Red Raiders in the NFL: Week 18

LUBBOCK, Texas – It was a busy week in the NFL, and for the former Red Raiders in it, between the NFL regular season coming to a close and those vying for playoff berths, the Pro Bowl roster was revealed, and roster transactions continued to take place.

Most notable of those that were able to clinch playoff bids and continue their respective seasons was Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, who will host the Miami Dolphins in the wild-card round since clinching its eighth consecutive AFC West crown. Meanwhile, Terence Steele and the Cowboys captured the NFC East title and the No. 2 seed and will host Green Bay while Broderick Washington and the Ravens will have the first round of the playoffs off as they secured a bye with the AFC’s top spot.

Also in the news, Mahomes was named to his sixth Pro Bowl while SaRodorick Thompson, since being released from the Seattle Seahawks practice squad on Oct. 31, was signed to the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad on Jan. 4.

Jack Anderson, OL, Indianapolis Colts (2017-20)
Anderson was placed on the inactive list before the Colts game against the Texans on Saturday. The Colts, in a winner clinches a playoff berth contest, fell to Houston 23-19. The Colts finished 9-8 in 2023 and are now on the clock with the 15th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Season Stats: 1 GP/ 0 GS | no stats
Up Next: Season concluded
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Jordyn Brooks – LB, Seattle Seahawks (2016-19)
Brooks was back in the starting lineup after sitting out Week 17 due to an ankle injury. In his return on Sunday on the road at the Cardinals, Brooks had two tackles and a pass deflection. The Seahawks took a 21-20 lead with less than two minutes and escaped with a win thanks to a 51-yard missed field goal by Arizona as time expired to improve their record to 9-8. Despite the win and being in the playoff hunt during the final week, the Seahawks needed a Green Bay loss, which did not happen. Seattle will have the 16th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Season Stats: 16 GP/ 16 GS | 111 tackles (62 solo), 4.5 sacks, 8 TFLs, 5 QH, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 INT, 4 PD
Up Next: Season concluded
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Cody Davis – DB, New England Patriots (2009-12)
Davis had a multi-tackle performance on special teams recording a solo stop on a punt return and a solo stop on a kick return. The special teams ace saw 15 snaps on a cold and snowy day in Foxborough, which the Patriots lost, 17-3, to the New York Jets. The Patriots finished the season 4-13 and are now on the clock with the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Season Stats: 11 GP/ 0 GS | 5 tackles, 1 FR, 1 TD
Up Next: Season concluded
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Sam Eguavoen – LB, New York Jets (2011-14)
Eguavoen saw action in 23 plays, all on special teams, in the Jets’ 17-3 win on the road versus New England. The Jets’ record improved to 7-10 and are now on the clock with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Season Stats: 15 GP/ 0 GS: 4 tackles, 1 FR
Up Next: Season concluded
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Patrick Mahomes II – QB, Kansas City Chiefs (2014-16)
After the Chiefs clinched their eighth consecutive AFC West crown the week before and locked itself into the No. 3 seed of the AFC wild-card round, Mahomes was inactive in Week 18.

Season Stats: 16 GP/ 16 GS | 401-of-597 (67.2%), 4,183 yards, 27 TD, 14 INT, 92.5 QBR | 75 carries, 389 rushing yards, 0 TD
Up Next: Wild-Card round, vs. Miami; Saturday, 7 p.m.
Playoffs: AFC No. 3 Seed
Terence Steele – OL, Dallas Cowboys (2016-19)
Steele and the Cowboys ran away with a 38-10 victory on the road at Washington, which clinched the NFC East and the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs with a 12-5 record. Steele was in action for 90 percent of the game’s offensive snaps as he and the majority of the Cowboys starters were rested in the fourth quarter.

Season Stats: 17 GP/ 17 GS
Up Next: Wild-Card round, vs. Green Bay; Sunday, 3:30 p.m.
Playoffs: NFC No. 2 Seed
Broderick Washington Jr. – DL, Baltimore Ravens (2016-19)
Washington had three tackles and a fumble recovery in the Ravens’ 17-10 loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday afternoon. The Ravens, who had already locked up the AFC North division title, No. 1 seed, and the AFC’s lone first-round bye, were not affected by the outcome and will return to play for the Divisional Round of the playoffs, Jan. 20-21.

Season Stats: 15 GP/ 5 GS | 18 tackles (10 solo), 2 sacks, 3 TFL, 5 QH, 2 FR
Up Next: Divisional Round, vs. TBD
Playoffs: AFC No. 1 Seed
Tyree Wilson – DE, Las Vegas Raiders (2020-22)
Wilson saw action in 41 percent of the Raiders’ defensive snaps and also chipped in on special teams for two plays. The Raiders, who were already eliminated from playoff contention, ended the season on a high note by defeating the Broncos 27-14, improving to 8-9. Wilson actively disrupted Denver’s offense, logging four quarterback hurries, doubling his season total to eight, and got to the quarterback once recording a sack. The Raiders will own the No. 13 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Season Stats: 17 GP/0 GS | 29 tackles (16 Solo), 3.5 Sacks, 2 TFL, 8 QH, 1 FF, 1 FR
Up Next: Season concluded
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Injured Reserve

Dawson Deaton, OL (2018-21), Cleveland Browns
Playoffs: Clinched
Jakeem Grant Sr., WR (2012-15), Cleveland Browns
Playoffs: Clinched
Zech McPhearson, DB (2019-20), Philadelphia Eagles
Playoffs: Clinched
Reserve/Non-Football Injury

Erik Ezukanma – WR (2019-21), Miami Dolphins
Playoffs: Clinched
Practice Squad

Le’Raven Clark, OL (2011-15), Philadelphia Eagles
Playoffs: Clinched
Kerry Hyder Jr., DL (2009-13), Houston Texans
Playoffs: Clinched

Super Wild Card Weekend

Saturday, Jan. 13
AFC: 3:30 p.m. — 5-Cleveland at 4-Houston — NBC
AFC: 7:00 p.m. — 6-Miami at 3-Kansas City (Mahomes) — Peacock​

Sunday, Jan. 14
AFC: 12:00 p.m. — 7-Pittsburgh at 2-Buffalo — CBS
NFC: 3:30 p.m. — 7-Green Bay at 2-Dallas (Steele) — FOX
NFC: 7:00 p.m. — 6-Los Angeles Rams at 3-Detroit — NBC

Monday, Jan. 15
NFC: 7:00 p.m. — 5-Philadelphia at 4-Tampa Bay — ESPN/ABC

American Football Conference Playoff Field

Baltimore Ravens (13-4), AFC North Champion — Broderick Washington
Buffalo Bills (11-6), AFC East Champion
Kansas City Chiefs (11-6), AFC West Champion — Patrick Mahomes
Houston Texans (10-7), AFC South Champion — Kerry Hyder Jr. (practice squad)
Cleveland Browns (11-6) — Dawson Deaton (IR), Jakeem Grant Sr. (IR)
Miami Dolphins (11-6) — Erik Ezukanma (inj.)
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
National Football Conference Playoff Field
San Francisco 49ers (12-5), NFC West Champion
Dallas Cowboys (12-5), NFC East Champion — Terence Steele, SaRodorick Thompson (practice squad)
Detroit Lions (12-5), NFC North Champion
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8), NFC South Champion
Philadelphia Eagles (11-6) — Zech McPhearson (IR), Le’Raven Clark (practice squad)
Los Angeles Rams (10-7)
Green Bay Packers (9-8)

2024 FIRST-ROUND DRAFT ORDER

# Team Win Loss
1. Carolina Panthers
(traded to Chicago) 2 15
2. Washington Commanders 4 13
3. New England Patriots 4 13
4. Arizona Cardinals 4 13
5. Los Angeles Chargers 5 12
6. New York Giants 6 11
7. Tennessee Titans 6 11
8. Atlanta Falcons 7 10
9. Chicago Bears 7 10
10. New York Jets 7 10
11. Minnesota Vikings 7 10
12. Denver Broncos 8 9
13. Las Vegas Raiders 8 9
14. New Orleans Saints 9 8
15. Indianapolis Colts 9 8
16. Seattle Seahawks 9 8
17. Jacksonville Jaguars 9 8
18. Cincinnati Bengals 9 8

-TECH-

Release provided by Matt Burkholder Texas Tech Athletics