#STATEtoSundays: Divisional Playoff Update
January 21, 2025 | Football
A pair of Mississippi State standouts played a huge part in their respective teams advancing to Conference Championship games.
Chris Jones contributed four tackles, one tackle for loss, a sack and two quarterback hurries in Kansas City's 23-14 win over Houston in the AFC Divisional Round. Darius Slay tied for the team lead with six stops and defended three passes as Philadelphia edged Emmanuel Forbes and the Los Angeles Rams 28-22 in the NFC Divisional Round.
Jones sacked Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud during the opening quarter, the first of eight sacks for the Chiefs on the day. He now has 3 ½ sacks during his postseason career.
Pro Football Focus (PFF) gave Jones the No. 2 defensive grade for Kansas City for his performance. Among all interior defenders in the Divisional Round, he ranked fourth in tackling and run-defense grades and fifth in overall defensive grade.
Slay posted the third-highest tackling grade (79.5) for the Eagles over the weekend and also has the third-best coverage grade on the team during the playoffs. Â
Denico Autry had a quarterback hurry for Houston. During the playoffs, Autry produced the top pressure grade in the playoffs for the Texans at 79.1 and his overall defensive grade of 83.5 during the postseason ranked third on the team.
DENICO AUTRYÂ | DE | HOUSTON TEXANSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2012-13
Last Week:Â Autry had one quarterback hurry in a 23-14 loss at the Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Round.
Postseason:  Defense - One solo tackle, one tackle for loss, one sack, two quarterback hurries Special Teams – one blocked PAT
Regular Season:Â 13 tackles (eight solo, five assists), three tackles for loss, three sacks, six quarterback hurries, three pass defenses
EMMANUEL FORBESÂ | CB | LOS ANGELES RAMSÂ |Â AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week:Â Forbes did not play in a 28-22 loss at the Eagles in the NFC Divisional Round.
Postseason:Â N/A
Regular Season:Â 12 tackles (six solo, six assists), one interception, two pass defenses
CHRIS JONESÂ | DE | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS |Â AT MSU: 2013-15
Last Week:Â Jones started and made four tackles (one solo, three assists), one tackle for loss, one sack and two quarterback hurries in a 23-14 win over the Texans in the AFC Divisional Round.
Postseason: Four tackles (one solo, three assists), one tackle for loss, one sack, two quarterback hurries
Regular Season:Â 38 tackles (19 solo, 19 assists), nine tackles for loss, 5 1/2 sacks, one forced fumble, 21 quarterback hurries
DARIUS SLAYÂ | CB | PHILADELPHIA EAGLES |Â AT MSU: 2011-12
Last Week:Â Slay started and tied for the team lead with six tackles (five solo, one assist) and three pass defenses in a 28-22 win over the Rams in the NFC Divisional Round.
Postseason:Â Nine tackles (seven solo, two assists), one interception, four pass defenses
Regular Season:Â 49 tackles (38 solo, 11 assists), one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, 12 pass defenses, three tackles for loss
