#FromStateToSundays: Divisional Playoff Preview – Mississippi State – Mississippi State Athletics

Football January 21, 2023 Logan Lowery, Assistant Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – Seven former Mississippi State standouts active on 53-man rosters are still alive in the NFL postseason as they enter the Division Playoff Round.

Those seven Bulldogs ranks as the fifth-most of any Southeastern Conference school behind Georgia (13), Florida (11), LSU (10) and Alabama (nine).

After receiving a first-round bye, Willie Gay Jr., Chris Jones and the Kansas City Chiefs open the AFC Divisional Playoffs by hosting Logan Cooke’s Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

The Chiefs and Jaguars have already met at Arrowhead Stadium once this season with Kansas City prevailing 27-17 on Nov. 13. Gay tied for the team lead with eight tackles in that contest, one of which was a sack. Jones also added 1.5 sack that day as well while Cooke averaged 46.8 yards on six punts.

NFC East foes the New York Giants and Tyre Phillips head to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles defensive tandem of Fletcher Cox and Darius Slay in Saturday’s nightcap at 7:15.

The Eagles got the better of both meetings during the regular season. Philadelphia won on the road 48-22 on Dec. 11 and followed up with a 22-16 victory in Philly to close out the regular season earlier this month.

Cox contributed four tackles, four quarterback hurries and one sack against the Giants this year while Slay tallied five tackles and three pass defenses.

Dak Prescott is coming off a five-touchdown performance during Dallas’ Wild Card win at Tampa Bay and will once again be the visiting team as they travel to play San Francisco on Sunday at 5:30 p.m.

The Cowboys and 49ers did not meet during the regular season. San Francisco ended Dallas’ playoff run in the Wild Card round last year with Prescott providing a pair of touchdowns in a 23-17 loss.

SATURDAY, JAN. 21

Jacksonville Jaguars at Kansas City Chiefs | 3:30 p.m. NBC, Peacock

P Logan Cooke (JAX)

LB Willie Gay Jr. (KC)

DT Chris Jones (KC)

New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles | 7:15 p.m. FOX, FOX Sports

DT Fletcher Cox (PHI)

OT Tyre Phillips (NYG)

CB Darius Slay (PHI)

SUNDAY, JAN. 22

Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers | 5:30 p.m. FOX, FOX Sports

QB Dak Prescott (DAL)