#FromStateToSundays: Divisional Playoff Update
January 23, 2024 | Football
Two Bulldogs are headed back to the AFC Championship game.
The Kansas City Chiefs are making their sixth-straight appearance in the AFC Championship with All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones playing a pivotal role in each of those runs. Linebacker Willie Gay Jr. has been on the past three Chiefs teams to compete for the conference crown.
Both Bulldogs had a hand in Kansas City's 27-24 win at Buffalo during the divisional round on Sunday. Gay and Jones made three tackles apiece in that contest. Gay had a productive start and even added a tackle for loss before exiting the game with a neck injury on the Bills' second offensive drive of the game and did not return.
Pro Football Focus (PFF) gave Gay the sixth-best coverage grade (78.9) of any defender in the divisional round.
Jones tacked on a quarterback hurry, a pass defense and a forced fumble to his tackle tally against Buffalo. The five-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champion posted the third-highest defensive grade (83.9) among interior defenders during the divisional round and tied for the second-best tackling grade (70.7) at his position.
Offensive guard Elgton Jenkins and linebacker Preston Smith gave it their all but came up just short of representing MSU in the NFC Championship Game after Green Bay fell 24-21 at San Francisco last Saturday.
Jenkins earned his 17 start of the season at left guard and helped the Packers roll up 330 yards of offense. Smith made two stops on defense including a half-sack and was also credited with two hurries.
Although the Chiefs will need a win at Baltimore to punch their ticket back to the Super Bowl, there is guaranteed to be at least one MSU alum on the field for the big game. Former Diamond Dawg Brad Freeman (1995-98) was selected to serve as the back judge on the Super Bowl officiating crew on Tuesday.
Freeman follows in his father Steve's footsteps as former Bulldogs to referee in a Super Bowl. Steve Freeman starred at State from 1972-74 before playing at safety in the NFL from 1975-87. He officiated Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014.
Last Week:Â Gay started at outside linebacker and made three tackles (two solo, one assist) and one tackle for loss in a 27-24 win at the Bills. Â Â
Postseason: Five tackles (two solo, three assists), one tackle for loss
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 24-21 loss at the 49ers.
Postseason: Two games played, two starts
Regular Season:Â 15 games played, 15 starts, one tackle, one fumble recovery
Last Week:Â Jones started and made three tackles (two solo, one assist), one quarterback hurry, one pass defense and forced a fumble in a 27-24 win at the Bills.
Postseason: Four tackles (two solo, two assists), 0.5 sack, three quarterback hurries, one pass defense, one forced fumble
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 Smith started at outside linebacker and two tackles (one solo, one assist), a half-sack and two quarterback hurries in a 24-21 loss at the 49ers.
Postseason: Three tackles (two solo, one assist), one tackle for loss, 1 1/2 sacks, three quarterback hurries, 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
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