#FromStateToSundays: Divisional Playoff Preview
January 20, 2024 | Football
There will be a Bulldog represented in all four NFL Playoff games this weekend.
Four Mississippi State players will be competing on the field while two more will be roaming their respective sidelines in the Divisional round in hopes of earning a berth in the conference championship games.
The Divisional round begins on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. with safeties coach Stephen Adegoke and the Houston Texans traveling to take on the Baltimore Ravens on ABC and ESPN. Adegoke lettered as a safety for the Bulldogs in 2018 and is in his fifth season in coaching and second in the NFL.
The Texans and Ravens met in Week 1 of the season with Baltimore prevailing 25-9.
Later that evening, the Green Bay Packers contingent of offensive guard Elgton Jenkins and linebacker Preston Smith visit the San Fransisco 49ers at 7:15 on FOX. The Packers and 49ers did not play during the regular season and haven't met since the first game of the 2022 preseason.
Jenkins is a two-time Pro Bowler and has been the Packers' best pass blocker this season, compiling an 81 grade from Pro Football Focus (PFF) in that category. Smith has racked up 66 sacks during his stellar career including eight this season. He provided a sack in Green Bay's 48-32 win over the Cowboys in the Wild Card round last week.
In Sunday's NFC Divisional Playoff Game, DeAndre Ward will be repping the Bulldogs as an assistant strength coach for Tampa Bay. Ward walked on at MSU, earned a scholarship and lettered as a linebacker from 2014-16. He also served as an assistant on the Bulldogs' strength staff in 2020-21.
The Buccaneers will battle the Detroit Lions in the Motor City at 2 p.m. on NBC and Peacock. Detroit claimed the lone meeting during the regular season 20-6 on the road in Week 6.
The Kansas City Chiefs defensive duo of Willie Gay Jr. and Chris Jones will cap off the weekend on Sunday at 5 p.m. against the Buffalo Bills at 5:30 p.m. on CBS and Paramount+. Gay and Jones each earned a Super Bowl ring with the Chiefs last season with Jones becoming just the second two-time Super Bowl Champion in Mississippi State history.
Jones is a five-time Pro Bowler – including this season – with 75 ½ career sacks. He had 10 ½ sacks for the Chiefs this season and had a half-sack in their 26-7 win over the Miami Dolphins last week. Gay has 22 tackles during his playoff career including three stops for loss, a half-sack and a forced fumble.
Sunday's game will be played in Buffalo. The Bills prevailed at Kansas City 20-17 in Week 14.
NFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF
Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers | 7:15 p.m. FOX
OG Elgton Jenkins (GB)
LB Preston Smith (GB)
AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF
Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills | 5:30 p.m. CBS, Paramount+
LB Willie Gay Jr. (KC)
DT Chris Jones (KC)
