NFC CHAMPIONSHIP
What a game.
SEC fans, take your pick. Between the bike ride, the interceptions and the hospital-turned-offensive hero, there were plenty of conference-related story lines.
Seattle can become the first team to win back-to-back Super Bowls since the 2003-04 New England Patriots, thanks to a 28-22 overtime victory against Green Bay. The Seahawks overcame a 16-0 halftime deficit with a furious late rally, then Green Bay put together a two-minute drive of its own capped with a long field goal to set up OT.
After the Seahawks won with a 35-yard touchdown pass, Russell Wilson to Jermaine Kearse, former Texas A&M defensive end Michael Bennett made headlines for his celebration.
Bennett, who made two tackles for loss, including a stuff of former Alabama running back Eddie Lacy, grabbed a police bicycle and rode it around the field.
Michael Bennett riding Seattle PD bike on field postgame."I just took it. U go to the Super Bowl you can do anything in this city" #Seahawks
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) January 19, 2015
Former Kentucky receiver/quarterback/running back/kick returner Randall Cobb spent three hours in a Seattle-area hospital Friday night, thinking he would have to get his appendix removed. Instead, Cobb scored the game’s only first-half touchdown and led Green Bay with seven catches. He also made a terrific tackle on an interception in the second quarter.
A pair of former Alabama standouts played key roles for the Packers in the loss. Safety HaHa Clinton-Dix corraled two interceptions, including one that ricocheted off his right arm after he turned around to find the ball at the last instant.
Wilson had gone four consecutive playoff games without throwing an interception when Clinton-Dix nabbed a tipped pass less than five minutes into the game, a turnover that set the theme of the day for the Packers defense which held Seattle to seven points for the first 57 minutes of the game.
Clinton-Dix finished with five tackles and three passes defensed, but misplayed the two-point conversion that allowed Seattle to take a three-point lead late in the fourth quarter.
Lacy carried 21 times for 73 yards, but got stonewalled in a few short-yardage situations. Here are some more SEC points of interest from the game.
- Chris Matthews, a junior college transfer who played at Kentucky in ’09 and ’10, recovered an onside kick with 2:09 left that allowed Seattle to complete its comeback. The 6-foot-5 receiver arguably was the hero of the game for the Seahawks. Former Kentucky punter Tim Masthay also handled punting duties for Green Bay.
- Former Arkansas offensive tackle Alvin Bailey got his first NFL start at right tackle on a huge stage Sunday, replacing injured former Missouri offensive tackle and rookie Justin Britt. (Bailey started a few games at guard in 2014.)
- Former Vanderbilt CB Casey Hayward (tackle for loss, pass defensed, three tackles) and former Mississippi State defensive tackle Josh Boyd (one tackle) contributed to the Green Bay defense in the loss
- Former Alabama offensive lineman James Carpenter started at guard for Seattle. Former Georgia defensive end Demarcus Dobbs (one tackle), former Tennessee defensive tackle Troy McDaniel (four tackles) and former Mississippi State linebacker K.J. Wright (six tackles) all contributed for the Seattle defense.
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP
New England waxed Indianapolis, 45-7.
From an SEC perspective, what was more interesting was who didn’t play in the game.
Former Florida offensive lineman Xavier Nixon missed the team flight for Indianapolis and subsequently didn’t make the trip. Nixon was inactive in the previous two playoff games and wasn’t likely to play.
Former Alabama running back Trent Richardson also did not play in the game for the Colts as he attended to a family health situation.
Other SEC points of interest from the game:
- Former LSU receiver Brandon LaFell caught four passes for 28 yards for New England in the win.
- Former LSU safety LaRon Landry (six tackles), former Alabama nose tackle Josh Chapman (two tackles) and former LSU defensive tackle Ricky Jean Francois (four tackles) all played defense for Indianapolis, but couldn’t do much collectively to stop Tom Brady (three touchdown passes) and LeGarrette Blount (three touchdown runs).
- Former Florida center Jonotthan Harrison played for the Colts, but did not start.
- Former Alabama linebacker Dont’a Hightower (three tackles) and former Mississippi State linebacker Chris White (two tackles) each contributed for New England’s defense.
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
