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Football

Playoff position is on the line for several NFL Hokies

BLACKSBURG - Here's a preview of all of this weekend's games featuring Virginia Tech alums, plus a recap of last weekend's top performances.
 
Sunday, December 30
 
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh – 4:25 p.m. ET
S Terrell Edmunds, RB Trey Edmunds and the Pittsburgh Steelers face the Cincinnati Bengals. The Steelers are 8-6-1 after falling to the Saints 31-28, while the Bengals are also coming of a 26-18 loss against the Browns.
 
If the Steelers win and the Ravens lose to Cleveland, the Steelers would win the AFC North and be the fourth seed in the AFC. 
 
Last week S Terrell Edmunds had four tackles, while RB Trey Edmunds got 16 snaps at running back on the day. The former Tech safety has tallied 73 tackles, four passes defended, one interception, one sack and one fumble recovery in his rookie season.
 
Edmunds, the Steelers' first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, received the "Joe Greene Great Performance Award," given annually to the Steelers top rookie. TE Bucky Hodges is a member of the practice squad.
 

 
 
Cleveland at Baltimore – 4:25 p.m. ET
S Chuck Clark and the Baltimore Ravens face QB Tyrod Taylor and the Cleveland Browns. The Ravens are 9-7 after a huge 22-10 win at the Chargers, while the Browns are also coming off a win against the Bengals. Clark registered one tackle on the day bumping his season stats to 21 tackles, one pass defended and one interception.
 
The postseason math is simple for the Ravens. A Baltimore win or a Pittsburgh loss clinches an AFC North title. A variety of other teams such as the Colts, Texans and Patriots could impact potential seeds for the Ravens, who could be as high as a No. 2 seed or potentially out of the playoffs altogether based on Sunday's results.
 
Arizona at Seattle – 4:25 p.m. ET
Richmond native Duane Brown and the Seattle Seahawks host the Arizona Cardinals. The Seahawks clinched a playoff berth with a 38-31 win last week against Kansas City. Seattle will be either the No. 5 or No. 6 seed in the NFC Playoffs. Former Hokie Nick Sorensen serves as the secondary coach for Seattle.
 


 
L.A. Chargers at Denver – 4:25 p.m. ET
CB Brandon Facyson and the L.A. Chargers face AFC West rival Denver Broncos. The Chargers are coming off a 22-10 loss to the Ravens, while the Broncos fell to the Raiders. Facyson saw 16 snaps at cornerback against the Ravens.
 
A Chargers win and a Chiefs loss would give Los Angeles the top seed in the AFC Playoffs. But a Chiefs win would give Kansas City the division title and relegate the Chargers to a No. 5 seed as a Wild Card.
 
Oakland at Kansas City – 4:25 p.m. ET
CB Kendall Fuller and the Kansas City Chiefs face their longtime rivals, the Oakland Raiders. The Chiefs are 11-4 after falling to the Seahawks by a 38-31 count, while Raiders defeated the Broncos 27-14. A win at Arrowhead by Kansas City clinches the AFC West title and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.
 
Fuller was not active at Seattle with a wrist injury, but enjoyed has enjoyed had a strong season thus far, amassing 70 tackles, 10 passes defended, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble and two interceptions.
 
Chicago at Minnesota – 4:25 pm ET
Pro Bowl CB Kyle Fuller and the Chicago Bears travel to Minnesota to face the rival Vikings. The Bears are 11-4 and
have already clinched the NFC North title. The potential exists for the Bears to grab the No. 2 seed in the NFC Playoffs and a first-round bye with a win combined with a Rams loss.
 
Fuller is tied for the NFL lead with seven interceptions and currently has 52 tackles to go with 21 passes defensed. The Vikings are 8-6-1 after defeating the Lions by a 27-12 margin, but need a win and some help to earn a Wild Card berth.
 
Philadelphia at Washington – 4:25 p.m. ET
CB Greg Stroman, DT Tim Settle, CB Adonis Alexander and the Washington Redskins host the Philadelphia Eagles. The Redskins are 7-8 after falling to the Titans 25-16, while the Eagles are 8-7 and are coming off a 32-30 win against the Texans. Washington has been eliminated from playoff contention.
 
Stroman had five tackles, Settle had one tackle and Alexander saw 15 snaps at cornerback last week. Former Hokie Torrian Gray serves as the Redskins' secondary coach.
 
Buffalo at Miami – 1:00 p.m. ET
LB Tremaine Edmunds, G Wyatt Teller, TE Logan Thomas and the Buffalo Bills face AFC East rival WR Isaiah Ford and the Miami Dolphins. The Bills are 5-10 after a 24-11 loss to the Patriots, while the Dolphins are 7-8 after dropping a 17-7 decision to Jacksonville.
 
Edmunds had a team-leading 11 tackles and one pass defended. Teller got his fifth consecutive start, while Thomas saw one target on the day. On the season, Edmunds has tallied 101 tackles, 1.0 sack, two forced fumbles, 11 passes defended and one interception. Ford not was not active on the day for the Dolphins.
 
San Francisco at L.A. Rams – 4:25 pm ET
S Antone Exum, Jr. and the San Francisco 49ers face the Rams. The 49ers are 4-11 after a 14-9 loss to the Bears, while the Rams are 12-3 after taking down the Cardinals 31-9.
 
Exum, Jr. had one tackle and one pass defended in the game bringing his season totals to 36 tackles, one sack, six passes defended, one forced fumble and an INT return TD.