Photo by: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
#FromStateToSundays: Wild Card Update
January 17, 2023 | Football
STARKVILLE – Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys are moving on to the NFC Divisional Round thanks to his record-setting performance in the Wild Card game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night.
Prescott accounted for five touchdowns – four passing and another rushing – and led the Cowboys to their first road playoff win since 1993. The former Mississippi State star completed 25 of 33 passes for 305 yards and added an additional 24 yards on the ground in the 31-14 victory. His 143.3 passer rating in that contest was the highest in franchise history.
The @DallasCowboys strike first! @Dak @BinghamBaller9
— NFL (@NFL) January 17, 2023
📺: #DALvsTB on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/HABicMhZeY pic.twitter.com/d8crOsv1dX
Prescott joined Peyton Manning as the only players in NFL history with four passing touchdowns and a rushing TD while also completing 75 percent of their passes in a playoff game. He also became just the third Dallas signal caller to throw four scoring strikes in a postseason game along with Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman.
At one point in the first half, Prescott connected on 11 consecutive passes - another Cowboys' playoff record. He is now the only player in NFL history with a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown in four straight postseason games.
.@Dak got 'em with the fake
— NFL (@NFL) January 17, 2023
📺: #DALvsTB on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/HABicMhZeY pic.twitter.com/FZG13R1Zhc
It was Prescott's 23rd career 300-yard passing performance and the second time he's done so in the playoffs. Dallas now moves on to play the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round.
Including Prescott, there are still nine former Bulldogs on teams still alive in the postseason. Logan Cooke punted three times for a 41.3-yard average in the Jacksonville Jaguars' 31-30 rally over the Los Angeles Chargers.
DAK MAKING THIS HIS PLAYOFF MOMENT.
— NFL (@NFL) January 17, 2023
📺: #DALvsTB on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/HABicMhZeY pic.twitter.com/bblLN8L2JI
Cooke and Jaguars' practice squad member Darryl Williams will meet Willie Gay Jr., Chris Jones and the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Round this week. The Chiefs earned a first-round bye.
Tyre Phillips and Makai Polk are moving on to the NFC Divisional Round with the New York Giants. Phillips saw action in the Giants' 31-24 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card while Polk was on the practice squad.
Dak is dealing! His third TD pass of the night goes to @Michael13Gallup!
— NFL (@NFL) January 17, 2023
📺: #DALvsTB on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/HABicMhZeY pic.twitter.com/caAjw6OXYO
The Giants will take on Fletcher Cox, Darius Slay and the Philadelphia Eagles this week. The Eagles also received a first-round bye.
The Seattle Seahawks contingent of Johnathan Abram, Charles Cross, Greg Eiland and Gabe Jackson will not be moving on following a 41-23 loss to the 49ers in the Wild Card. Abram recorded two tackles in that contest while Cross and Jackson logged every snap on the offensive line at left tackle and right guard, respectively.
Following the game, Eiland agreed to a future's contract with the Seahawks.
4️⃣ to 8️⃣ 8️⃣
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) January 17, 2023
FIVE total TDs for Dak ⭐️pic.twitter.com/Y43BmkpeNt
Four former MSU players were also named to All-Pro teams this year. Jones and Slay were selected as All-Pros by the NFL Players Association. Jones was also a first team All-Pro pick by the Associated Press while Jeffery Simmons of the Tennessee Titans was chosen as a second team member.
It was the fourth year for Jones to garner All-Pro honors, the fifth time for Slay and the second selection for Simmons over their careers.
Dak & Tom. #SuperWildCard #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/C57DshFOpn
— NFL (@NFL) January 17, 2023
JOHNATHAN ABRAM | SEATTLE SEAHAWKS – S | AT MSU: 2017-18
Career Postseason: 1 G, 2 TKL, 2 TT
Last Week: 1 G, 2 TKL, 2 TT at San Francisco 49ers (L, 23-41)
LOGAN COOKE | JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS – P | AT MSU: 2014-17
Career Postseason: 1 G, 3 Punts, 124 YDS, 41.3 AVG, LONG 46, 0 TB, 1 In-20, 41.3 NET AVG
Last Week: 3 Punts, 124 YDS, 41.3 AVG, LONG 46, 0 TB, 1 In-20, 41.3 NET AVG vs. Los Angeles Chargers (W, 31-30)
- Part of team that completed third-largest comeback in NFL playoff history
- Will now play at Kansas City in the Divisional Round
Career Postseason: 8 G, 8 GS, 19 TKL, 9 AST, 28 TT, 6.0 TFL, 1.0 SK, 8 QBH, 1 FF
Last Week: First-Round Bye
- Will now host the New York Giants in the Divisional Round
Career Postseason: 1 G, 1 GS, 2 Pressures Allowed
Last Week: 1 GS, 2 Pressures Allowed at San Francisco 49ers (L, 23-41)
- Played every snap at left tackle in his NFL postseason debut
Career Postseason: 0 G
Last Week: DNP vs. New York Giants (L, 24-31)
GREG EILAND (PS) | SEATTLE SEAHAWKS – OT | AT MSU: 2016-20
Career Postseason: Practice Squad
Last Week: DNP at San Francisco 49ers (L, 23-41)
WILLIE GAY JR. | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS – LB | AT MSU: 2017-19
Career Postseason: 3 G, 3 GS, 7 TKL, 4 AST, 11 TT, 1.0 TFL, 1 QBH, 1 FF, 2 PD
Last Week: First-Round Bye
- Will now host Jacksonville in the Divisional Round
Career Postseason: 2 G, 2 GS, 5 Pressures Allowed
Last Week: 1 GS, 3 Pressures Allowed at San Francisco 49ers (L, 23-41)
- Played in every snap at right guard in his second career postseason game
Career Postseason: 12 G, 10 GS, 11 TKL, 11 AST, 22 TT, 2.0 TFL, 4 QBH, 9 PD
Last Week: First-Round Bye
- Will now host Jacksonville in the Divisional Round
Career Postseason: 3 G, 3 GS, 4 Pressures Allowed
Last Week: 1 G at Minnesota Vikings (W, 31-24)
- Helped New York to its first postseason victory since winning Super Bowl XLVI in 2012
- Protected for four extra points and a 25-yard field goal
- Will now play at Philadelphia in the Divisional Round
Career Postseason: Practice Squad
Last Week: DNP at Minnesota Vikings (W, 31-24)
- Will now play at Philadelphia in the Divisional Round
Career Postseason: 5 G, 5 GS, 114-179, 1,353 YDS, 10 TD, 21 RUSH, 96 YDS, 4.6 AVG, 4 TD, LONG 17
Last Week: 1 GS, 25-33, 305 YDS, 4 TD, 143.3 QBR, 7 RUSH, 24 YDS, 1 TD, LONG 11 at Tampa Bay (W, 31-14)
- Became the third Cowboys quarterback to throw four touchdowns in a playoff game
- Became the only player in NFL history to record a passing and rushing score in four consecutive postseason games and sixth quarterback in NFL history to record both a passing touchdown and rushing touchdown in four career postseason games
- Completed 11 straight passes in the first half, the most consecutive completions in Cowboys postseason history
- Posted the highest passer rating in Cowboys postseason history (143.3)
- Became the fourth NFL quarterback to throw for 300-plus yards, toss four passing touchdowns and rush for a touchdown in a postseason game
- Now has fourth-most postseason passing touchdowns in franchise history
- Marked his 23rd career 300-yard passing game
- Marked his second career 300-yard passing game in the postseason
- Will now play at San Francisco in the Divisional Round
Career Postseason: 3 G, 3 GS, 5 TKL, 2 AST, 7 TT, 2 PD, 1 ST TKL
Last Week: First-Round Bye
- Will now host the New York Giants in the Divisional Round
Career Postseason: Practice Squad
Last Week: DNP vs. Los Angeles Chargers (W, 31-30)
- Will now play at Kansas City in the Divisional Round
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