Clemson Football: Ups and downs for Tigers in the NFL Playoffs

With so many former Clemson football players in the NFL Playoffs, there’s bound to be some that ended up on the losing end as in many cases former teammates were pitted against each other.

It began on Saturday with Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne, Tyler Shatley and the Jaguars were game, but fell to the Kansas City Chiefs, 27-20.

Lawrence finished 24 of 39 for 217 yards with a touchdown and an interception, while being generally praised for his play, with several pundits indicating their belief that the Jags will be a force in the AFC in coming seasons.

Travis Etienne ran for 62 yards, a touchdown on 10 carries, and caught 3 passes (on 3 targets) for 18 yards.

The Jaguars were one of the better stories of the NFL season, going from the 3-14 Urban Meyer disaster to an AFC South Division Championship, Wild Card round win and a competitive game against the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes.

Later Saturday the Philadelphia Eagles rolled over the New York Giants 38-7.  K’Von Wallace recorded 3 tackles, a pass defensed and a quarterback hit for the Eagles, while Dexter Lawrence totaled 6 tackles for the Giants to end his stellar season.

In the first Sunday game Tee Higgins had 3 catches for 28 yards on 4 targets and Jackson Carman got the start (due to injury) as the Bengals beat the Bills in snowy Buffalo by a score of 27-10.

Shaq Lawson had 2 tackles and a quarterback hit for the BIlls.

Former Clemson football player Carlos Watkins was injured in the first half of Sunday’s Cowboys – 49ers game

The weekend’s finale matched the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers, with the 49ers coming out on top 19-12.

Ray Ray McCloud had a crucial third-quarter fumble on a punt return that led to a Dallas field goal, but returned the ensuing kickoff 53 yards into Dallas territory.

McCloud had 2 punt returns for 17 yards for the game.

For Dallas, Carlos Watkins was shaken up in the first half and finished with 1 tackle, while Jayron Kearse totaled 5 tackles, including a tackle for loss.

No matter what happens next week, there will be Clemson Tigers in the Super Bowl in 2023.