SEC players’ performances in the NFL Divisional playoffs
By Dave Holcomb
Published:
As ESPN personality Paul Finebaum indicated in a tweet over the weekend, there were quite a few former SEC stars on the field for the NFL Divisional playoff games.
.@SEC playmakers all over the field this weekend! Will we witness the final chapter of Peyton Manning's career? pic.twitter.com/HTB1vx61jk
— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) January 15, 2016
But really, that list only begins to scratch the surface because there were more than 75 former SEC players on the field in NFL games this past weekend.
Here are some of those players’ top performances:
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
LB Dont’a Hightower, Alabama: 6 total tackles
With other former SEC defensive standouts, Dominque Easley and Jerod Mayo, out for the game or leaving early for the Patriots, Hightower carried the banner for the conference. He has been in the league four years and went to the AFC Championship all four seasons.
WR Brandon LaFell, LSU: 3 catches, 6 yards
With Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola and Rob Gronkowski all healthy, LaFell took a backseat in the playoff game, but he was a leading contributor to the Patriots season.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
S Eric Berry, Tennessee: 7 total tackles (led team), including 1 tackle for loss
The heart-and-soul of the Chiefs defense, Berry is an inspiration to fans everywhere having overcome cancer last offseason. Not only did he return to the field, he came back as a star. Berry was the Chiefs best defender on Saturday.
RB/KR Knile Davis, Arkansas: 6 carries, 30 yards, 2 catches, 15 yards, fumble
Fellow former SEC RB Spencer Ware was active but barely played, so Davis received his opportunity in the backfield. Unfortunately, it was Davis’ fumble early in the second half that really put the Chiefs in a hole.
WR Jeremy Maclin, Missouri: 2 catches, 23 yards
Kansas City could have used more from its No. 1 receiver, but Maclin was limited due to a high-ankle sprain.
WR Chris Conley: 5 catches, 33 yards
Conley helped replace Maclin and caught five passes, but it wasn’t nearly enough. Kansas City QB Alex Smith attempted 50 passes — not a recipe for success for the Chiefs.
LB Dee Ford: 3 total tackles, including 1 tackle for loss
Ford filled in for linebackers Tamba Hali and Justin Houston when they were out in the second half of the season. On Saturday, though, no one from Kansas City was able to get much pressure on Tom Brady.
ARIZONA CARDINALS
Patrick Peterson, LSU
Peterson was the best player on the field. Aaron Rodgers was afraid to throw it in his direction. The one time he did, Peterson intercepted the pass and returned it for a 100-yard TD. It was called back, though, because of a penalty.
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Eddie Lacy, Alabama: 12 carries, 89 yards
The Cardinals kept Lacy bottled up for most of the night, but he did reel off a 61-yard run in the third quarter.
WR Randall Cobb, Kentucky
Like Peterson, Cobb didn’t show up in the box score. But in the first quarter, Cobb had a ridiculous 51-yard catch called back because of a penalty, and then he was injured on the play. He didn’t return.
FS Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Alabama: 4 total tackles, INT
The Packers defense held the Cardinals down for most of the game, which was a huge surprise. Clinton-Dix intercepted Carson Palmer in the third quarter, the first of two Green Bay interceptions.
CB Casey Hayward, Vanderbilt: 5 total tackles
Hayward helped the Packers hold the Cardinals to just 10 points through three quarters.
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Cam Newton, Auburn: 16-of-22, 161 yards, TD
Carolina shined so well in the first half, the favorite for the league MVP didn’t have to do as much as he normally does.
Michael Oher, Ole Miss
Oher and the Carolina offense line helped the Panthers dominate the Seahawks. Carolina rushed for 144 yards and only allowed one sack.
LB Thomas Davis, Georgia: 5 total tackles
Luke Kuechly gets a lot of the credit, but the 32-year-old Davis has been outstanding. Davis had five total tackles on Sunday.
SS Roman Harper, Alabama: 4 total tackles
Gray hair hasn’t slowed down Harper, who gives the Panthers secondary a veteran presence.
DE Charles Johnson, Georgia: 3 total tackles, 1 sack
Johnson had one of five sacks the Panthers had on Russell Wilson.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
LB K.J. Wright, Mississippi State: 14 total tackles, 1 tackle for loss
The former Bulldog star was a standout on Sunday, leading the team in tackles.
DE Michael Bennett, Texas A&M: 7 total tackles, 1 tackle for loss
Seattle’s front struggled in the first half versus Carolina, but Bennett produced a nice statistical day.
DENVER BRONCOS
QB Peyton Manning, Tennessee: 21-of-27, 222 yards
Manning didn’t have great numbers but as the Broncos field general, he did just enough to win. His audibles to running plays helped Denver eat the clock and score the winning TD in the fourth quarter.
LB Danny Trevathan, Kentucky: 9 total tackles, 1 tackle for loss
The Broncos linebacker led the team in tackles and assisted a defense that kept the Steelers to just 85 rushing yards. Forty of those yards came on a reverse.
DB Darian Stewart, South Carolina: 6 total tackles
Stewart was second on the team with six tackles.
G Evan Mathis, Alabama
Denver’s offensive line played well, which was the key to the Broncos’ victory. Denver rushed for 109 yards and only allowed one sack.
DE Malik Jackson, Tennessee: 2 total tackles
Jackson remains one of the most underrated defensive ends in the NFL. He didn’t produce great numbers, but he ate up blockers and allowed Trevathan and Stewart to shine.
LB Von Miller, Texas A&M: 2 tackles
The All-Pro had a quiet day. The Broncos need more from Miller next week.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
LB Bud Dupree, Kentucky: 3 total tackles, 1 tackle for loss
Pittsburgh’s young linebacker corps has a bright future. Dupree has proven he should start next season.
LB Jarvis Jones, Georgia WR: 5 total tackles
Jones has been slow to develop at the NFL level, but he seems to be coming around. He played well in the Steelers’ two playoff games.
WR Sammie Coates, Auburn: 2 catches, 61 yards
Without Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh needed Coates to step in and play an important role. Coates’ two big plays ignited the Steelers offense, giving them a chance to win.
G Ramon Foster, Tennessee/C Cody Wallace, Texas A&M
Pittsburgh’s offensive line was one of the most underrated in the league this season. Backup center Cody Wallace filled in admirably for Maurkice Pouncey all season. Behind Wallace and Ramon Foster, the Steelers were able to move the ball despite missing their two top running backs and best wide receiver.
Dave covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
