Kaiir Elam made an interception in his first playoff game as a rookie to help the Bills defeat the Dolphins.
Gators in the NFL: Super Wild Card Weekend
Tuesday, January 17, 2023 | Football
Gators made game-changing plays to start the playoffs.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – As the hunt for the Lombardi Trophy begins, several Gators find themselves alive in the playoffs.
All games in the playoffs' opening weekend had a representative from Florida on the field, as 22 total Gators qualified for the postseason.
In the NFL playoffs, every play matters. And big plays are magnified. A pair of Gators changed the game on Sunday.
Defensive Highlights
It was midway through the third quarter. Crunch time was approaching. The two-seed 13-3 Buffalo Bills were on the ropes down 24-20 to the seven-seed 9-win Miami Dolphins.
All momentum had shifted in Miami's favor. The Buffalo defense needed to make a play.
In an instant, the rook' was there to the rescue. Bills rookie cornerback Kaiir Elam made the momentum-shifting play of the game, giving his team energy and the ball deep in Miami territory.
Elam stepped in front of the receiver and leaped up for his third career interception, and the first of his young playoff career.
Buffalo found the endzone just five plays later, taking a lead they wouldn't give back.
But Elam wasn't done.
Now late in the final frame, with Buffalo holding on to a three-point advantage, the former first round pick, Elam, sealed the deal.
4th and six. Game on the line. Elam made the play to save the day.
His first career playoff game was surely one Elam will never forget. Memories made and lessons learned. He'll take the memories, lessons and the confidence into a highly-anticipated divisional date with Cincinnati on Sunday.
Another Gator defender made his name known on the playoff stat sheet this weekend. Vikings defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard did it all Sunday, tallying a tackle, tackle for loss, QB hit and this second quarter sack:
The impressive effort fell just short as the six-seed Giants upset the three-seed Vikings, sending New York linebacker Jarrad Davis – who made his first career playoff start – and the G-men to the divisional round, where they'll face CJ Gardner-Johnson and the top-seeded Philadelphia Eagles.
Offensive Highlights
Big plays are magnified in the postseason. And there are few bigger plays in football than a long touchdown grab.
Demarcus Robinson is no stranger to the deep ball – dating back to his days at Florida.
Down seven late in quarter three, Robinson displayed his quickness, juked out the DB, got wide open down field, made the grab and walked in for six. Just like that the game was tied.
Robinson broke a pair ankles en route to the endzone.
The seventh-year wideout now has 269 receiving yards in 14 career playoff games.
The big play was the second playoff touchdown grab of his career and kept Baltimore in it throughout.
But Zach Carter, Evan McPherson and the Cincinnati Bengals were just too much for the underdog Ravens, setting up a Bills-Bengals showdown next week.
Baltimore Ravens (Baltimore 17 - Cincinnati 24)
10 - Demarcus Robinson - WR - 7th year (Caught two passes for 49 yards and a touchdown)
48 - Jeremiah Moon - OLB - Rookie (Practice Squad)
74 - David Sharpe - OT - 5th year (Practice Squad)
Buffalo Bills (Buffalo 34 - Miami 31)
24 - Kaiir Elam - CB - Rookie (Recorded two tackles, two passes defended and one interception)
Cincinnati Bengals (Cincinnati 24 - Baltimore 17)
95 - Zachary Carter - DL - Rookie (Started at defensive tackle, recorded four tackles)
2 - Evan McPherson - K - 2nd year (1-for-2 on extra points, 1-for-1 on field goals connecting from 39 yards away)
Dallas Cowboys (Dallas 31 - Tampa Bay 14)
56 - Dante Fowler Jr. - OLB - 8th year (Recorded one tackle)
34 - Malik Davis - RB – Rookie (Appeared at running back)
14 - Antonio Callaway - WR - 3rd year (Practice squad)
Jacksonville Jaguars (Jacksonville 31 - LA Chargers 30)
75 - Jawaan Taylor - OT - 5th year (Started at right tackle)
Kansas City Chiefs (Bye)
8 - Carlos Dunlap - DE - 13th year
19 - Kadarius Toney - WR - 2nd year
5 - Tommy Townsend - P - 3rd year
Miami Dolphins (Miami 31 - Buffalo 34)
22 - La'Mical Perine - RB - 3rd year (Active)
Minnesota Vikings (Minnesota 24 - NY Giants 31)
93 - Jonathan Bullard - DL - 7th year (Recorded one tackle, one tackle for loss, one sack and one QB hit)
New York Giants (NY Giants 31 - Minnesota 24)
57 - Jarrad Davis - LB - 6th year (Started at linebacker, recorded two tackles and one QB hit)
Philadelphia Eagles (Bye)
23 - C.J. Gardner-Johnson - S - 3rd year
Fred Johnson – OT – 4th year (Practice Squad)
Seattle Seahawks (Seattle 23 - San Francisco 49)
78 - Stone Forsythe - OL - 2nd year (Appeared at tackle)
39 - Teez Tabor - DB - 4th year (Appeared on special teams)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Tampa Bay 14 - Dallas 31)
22 - Keanu Neal - S - 7th year (Inactive)
2 - Kyle Trask - QB - 2nd year (Inactive)
All games in the playoffs' opening weekend had a representative from Florida on the field, as 22 total Gators qualified for the postseason.
In the NFL playoffs, every play matters. And big plays are magnified. A pair of Gators changed the game on Sunday.
Defensive Highlights
It was midway through the third quarter. Crunch time was approaching. The two-seed 13-3 Buffalo Bills were on the ropes down 24-20 to the seven-seed 9-win Miami Dolphins.
All momentum had shifted in Miami's favor. The Buffalo defense needed to make a play.
In an instant, the rook' was there to the rescue. Bills rookie cornerback Kaiir Elam made the momentum-shifting play of the game, giving his team energy and the ball deep in Miami territory.
Elam stepped in front of the receiver and leaped up for his third career interception, and the first of his young playoff career.
Rookie makin' plays 🔥
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) January 15, 2023
📺: #MIAvsBUF on CBSpic.twitter.com/ykJgjl7Mxa
Buffalo found the endzone just five plays later, taking a lead they wouldn't give back.
But Elam wasn't done.
Now late in the final frame, with Buffalo holding on to a three-point advantage, the former first round pick, Elam, sealed the deal.
4th and six. Game on the line. Elam made the play to save the day.
Kaiir Elam knocks away the 4th down pass!
— NFL (@NFL) January 15, 2023
📺: #MIAvsBUF on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/zCGXBeNnOK pic.twitter.com/TcwtDoEKgn
His first career playoff game was surely one Elam will never forget. Memories made and lessons learned. He'll take the memories, lessons and the confidence into a highly-anticipated divisional date with Cincinnati on Sunday.
Another Gator defender made his name known on the playoff stat sheet this weekend. Vikings defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard did it all Sunday, tallying a tackle, tackle for loss, QB hit and this second quarter sack:
Jonathan Bullard 2-yd sack of Daniel Jones#Giants 14 #Vikings 7 2ɴᴅ pic.twitter.com/bTRgADB3tu
— Sᴘᴏʀᴛs 24/7 (@Sports_24x7_) January 15, 2023
The impressive effort fell just short as the six-seed Giants upset the three-seed Vikings, sending New York linebacker Jarrad Davis – who made his first career playoff start – and the G-men to the divisional round, where they'll face CJ Gardner-Johnson and the top-seeded Philadelphia Eagles.
Offensive Highlights
Big plays are magnified in the postseason. And there are few bigger plays in football than a long touchdown grab.
Demarcus Robinson is no stranger to the deep ball – dating back to his days at Florida.
Down seven late in quarter three, Robinson displayed his quickness, juked out the DB, got wide open down field, made the grab and walked in for six. Just like that the game was tied.
Demarcus Robinson goes 41 yards for the TD! @Demarcus
— NFL (@NFL) January 16, 2023
📺: #BALvsCIN on NBC
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/hNJJJGqxGF pic.twitter.com/EX8A3FIiQK
Robinson broke a pair ankles en route to the endzone.
Demarcus Robinson vs Eli Apple 🤧
— PFF (@PFF) January 16, 2023
pic.twitter.com/WOLu5P5O2T
The seventh-year wideout now has 269 receiving yards in 14 career playoff games.
The big play was the second playoff touchdown grab of his career and kept Baltimore in it throughout.
But Zach Carter, Evan McPherson and the Cincinnati Bengals were just too much for the underdog Ravens, setting up a Bills-Bengals showdown next week.
Baltimore Ravens (Baltimore 17 - Cincinnati 24)
10 - Demarcus Robinson - WR - 7th year (Caught two passes for 49 yards and a touchdown)
48 - Jeremiah Moon - OLB - Rookie (Practice Squad)
74 - David Sharpe - OT - 5th year (Practice Squad)
Buffalo Bills (Buffalo 34 - Miami 31)
24 - Kaiir Elam - CB - Rookie (Recorded two tackles, two passes defended and one interception)
Cincinnati Bengals (Cincinnati 24 - Baltimore 17)
95 - Zachary Carter - DL - Rookie (Started at defensive tackle, recorded four tackles)
2 - Evan McPherson - K - 2nd year (1-for-2 on extra points, 1-for-1 on field goals connecting from 39 yards away)
Dallas Cowboys (Dallas 31 - Tampa Bay 14)
56 - Dante Fowler Jr. - OLB - 8th year (Recorded one tackle)
34 - Malik Davis - RB – Rookie (Appeared at running back)
14 - Antonio Callaway - WR - 3rd year (Practice squad)
Jacksonville Jaguars (Jacksonville 31 - LA Chargers 30)
75 - Jawaan Taylor - OT - 5th year (Started at right tackle)
Kansas City Chiefs (Bye)
8 - Carlos Dunlap - DE - 13th year
19 - Kadarius Toney - WR - 2nd year
5 - Tommy Townsend - P - 3rd year
Miami Dolphins (Miami 31 - Buffalo 34)
22 - La'Mical Perine - RB - 3rd year (Active)
Minnesota Vikings (Minnesota 24 - NY Giants 31)
93 - Jonathan Bullard - DL - 7th year (Recorded one tackle, one tackle for loss, one sack and one QB hit)
New York Giants (NY Giants 31 - Minnesota 24)
57 - Jarrad Davis - LB - 6th year (Started at linebacker, recorded two tackles and one QB hit)
Philadelphia Eagles (Bye)
23 - C.J. Gardner-Johnson - S - 3rd year
Fred Johnson – OT – 4th year (Practice Squad)
Seattle Seahawks (Seattle 23 - San Francisco 49)
78 - Stone Forsythe - OL - 2nd year (Appeared at tackle)
39 - Teez Tabor - DB - 4th year (Appeared on special teams)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Tampa Bay 14 - Dallas 31)
22 - Keanu Neal - S - 7th year (Inactive)
2 - Kyle Trask - QB - 2nd year (Inactive)
Players Mentioned
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