisco 49ers (L, 10-13)
ELGTON JENKINS (IR) | GREEN BAY PACKERS – OG | AT MSU: 2014-18
Career Postseason: 4 G, 4 GS
Last Week: DNP vs. San Francisco 49ers (L, 10-13)
CHRIS JONES | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS – DT | AT MSU: 2013-15
Career Postseason: 11 G, 9 GS, 8 TKL, 11 AST, 19 TT, 1.0 TFL, 4 QBH, 9 PD
Last Week: 1 GS, 1 TKL, 1 TT, 1.0 TFL vs. Buffalo Bills (W, 42-36)
- Made a stop for a loss of seven yards on a third down pass in the fourth quarter
- Will host Cincinnati in the AFC Championship
Career Postseason: Practice Squad
Last Week: DNP vs. San Francisco 49ers (L, 10-13)
JEFFERY SIMMONS | TENNESSEE TITANS – DL | AT MSU: 2016-18
Career Postseason: 5 G, 2 GS, 10 TKL, 4 AST, 14 TT, 3.0 SK, 4.0 TFL, 4 QBH, 1 FR
Last Week: 1 GS, 7 TKL, 1 AST, 8 TT, 3.0 SK, 3.0 TFL, 3 QBH vs. Cincinnati Bengals (L, 16-19)
- Helped Tennessee set an NFL Postseason record with nine sacks
- Made a career-high 3.0 sacks, including the first of his career in the postseason
- Sack on third down in the second quarter helped Tennessee keep the Bengals out of the end zone for the duration of the first half
Career Postseason: 5 GP, 4 GS, 10 TKL, 3 AST, 13 TT, 3.0 SK, 2.0 TFL, 6 QBH, 2 PD
Last Week: 1 GS, 6 TKL, 3 AST, 9 TT vs. San Francisco 49ers (L, 10-13)
- Led the Packers with a game-high nine tackles
- Turned in Green Bay's second-highest overall defensive grade and highest run defense grade
Career Postseason: Practice Squad
Last Week: DNP vs. Buffalo Bills (W, 42-36)
- Will host Cincinnati in the AFC Championship
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