WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The NFL postseason kicks off Saturday afternoon with seven Demon Deacons in action over five of the six Wild Card games this weekend. Last season saw two Deacs on opposite sidelines in the Super Bowl, with one grabbing an interception in the big game, Rams quarterback John Wolford.
Here’s a recap on how the playoff Deacs did this season and a look ahead to the Wild Card Round.
Cincinnati Bengals, Jessie Bates III and Nate Gilliam
The defending AFC champs will begin their defense of the conference crown Sunday night as they host the Baltimore Ravens at 8:15 p.m. on NBC. At 12-4, the Bengals were named AFC North Champions for the second-consecutive season, marking the first time in franchise history the team won back-to-back division titles. Additionally, 12 wins is tied for the most in franchise history, with the most recent occurrence coming in 2015.
As a team, Cincinnati posted the fifth-best scoring defense (20.1 PPG) and the seventh-best rush defense (106.6 YPG) in the NFL. A large part of that is thanks to Jessie Bates III. Bates III finished the regular season tied for the team-high with four interceptions. The fifth-year safety also tallied 71 tackles (fourth on the team), eight pass breakups (second on the team) and forced a fumble. He was one of two defensive players on the team to record over 1,000 snaps.
According to ProFootballFocus, Bates III was the fourth-highest rated defender on the team and highest-rated defensive back, with a 76.8 grade this season. He also finished with the best rush defense grade on the team (84.8), which also ranked fifth out of all safeties in the NFL.
Over the course of his five-year career with the franchise, Bates III has totaled nearly 500 tackles for the Bengals and 14 interceptions. The four interceptions this season mark a career high.
Los Angeles Chargers, Ja’Sir Taylor and Sage Surratt
The Chargers will be making their first postseason appearance since 2018. After barely missing out last season, their 10-7 record was good for second in the AFC West to earn the first wild card spot in the AFC. The team finished seventh in the NFL with 200.4 pass yards allowed per game. Los Angeles will travel to Jacksonville on Sunday night to take on the Jaguars at 8:15 p.m. on NBC.
Ja’Sir Taylor, the Chargers’ sixth-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft, spent most of the season on special…
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