#FromStateToSundays: Wild Card Update
January 16, 2024 | Football
Four teams featuring former Mississippi State standouts are moving on to the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs.
Willie Gay Jr., Chris Jones and the Kansas City Chiefs are trying to repeat as Super Bowl Champions. The Chiefs braved fridged temperatures that reached minus-4 degree and had a wind chill of minus-27 to knock off the Miami Dolphins 26-7 and advance.
Gay made two tackles in that contest while Jones contributed a half-sack. Gay ranked fifth among NFL linebackers in the first round of the playoffs with a 70 pressure grade. Jones was fourth in run defense (76.8) and fifth in overall defensive (81) grade amongst all interior defenders this past weekend.
Guard Elgton Jenkins and linebacker Preston Smith also played pivotal roles in helping the Green Bay Packers prevail 48-32 over the Dallas Cowboys. Smith had a sack while Jenkins paved the way for the Packers' offense to roll up 415 yards and score four touchdowns.
Also advancing to the divisional round are safeties coach Stephen Adegoke with the Houston Texans as well as Tampa Bay Buccaneers assistant strength coach DeAndre Ward.
Dak Prescott saw Dallas' season come to a close. The Pro Bowl quarterback completed 41 of 60 passes for 403 yards and three touchdowns. Prescott also carried six times for a season-high 45 yards and received the third-highest run grade (74.9) among signal callers on Wild Card Weekend.
Darius Slay contributed six tackles in his first game for Philadelphia since Dec. 10. Slay finished fifth among cornerbacks with a 73.5 run defensive grade last week. Fletcher Cox also added two stops and a half-sack as the Eagles' season ended with a 32-9 loss at the Bucs.
Martin Emerson also had his season conclude after making a pair of tackles in the Cleveland Browns' 45-14 loss at the Texans.
Last Week:Â Cox started and made two assisted tackles, a half-sack and one quarterback hurry in a 32-9 loss at the Buccaneers.
Postseason: Two assisted tackles, 0.5 sack, one quarterback hurry
Regular Season:Â 33 tackles (15 solo, 18 assists), five sacks, three tackles for loss, 16 quarterback hurries, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, two pass defenses
Last Week:Â Emerson started and made two solo tackles in a 45-14 loss at the Texans.
Postseason: Two solo tackles
Regular Season:Â 59 tackles (45 solo, 14 assists), one tackle for loss, 14 pass defenses, four interceptions
Last Week:Â Gay started and made two assisted tackles in a 26-7 win over the Dolphins. Â
Postseason: Two assisted tackles
Regular Season:Â 58 tackles (44 solo, 14 assists), four tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries, three quarterback hurries, four pass defenses, one interception
Last Week:Â Jenkins started at left guard in a 48-32 win at the Cowboys.
Postseason: One game played, one start
Regular Season:Â 15 games played, 15 starts, one tackle, one fumble recovery
Last Week:Â Jones started and made one assisted tackle, a half-sack and two quarterback hurries in a 26-7 win over the Dolphins. Â
Postseason: One assisted tackle, 0.5 sack, two quarterback hurries
Regular Season:Â 30 tackles (20 solo, 10 assists), 10 1/2 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, 29 quarterback hurries, four pass defenses
Last Week:Â Prescott started and completed 41 of 60 passes for 403 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed six times for 45 yards in a 48-32 loss to the Packers.
Postseason: Passing – 41 of 60, 403 yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions Rushing – six carries, 45 yards
Regular Season: Passing – 410 of 590, 4,516 yards, 36 touchdowns, nine interceptions Rushing – 55 carries, 242 yards, two touchdowns
Last Week:Â Slay started and made six tackles (four solo, two assists) in a 32-9 loss at the Buccaneers.
Postseason: Six tackles (four solo, two assists)
Regular Season:Â 57 tackles (48 solo, nine assists), one tackle for loss, 14 pass defenses, two interceptions, one touchdown
Last Week:Â Smith started at outside linebacker and made one solo tackle, one tackle for loss, one sack, one quarterback hurry and one pass defense in a 48-32 win at the Cowboys.
Postseason: One solo tackle, one tackle for loss, one sack, one quarterback hurry, one pass defense
Regular Season:Â 48 tackles (28 solo, 20 assists), four tackles for loss, eight sacks, 21 quarterback hurries, four pass defenses, two forced fumbles
Last Week:Â Wheat was not active in a 48-32 loss to the Packers.
Postseason: N/A
Regular Season:Â Three tackles (two solo, one assist)
Â
