The Mighty Have Fallen

By the end of Saturday’s Patriots-Titans game, the student had become the master. HC Mike Vrabel and his Tennessee team upset the powerful Patriots, with whom Vrabel won three Super Bowls during his playing career. He dialed up the run game against New England’s top-ranked defense and dominated to the tune of 201 yards. For the Pats, John Simon represented as a former Buckeye on the field. In the last game of his seventh NFL season, Simon notched five total tackles and a tackle for loss. The Titans might just be the hottest team in the league right now, and Vrabel keeps his second season as a head coach alive in style. (Image courtesy: titansonline.com)

Shoutout Mike Vrabel #GoBucks

— Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) January 5, 2020

In his first playoff game as a head coach, he:
• Won on the road
• Defeated the defending champions
• Beat his former coach pic.twitter.com/K3d6WDK4MB

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) January 5, 2020

Mike Vrabel went a long way toward winning this game with his clock management. He also showed zero respect for #Patriots offense. And coached to win on the last drive. Only Derrick Henry had a better night than he did. #Titans

— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) January 5, 2020

That was a defining moment for Mike Vrabel as Head Coach. Incredible win. And make no mistake about it. Baltimore will be nervous.

— Chad Withrow (@withrowzone) January 5, 2020

H-Town Showdown

Earlier on Saturday, the Texans outlasted the invading Bills in an OT battle, and former Buckeyes impacted both sides of the ball for the victors. Offensively, Houston RB Carlos Hyde rushed for 48 yards and caught one pass, which resulted in a five-yard TD and gave his team a late lead. Texans CBs Gareon Conley and Bradley Roby held down the perimeter by combining for 14 tackles and five pass breakups. Perhaps the most important stat, each played every one of Houston’s defensive snaps, proving that when the moment is biggest, Buckeyes tend to deliver. (Image courtesy: houstontexans.com)

Watson to Hyde for the LEAD!#BUFvsHOU pic.twitter.com/GwEERaoMU7

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 5, 2020

Texans’ defensive snap counts:
Zach Cunningham, Justin Reid, Benardrick McKinney, Gareon Conley and Bradley Roby all played 100 percent of the 85 defensive snaps against Bills. Whitney Mercilus next highest 84 percent

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) January 6, 2020

Bradley Roby almost got the game sealing INT. That was a very tough play to make though.

— Chris Kern (@chriskern11) January 5, 2020

Great play by Gareon Conley to break this up #WeAreTexans #Texans #BUFvsHOU pic.twitter.com/A345HvNV61

— Slightly Biased (@BiasedSlightly) January 4, 2020

Jenkins Flies in Philly’s Fall

Speaking of durable defensive backs, Eagles SAF Malcolm Jenkins saw the field every defensive snap for his team this season. He continued that trend in Sunday’s Wild Card loss vs. the Seahawks and contributed nine total tackles, a tackle for loss, and a sack. After forcing a career-high four fumbles, tying a career-high with 2.5 sacks, and showing his reliability each game this year, Jenkins’ future looks as promising as ever ahead of his upcoming 12th NFL season. (Image courtesy: philadelphiaeagles.com)

Malcolm Jenkins snuck around the corner @MalcolmJenkins pic.twitter.com/QjiqrVkInr

— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) January 6, 2020

Malcolm Jenkins plays his heart out on every snap, of every game, of every week, of every year. #Eagles

— Emmanuel Acho (@thEMANacho) January 6, 2020

I love this team, I love this city, and I love this game! I have no regrets… after 11 seasons, I’m healthy, energized, and poised to continue to play at a high level. My greatest motivations are my teammates and I’m damn proud to be their leader #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/HuFLZmu9sy

— Malcolm Jenkins (@MalcolmJenkins) January 6, 2020

Who (Like) Dat

The national media gave the Vikings little shot to win Sunday afternoon in the Superdome. In response, OG Pat Elflein and company churned out nearly 400 total yards of offense. DE Jalyn Holmes recovered a fourth quarter fumble to halt a New Orleans drive and eventually force OT, where the Vikings won and punched their ticket to the Divisional Round. As a result, five former Buckeyes on the Saints see their season end. WR Michael Thomas capped his record-breaking season with a seven-catch, 70-yard effort, and WR Ted Ginn, Jr. also pitched in one catch for 18 yards in the loss. Defensively, SAF Vonn Bell recovered an early fumble and tacked on seven total tackles while CB Marshon Lattimore had four tackles of his own. (Images courtesy: vikings.com & neworleanssaints.com)

-Michael Thomas
-Marshon Lattimore
-Ted Ginn Jr.
-Eli Apple
-Vonn Bell

Ohio State South looking good today. pic.twitter.com/gw7z2gkNYP

— PFF College (@PFF_College) January 5, 2020

The @Saints force a turnover to start the game.

Janoris Jenkins knocks the ball loose and @Vonn Bell picks it up! @JjenkzLockdown #Saints #NFLPlayoffs

: #MINvsNO on FOX
: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app
Watch free on mobile: https://t.co/BngxhzS5KF pic.twitter.com/t5sMYj2qcq

— NFL (@NFL) January 5, 2020

Ted Ginn Jr. left Trae Waynes covering his shadowpic.twitter.com/5Mo3nF5dRY

— PFF (@PFF) January 5, 2020

Divisional Round is Set…

Eleven former Buckeyes remain in the hunt for a Super Bowl title. The AFC’s top-seeded Ravens are the only team without a Buckeye affiliation. They host Tennessee, whose roster doesn’t include any Buckeyes, but is still well-represented by Vrabel and assistant Kerry Coombs. Elflein and his Vikings are tasked with keeping DE Nick Bosa and the 49ers’ ferocious pass rushers out of the backfield when those two meet for the first game of the weekend. Five total Buckeyes take the field when Houston travels to Kansas City, and three former Ohio State OL are represented in the Packers-Seahawks matchup that ends the weekend slate.