Hokie ClubThe regular season is officially in the books as the remaining NFL Hokies move forward into Wild Card Weekend to vie for a spot in the Divisional Round. With plenty of maroon and orange scattered across the league, there are many opportunities to watch the former Hokies.
Read below for standout performances from Week 18 and featured matchups for Wild Card Weekend in this edition of NFL Hokies, presented by Coca-Cola.
Notable Week 18 Performances
S Terrell Edmunds
Safety Terrell Edmunds played a pivotal role as a defensive force for the Tennessee Titans in their 28-20 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who finished second in the AFC South. Edmunds accumulated five total tackles and disrupted the Jaguars' offense twice, first with a diving interception. Additionally, he had a pass deflection in the season finale, concluding his year with a promising performance.
QB Tyrod Taylor
In the New York Giants' 27-10 win against the second-place NFC West Philadelphia Eagles, quarterback Tyrod Taylor completed 23 passes for 297 yards of offense, including a 12-yard touchdown pass to receiver Darius Slayton. Taylor's longest pass of the day went for 46 yards. Additionally, Taylor finished second in rushing behind Giants running back Saquon Barkley, with eight carries for a total of 38 rushing yards, including a 14-yard rush.
RB Khalil Herbert
Coming off two consecutive nominations for FedEx Ground Player of the Week, running back Khalil Herbert continued to make plays for the Chicago offense, leading the team in rushing yards. Herbert had 12 carries for 28 yards and showcased his versatility by hauling in both of his two targets. This included a 16-yard catch, his third-longest reception of the season.
S Chamarri Conner
Heading into the playoffs, the Kansas City Chiefs secured the 3rd spot in the AFC after finishing first in the AFC West, concluding the regular season with a victory against the Los Angeles Chargers. Safety Chamarri Conner officially wrapped up his rookie regular season with his best performance yet, recording eight solo total tackles. Conner tied with cornerback Jaylen Watson for the second-most tackles of the game.
LB Divine Deablo
Finishing his third NFL season with the Las Vegas Raiders, linebacker Divine Deablo had another impressive game with tackle numbers in the double digits. The Raiders beat the Denver Broncos 27-14, with Deablo amassing 10 tackles, leading the team in solo tackles with six, including a tackle for loss. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Deablo earned an 82.6 tackle grade, one of his highest grades of the season, and a 76.2 grade for run defense. Deablo has reached or exceeded 10 tackles three other times this season, proving to be a vital defensive player for Las Vegas heading into the 2024 season.
Featured Wildcard Weekend Matchups
Cleveland Browns at Houston Texans: Saturday, Jan. 13 at 4:30 p.m. ET – NBC
Former Virginia Tech player and now two-time Pro Bowler, guard Wyatt Teller, is making his second playoff appearance with the Cleveland Browns. The Browns finished second in the AFC North, posting an 11-6 record, behind the Ravens. The Houston Texans secured a victory on Saturday against the Indianapolis Colts, clinching their first division title since 2019. This sets the stage for a rematch after Cleveland emerged victorious on Christmas Eve, defeating the Texans 36-22. Teller currently holds the title of the most valuable guard in the NFL this season, according to PFF's wins above replacement model (WAR), heading into this Saturday's matchup.
Miami Dolphins at Kansas City Chiefs: Saturday, Jan. 13 at 8:00 p.m. ET – NBC
In a rematch for a divisional round spot, the Kansas City Chiefs are set to face the Miami Dolphins. Conner, heading into his first playoff game with the Chiefs, has been recognized as an asset, earning praise for his versatility from Kansas City's defensive backs coach Dave Merritt during a Week 16 press conference. The Chiefs secured a 21-14 victory over the Dolphins in Frankfurt, Germany, bringing home a win during Week 9. Hokie fans should be sure to tune in and watch Conner and the Chiefs in this exciting playoff matchup.
Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys: Sunday, Jan. 14 at 4:30 p.m. ET – FOX
The Green Bay Packers boast two NFL Hokies as they gear up for their wild card matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, featuring tackles Yosh Nijman and Luke Tenuta. Having won nine out of their last 10 meetings with the Cowboys, the Packers enter this game fresh off a 17-9 victory over the Chicago Bears. Dallas, with a 12-5 record, clinched the top spot in the NFC East, while Green Bay secured second place in the NFC North, trailing the Detroit Lions. This sets the stage for an exciting game, making it a must-watch for Hokie fans.Gallery: (1-10-2024) NFL Hokies (Regular Season Week 19)