The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
01.18.2016 | Football
Center Lyle Sendlein and the Arizona Cardinals defeated the Green Bay Packers 26-21 on Saturday.
The NFL played its divisional round of playoff games this weekend and several Longhorns participated. Two former Longhorns who anchor their respective lines both moved on to the championship round. In the NFC, C Lyle Sendlein and the Arizona Cardinals were able to hold on in overtime and defeat the Green Bay Packers 26-21 on Saturday. Over in the AFC and also on Saturday, DT Malcom Brown and his New England Patriots were able to hold off Derrick Johnson's Kansas City Chiefs, 27-20.
Sendlein made a key block to spring WR Larry Fitzgerald into the end zone on a five-yard shovel pass to end the game. The Cardinals now travel to Charlotte to take on the Carolina Panthers in the NFC Championship Game at 5:40pm CT(FOX) on Sunday.
Brown helped the Patriots' defense hold the Chiefs to only six first-half points and out of the endzone until late in the third quarter. The Patriots will now travel to Denver to face the Broncos in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday at 2:05pm CT(CBS).
Although the Kansas City Chiefs have been eliminated from the playoffs, LB Derrick Johnson most likely puts himself in contention for comeback player of the year. After missing last season with an injury, Johnson finished the 2015 season and led the Chiefs with 123 tackles (98 solo), adding four sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.
Safety Earl Thomas and the Seattle Seahawks also have been eliminated, but Thomas is headed to the Pro Bowl for the fifth time in six seasons. Thomas was unable to play in either of the past two Pro Bowls due the Seahawks participation in the Super Bowl, however he becomes the sixth Longhorn with five selections. He joins Earl Campbell, Casey Hampton, Bobby Layne, Bud McFadin and Tommy Nobis in that group. This season, Thomas pulled in a team-high five interceptions to go with 74 tackles, eight passes defended and one forced fumble.
Divisional round performances:
Arizona Cardinals
C Lyle Sendlein anchored a line that helped QB Carson Palmer to 25 completions on 41 attempts for 349 yards and three touchdowns as the Cardinals defeated the Green Bay Packers 26-21 on Saturday.
Alex Okafor was placed on reserve/non-football injury before the game and did not play.
Cory Redding was placed on injured reserve before the game and did not play.
Carrington Byndom remains on the practice squad.
Jaxon Shipley remains on the practice squad.
Carolina Panthers
RB Fozzy Whittaker's Panthers defeated the Seattle Seahawks, 31-24.
Kansas City Chiefs
LB Derrick Johnson had four total tackles with three solo in the Chiefs' 27-20 loss to the New England Patriots.
RB Jamaal Charles remains on injured reserve.
New England Patriots
DT Malcom Brown tallied five total tackles including one solo tackle in the Patriots 27-20 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday.
CB Tarell Brown remains on injured reserve.
Seattle Seahawks
S Earl Thomas recorded seven total tackles including two solo in the Seahawks' 31-24 loss to the Carolina Panthers.
