Out of the 18 former NC State football players that ended the 2018 season on an NFL roster, 8 of them advanced to the playoffs that begin today with the Wild Card round.
Rookie Running Back Nyheim Hines and Quarterback Jacoby Brissett and the Colts (10-6) will kick off the 1st game of the NFL Playoffs. Indianapolis claimed the last Wild Card spot, and will face off against their AFC South foe Houston (11-5) on the road at 4:35 this afternoon. The Colts enter the game as 1.5 point underdogs. The 2 teams split the series in the regular season, with each team winning on the road. The Colts lost 37-34 in overtime in Indy on September 30th, and won 24-21 in Houston on December 9th.
Hines collected 12 receptions for 79 yards and 2 touchdowns combined in the Colts two games versus the Texans this season.
Brissett didn’t take a snap against Houston in the regular season.
Quarterback Russell Wilson and Offensive Guard JR Sweezy and the Seahawks (10-6) will face off against the Cowboys (10-6) down in Dallas for the night cap tonight at 8:15pm. Seattle enters the game as a 2-point underdog. The Seahawks made it into the playoffs as the top Wild Card in the NFC. Seattle defeated Dallas 24-13 at home in Week 3 in their lone matchup in the regular season.
Wilson was solid against the Boys in the regular season victory, completing 16 of his 26 passes for 192 yards and 2 touchdowns (0 interceptions), with a QB Rating of 109.8.
Sweezy started in all 15 of the games he played in this year, including the game against the Cowboys.
Quarterback Philip Rivers, Defensive Tackle Justin Jones and Defensive Tackle T.Y. McGill and the Chargers (12-4) will face-off against the Ravens (10-6) on Sunday at 1:05pm in Baltimore. Los Angeles made it into the playoffs as the top Wild Card team in the AFC, and enter the game as 2.5 point underdogs. The Chargers fell to the Ravens 22-10 at home in Week 16 in their 1 matchup in the regular season.
Rivers’ worst game of the 2018 regular season came against the Ravens at home in Week 16, posting a QB Rating of 51.7. He completed 23 of his 37 passes for 181 yards and 2 interceptions (0 touchdowns). Jones saw action in 15 games this year, and recorded 1 tackle against Baltimore as a reserve. McGill played in 6 games for Los Angeles this year, but was inactive against the Ravens.
Offensive Guard Joe Thuney and the Patriots (11-5) earned a 1st round bye after winning the AFC East. Thuney has started every regular season and playoff game for New England since being drafted as a rookie three years ago.