KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A strong defensive effort and a drawn charge by John Fulkerson in the closing seconds propelled Tennessee to a 56-55 win over South Carolina Saturday at Thompson-Boling Arena.
With Tennessee leading by one with six seconds remaining, South Carolina guard A.J. Lawson grabbed the rebound off a UT missed 3-pointer and raced the length of the court to attempt a go-ahead shot. As Lawson drove down the lane, Fulkerson stepped in front and drew a charge with 1.4 seconds remaining, giving the Vols possession and securing the win.
Fulkerson led the Vols in scoring with 15 points and also grabbed 10 rebounds, achieving the second double-double of his career and first of the season. Freshmen Santiago Vescovi and Josiah-Jordan James also scored in double figures with 13 and 10, respectively.
Defensively, Tennessee (10-5, 2-1 SEC) held its opponent to less than 60 points for the seventh time this season and recorded a season-high 11 blocked shots.
Maik Kotsar had 17 points and Jermaine Couisnard had 15 to pace South Carolina (8-7, 0-2).
After coming out of halftime with a one-point lead, South Carolina opened the second half on a 13-6 run, as Tennessee converted on just two of its first nine attempts from the field.
With the Gamecocks holding their largest lead of the game at 39-31, the Vols came alive on the offensive end with a 20-5 run, capped by back-to-back threes from the freshman duo of Drew Pember and James. The run put Tennessee in front, 51-44, a lead it would not relinquish for the remainder of the game despite South Carolina threatening on multiple occasions.
Over the course of the run, Tennessee held South Carolina without a field goal for more than six minutes, as the Gamecocks missed 10 consecutive shots.
South Carolina took a 26-25 lead into halftime in a first half marred by scoring droughts and shooting struggles. The Vols shot just 7-for-27 (.259) from the field during the game’s opening period.
After jumping out to a quick 7-0 lead during the game’s first minute and a half, Tennessee went more than 10 minutes of game time without making a field goal. As a result of Tennessee’s scoring drought, South Carolina seized a 16-10 lead that the Vols responded to with a 9-0 run to go back in front.
From there, the lead changed hands once more as the Gamecocks executed an 8-2 run over the course of the half’s final four and a half minutes to take the slight advantage into the break.
FROM THE LINE: TheVols gained some separation in the second half at the free-throw line, shooting 14-for-16 from the charity stripe. Tennessee’s 22 made free throws were its second-most of the season.
LOCKDOWN DEFENSE: South Carolina’s stretch of more than six minutes without a field goal during the second half marked the eighth time this season that Tennessee has held an opponent without a field goal for more than five minutes.
YVES’ STREAK CONTINUES:Yves Pons’ five-block performance was his third straight game with three or more blocks, marking the first time a Vol has accomplished that feat since Kyle Alexander in December 2017. Pons has eight games this season in which he has recorded three or more blocks.
Pons has also now blocked at least one shot in all 15 of Tennessee’s games this season.
UP NEXT: The Vols hit the road and head down to Athens, Georgia, for a Wednesday night tilt with Georgia at Stegeman Coliseum. The game tips off at 7 p.m. ET and will be televised on ESPNU.
Tennessee men’s basketball head coach Rick Barnes spoke to reporters after UT’s 56-55 win over South Carolina Saturday afternoon in Knoxville. Watch that full press conference below.
Vols HC Rick Barnes / Credit: 99.1 The Sports Animal
South Carolina men’s basketball head coach Frank Martin spoke to reporters in the postgame after Tennessee’s 56-55 win in Knoxville on Saturday. Watch the full press conference below.
South Carolina HC Frank Martin / Credit: 99.1 The Sports Animal
Shoot a bunch of bricks, play rock-solid defense, then make several plays down the stretch.
That was enough to win a hard-fought yet ugly SEC game against South Carolina 56-55 Saturday afternoon before an impressive crowd of 19,603 at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Junior power forward John Fulkerson downed a dunk, blocked a shot and took a charge to spark the victory. Fulkerson finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds and was one of the few Vols who had a decent shooting percentage (5 for 7).
“If he can give us a double double every night,’’ Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said of Fulkerson, “that’s what we need from him.’’
In the final 3:30 of the game, Fulkerson had a put-back dunk, then a block, then made as big as play as there was in the game – he draw a charge from a charging A.J. Lawson with 1.4 seconds left on the clock.
Barnes was asked if Fulkerson drawing a charge at that moment was a risky play.
“If he hadn’t,’’ Barnes said, “he (Lawson) would have probably dunked the ball.’’
South Carolina coach Frank Martin was impressed with Fulkerson’s moxy.
“Give their guy credit more than our guy getting fault,’’ Martin said.
Tennessee (10-5, 1-1 SEC) won despite horrific shooting. The Vols hit 25.9% from the field (14 of 54) and – after making 24 of 50 from 3-point range in the last two games – went 6 of 31 from beyond the arc (19.4%).
Senior Jordan Bowden, who has scored more points than any Vol this season, was a frigid 1 of 17 from the field, 1 of 12 on 3s. Many of his misses were open looks.
Bowden, who was 3 of 25 shooting against Wisconsin and LSU but bounced back against Missouri, seemed to be pressing again as he tries to carry a larger scoring burden with the absences of the injured Lamonte Turner.
“Bowden missed another point blank layup,’’ said an irritated Barnes.
“If he’s not playing well, we’re not going to leave him out there.’’
Tennessee led 56-52 with 1:20 left after a pair of Santiago Vescovi free throws.
South Carolina made three free throws sandwiched around Vescovi’s seventh turnover of the game to cut the margin to 56-55 with 36.5 seconds left.
Bowden missed a forced 3 with eight seconds left on the shot clock but the Gamecocks knocked the ball out of bounds with 10.4 seconds left.
UT’s inbounds passed sailed past the half-court line where Vescovi retrieved it and throw it toward UT’s basket.
South Carolina then set sail for UT’s basket but Lawson was called for the charge.
“That was a heady play by that young man,’’ Martin said of Vescovi, “to save the ball and throw it toward their basket.
“As he adjusts to how we defend (in the United States) I think he’ll be a real good player in this league.’’
Barnes liked the fact his team won despite a horrendous shooting outing. The two teams actually combined for more turnovers (38) than made field goals (34).
“I thought our guys played as hard as they could play,’’ Barnes said.
Barnes also thanked the boisterous crowd. Barnes said he told his team “if you want the fans to be with you, they appreciate playing hard.’’
Tennessee did play hard, just not very well.
But they did get a spark off the bench from freshman Drew Pember, a Knoxville product who hit a key 3 and scored five points with two rebounds in 10 minutes.
“I thought his presence out there was good,’’ Barnes said.
Arguably the difference in the game came at the foul line. Tennessee was 22 of 28, SC 13 of 22.
“Against South Carolina,’’ Barnes said, “you’ve got to try to get the line 25-plus times. If not, they’ll manhandle you.’’
Barnes did credit SC’s defense: “There’s not a better defensive team in the country.’’
But he also bemoaned the fact UT missed a bunch of open shots.
And he knows that will catch up with the Vols against other teams.
“We’ve got guys that can make shots,’’ Barnes said. “We’ve got to do it when the lights come on.’’
Santa Clara, CA – November 11, 2019 – Levi’s Stadium: Emmanuel Moseley (41) of the San Francisco 49ers during a regular season Monday Night Football game (Photo by Kohjiro Kinno / ESPN Images)
Here’s the schedule for the Divisional Round Weekend in the NFL Playoffs.
With the games and times listed you’ll find a lot of great and informative notes directly from the NFL Communications office.
My predicted winners are in CAPS and bold..
2018 Season Prediction Record: 167-100 (63%) 2019 Week 16 Prediction Record: 3-1 (75%) 2019 Season Prediction Record: 170-91 (65%)
NFL WELCOMES SEVEN NEW TEAMS TO DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS
The NFL’s 100th season has reached the Divisional playoffs, and new teams abound.
Seven of the remaining eight clubs in contention for the Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl LIV in Miami were not in the Divisional playoffs last year. That’s the largest year-to-year turnover in the Divisional round since 1990, when the NFL instituted the current 12-team playoff format. In other words, 15 teams have been one game from advancing to the AFC or NFC Championship Game since the beginning of the 2018 playoffs.
This weekend’s schedule:
Saturday, January 11
NFC
Minnesota at SAN FRANCISCO
4:35 PM ET
NBC
AFC
Tennessee at BALTIMORE
8:15 PM ET
CBS
Sunday, January 12
AFC
Houston at KANSAS CITY
3:05 PM ET
CBS
NFC
Seattle at GREEN BAY
6:40 PM ET
FOX
VFLs and Knoxville area players in the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs Harrison Smith – S – Minnesota (Catholic HS) Britton Colquitt – P – Minnesota (Tennessee) Emmanuel Moseley – CB – San Francisco (Tennessee) Jalen Hurd – WR – San Francisco (one-time Vol) *RESERVE/INJURED Morgan Cox – LS – Baltimore (Tennessee) Zach Fulton – OG – Houston (Tennessee) Dustin Colquitt – P – Kansas City (Tennessee) Kahlil McKenzie – OG – Seattle (Tennessee) *PRACTICE SQUAD
All four clubs in the NFC – the GREEN BAY PACKERS, MINNESOTA VIKINGS, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS and SEATTLE SEAHAWKS – are new to the NFL’s final eight. In the AFC, the BALTIMORE RAVENS, HOUSTON TEXANS and TENNESSEE TITANS join the group, while the KANSAS CITY CHIEFS represent the only club to make a second straight appearance in the Divisional playoffs.
The No. 6-seeded Titans, whose 20-13 win at New England last week ensured that the NFL will have two new Super Bowl teams for the first time in four years, earned a trip to face the AFC’s No. 1 seed, Baltimore, Saturday in primetime (8:15 PM ET, CBS).
Meanwhile, the NFC’s No. 6 seed, Minnesota, earned a 26-20 overtime victory at New Orleans last week to advance to the Divisional round, where No. 1 seed San Francisco awaits in the first game on Saturday (4:35 PM ET, NBC).
The No. 6 seeds are now 4-0 over the past two seasons. For the first time in NFL history, all four No. 6 seeds have advanced to the Divisional playoffs in consecutive years, including INDIANAPOLIS and PHILADELPHIA in 2018.
YOUTH UNDER CENTER: The average age of the eight quarterbacks scheduled to start this weekend is 28 years, 271 days old, the youngest average age of starting quarterbacks in the Divisional playoffs since the 2010 season (28 years, 197 days).
CULTURE OF COMPETITION: Since Super Bowl LI, when New England topped Atlanta, 34-28, in the first overtime in Super Bowl history, postseason games have been fiercely competitive. Beginning with that Super Bowl, the last 27 postseason contests have been decided by just 8.1 points on average.
Four of the NFL’s last seven postseason games have gone to overtime.
Road teams are a combined 8-6 over the last 14 NFL playoff games (excluding the neutral-field Super Bowl LIII).
GIVEAWAY-TAKEAWAY INDICATOR: Seven of the league’s eight remaining teams finished among the NFL’s top 10 in turnover margin this season. GREEN BAY (+12) and SEATTLE (+12), which tied for third in the NFL during the regular season and meet Sunday at Lambeau Field (6:40 PM, FOX), have the best turnover margins among the remaining teams. MINNESOTA (+11, fifth), BALTIMORE (+10, sixth), KANSAS CITY (+8, tied-seventh), TENNESSEE (+6, ninth) and SAN FRANCISCO (+4, tied-10th) also ranked in the top 10 this season.
A closer look at each of the Divisional Playoff games:
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (11-6) at SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (13-3) (Saturday, 4:35 PM ET, NBC)
Minnesota and San Francisco have met five times in the postseason with the 49ers holding a 4-1 advantage. The Vikings prevailed in the 1987 Divisional playoffs but San Francisco rebounded to win Divisional matchups with Minnesota in each of the next two seasons, 1988-89, winning consecutive Super Bowls in the process. The 49ers also won a 1997 Divisional playoff and, in their only playoff meeting outside of San Francisco, beat the Vikings at Metropolitan Stadium in 1970.
The Vikings defeated New Orleans in a Wild Card game last week, 26-20, in overtime. Minnesota quarterback KIRK COUSINS orchestrated a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in overtime, completing the march with a 4-yard pass to tight end KYLE RUDOLPH. Minnesota running back DALVIN COOK had 130 scrimmage yards (94 rushing, 36 receiving) and two rushing touchdowns in the win.
The 49ers won the NFC West for the first time since 2012. Quarterback JIMMY GAROPPOLO (102 passer rating) joined Pro Football Hall of Famers JOE MONTANA and STEVE YOUNG as the only 49ers players to finish a season with a passer rating of 100 or higher since 1950. Tight end GEORGE KITTLE (2,945 receiving yards) surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer MIKE DITKA (2,774) for the most receiving yards ever by a tight end over his first three NFL seasons.
TENNESSEE TITANS (10-7) at BALTIMORE RAVENS (14-2) (Saturday, 8:15 PM ET, CBS)
The Titans and Ravens have three prior playoff meetings, with Baltimore holding a 2-1 lead. On their way to a Super Bowl XXXV victory, the Ravens picked up a win at Tennessee in the 2000 Divisional playoffs. The Ravens also won a 2008 Divisional playoff in Nashville, while the Titans won a 2003 Wild Card game in Baltimore.
Tennessee won a playoff game for the second time in three seasons with a road triumph at New England last week. The Titans are the fourth team since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970 to feature the league’s top-rated passer and rushing champion. Quarterback RYAN TANNEHILL led the NFL with a 117.5 passer rating during the regular season, while running back DERRICK HENRY – who led the league with 1,540 rushing yards – rushed for 182 yards and a TD last week, the most rushing yards in a postseason game since Green Bay’s RYAN GRANT (201) on Jan. 12, 2008, in a 2007 Divisional playoff win over Seattle at Lambeau Field.
The Ravens, who led the league with 33.2 points per game, had a league-high 12 players named to the Pro Bowl after a franchise-best 14 wins. Baltimore broke the NFL’s single-season record with 3,296 rushing yards, including 1,206 from LAMAR JACKSON, the most single-season yards by a quarterback in NFL history. Tight end MARK ANDREWS led NFL tight ends with 10 receiving touchdowns and caught a team-best 64 passes. Cornerback MARCUS PETERS in 2019 had five interceptions.
HOUSTON TEXANS (11-6) at KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (12-4) (Sunday, 3:05 PM ET, CBS)
The Texans and Chiefs have played just one postseason game, a 2015 Wild Card game won by Kansas City. The Chiefs from 1960-62 were known as the Dallas Texans before relocating to Kansas City in 1963. In Week 6 this season, Houston beat Kansas City, 31-24, at Arrowhead Stadium.
Down 16-0 to Buffalo in the third quarter last week, Houston came back to win, 22-19, in overtime. Quarterback DESHAUN WATSON escaped two defenders to complete a 34-yard pass to running back TAIWAN JONES and set up the game-winning field goal. Houston wide receiver DEANDRE HOPKINS tied for the AFC lead with 104 catches in 2019. Texans linebacker WHITNEY MERCILUS has seven sacks in seven career postseason games, while defensive end J.J. WATT has six sacks in seven career postseason games.
The Chiefs won the AFC West for a fourth straight season. Head coach ANDY REID makes his 15th career appearance in the playoffs. Quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES is the first player in franchise history to pass for at least 4,000 yards and 25-or-more touchdowns in consecutive seasons. TRAVIS KELCE became the first tight end in NFL history with at least 1,000 receiving yards in four consecutive seasons.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (12-5) at GREEN BAY PACKERS (13-3) (Sunday, 6:40 PM ET, FOX)
The Seahawks and Packers have met three times in the playoffs, with Green Bay holding a 2-1 advantage. In 2003, Green Bay beat Seattle in the Wild Card round by returning an early overtime interception for a touchdown. In the 2007 Divisional playoffs, the Packers topped the Seahawks in a snowy Lambeau Field game. And in their most recent postseason meeting, the 2014 NFC Championship, Seattle earned a Super Bowl appearance by overcoming a 16-point halftime deficit to win in overtime.
Quarterbacks AARON RODGERS (99.4 passer rating) and RUSSELL WILSON (96.0) rank fifth and sixth, respectively, in postseason passer efficiency, minimum 100 attempts. They’re also the only remaining starting quarterbacks among playoff teams who have won Super Bowls.
The Seahawks had seven sacks in their Wild Card win at Philadelphia last week, establishing the franchise’s single-game postseason record. In eight of his 10 seasons as head coach, PETE CARROLL has guided Seattle to the playoffs. Wilson passed for 325 yards and a touchdown in the win over the Eagles. Running back MARSHAWN LYNCH has 10 rushing touchdowns in 12 career playoffs games. Wide receiver DK METCALF last week had a touchdown catch and 160 receiving yards, most by a rookie in a postseason game in the Super Bowl era.
Green Bay won the NFC North for the first time since 2016 and tied Baltimore for the NFL lead with seven home victories. MATT LAFLEUR joined JIM CALDWELL (2009), JIM HARBAUGH (2011), STEVE MARIUCCI (1997) and GEORGE SEIFERT (1989) as one of five head coaches in league history to win at least 13 games in his first season at the helm of a team. Quarterback AARON RODGERS ranks fifth in NFL postseason history in touchdown passes (36). Running back AARON JONES tied for the league lead in rushing touchdowns (16) and scrimmage touchdowns (19). Linebackers ZA’DARIUS SMITH (13.5) and PRESTON SMITH (12) are the first pair of Packers teammates to each record at least 12 sacks since the individual sack became an official statistic in 1982.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR – DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS
SURVIVE AND ADVANCE: The MINNESOTA VIKINGS (11-6) and TENNESSEE TITANS (10-7) both earned victories on Wild Card Weekend as the No. 6 seed in their respective conferences. Last season, both the INDIANAPOLIS COLTS and PHILADELPHIA EAGLES advanced to the Divisional Round of the playoffs as No. 6 seeds in their conferences. This marks the first time in which two No. 6 seeds advanced past Wild Card Weekend in consecutive seasons since the NFL instituted the current 12-team playoff format in 1990.
Minnesota, who travels to San Francisco on Saturday (4:35 PM ET, NBC), and Tennessee, who travels to Baltimore on Saturday night (8:15 PM ET, CBS), can become the first No. 6 seeds to reach the Conference Championship since 2010.
The No. 6 seeds to reach the Conference Championship since the NFL instituted the current 12-team playoff format in 1990:
SEASON
TEAM
CONFERENCE
ADVANCED TO
2010
Green Bay
NFC
Won Super Bowl XLV
2010
New York Jets
AFC
Conference Championship
2008
Baltimore
AFC
Conference Championship
2008
Philadelphia
NFC
Conference Championship
2005
Pittsburgh
AFC
Won Super Bowl XL
2019
Minnesota
NFC
??
2019
Tennessee
AFC
??
In the NFC, the SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (12-5, No. 5 seed), who face the GREEN BAY PACKERS on Sunday night (6:40 PM ET, FOX), and the sixth-seeded Vikings are both still alive. With victories by both teams in the Divisional Playoffs, it would mark the first Conference Championship game featuring a No. 5 and No. 6 seed since the NFL instituted the current 12-team playoff format in 1990.
— DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS —
STACKING POSTSEASON VICTORIES: The GREEN BAY PACKERS (34 wins) and SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (30 wins) both rank among the top five in postseason victories in league history and can add to their totals this weekend.
With a win over Seattle on Sunday (6:40 PM ET, FOX), Green Bay would tie the DALLAS COWBOYS (35 wins) for the third-most postseason victories in NFL history.
The teams with the most postseason wins in NFL history:
TEAM
WINS
SUPER BOWL WINS
New England
37
6
Pittsburgh
36
6
Dallas
35
5
Green Bay
34
4
San Francisco
30
5
— DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS —
GETTING IT STARTED: To kick off the Divisional Round of the NFL’s 100th season, the NFC’s No. 1 seed, the SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (13-3), host the No. 6 seed MINNESOTA VIKINGS (11-6) on Saturday (4:35 PM ET, NBC). Minnesota advanced to the Divisional Round with a 26-20 overtime victory in New Orleans on Wild Card Weekend.
In his postseason debut last week, Minnesota running back DALVIN COOK finished with 130 scrimmage yards (94 rushing, 36 receiving) and two rushing touchdowns in the victory. If Cook records at least 125 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns on Saturday, he would become the first player with at least 125 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns in each of his first two career postseason games in NFL history.
— DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS —
RUNNING THROUGH THE POSTSEASON: The AFC’s No. 1 seed, the BALTIMORE RAVENS (14-2), led the NFL with 3,296 rushing yards in the regular season, the most by a team in a single season in NFL history. The TENNESSEE TITANS (10-7) ranked third in the league with 2,223 rushing yards in 2019, led by the NFL’s leading rusher DERRICK HENRY, who rushed for 1,540 yards this season.
This marks the fourth time the team with the top rushing offense met the team with the league’s leading rusher in the postseason in the Super Bowl era. In each of the matchups, the team with the league’s leading rusher has won.
Postseason matchups between the league’s top rushing offense and leading rusher in the Super Bowl era:
ROUND
TOP RUSHING OFFENSE
RUSHING YARDS
NFL LEADING RUSHER
TEAM
RUSHING YARDS
2018 Wild Card
Seattle
73
Ezekiel Elliot
Dallas
137
Super Bowl XXVII
Buffalo
108
Emmitt SmithHOF
Dallas
108
1978 Divisional
New England
83
Earl CampbellHOF
Houston Oilers
118
2019 Divisional
Baltimore
??
Derrick Henry
Tennessee
??
On Wild Card Weekend, Henry rushed for 182 yards and a touchdown in Tennessee’s 20-13 victory over New England. With at least 150 rushing yards on Saturday, Henry would join Pro Football Hall of Famers MARCUS ALLEN (three games), TERRELL DAVIS (two) and FRANCO HARRIS (two), as well as LE’VEON BELL (two) as the only players to rush for at least 150 yards in consecutive postseason games in NFL history.
Henryhas rushed for 366 yards in his first three career postseason games. With at least 134 rushing yards on Saturday, Henry would become the third player to rush for at least 500 yards in their first four career postseason games in NFL history.
The players with the most rushing yards in their first four career postseason games in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM
RUSHING YARDS
Terrell DavisHOF
Denver
515
Arian Foster
Houston
515
Fred Taylor
Jacksonville
493
John RigginsHOF
Washington
474
Eric DickersonHOF
Los Angeles Rams
470
Derrick Henry
Tennessee
366*
*In three games
— DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS —
NEW ERA OF QBs: Sunday afternoon’s game featuring Houston quarterback DESHAUN WATSON (24 years, 120 days old) and Kansas City quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES (24 years, 117 days old) marks the third matchup in the Divisional Round between two quarterbacks under the age of 25 in the Super Bowl era.
Divisional Round matchups between starting quarterbacks under the age of 25 in the Super Bowl era:
SEASON
HOME TEAM
QUARTERBACK
VISITOR
QUARTERBACK
RESULT
1985
Miami
Dan MarinoHOF
Cleveland
Bernie Kosar
MIA 24, CLE 21
2000
Minnesota
Daunte Culpepper
New Orleans
Aaron Brooks
MIN 34, NO 16
2019
Kansas City
Patrick Mahomes
Houston
Deshaun Watson
??
In a 22-19 overtime victory over Buffalo on Wild Card Weekend, Watson completed 20 of 25 pass attempts (80 percent) for 247 yards and a touchdown and added 55 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
If Watson, who rushed for 76 yards on Wild Card Weekend in 2018, rushes for at least 50 yards on Sunday against Kansas City (3:05 PM ET, CBS), he would become the first quarterback with at least 50 rushing yards in three consecutive postseason games in NFL history.
— DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS —
NIGHT CAP: In the final game of the Divisional Round, the GREEN BAY PACKERS (13-3) host the SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (12-5), who defeated Philadelphia, 17-9, on Wild Card Weekend.
Seahawks rookie wide receiver DK METCALF led Seattle with 160 receiving yards and a touchdown in the win, the most receiving yards by a rookie in a single postseason game in the Super Bowl era.
With at least 83 receiving yards against Green Bay on Sunday (6:40 PM ET, FOX), Metcalf would surpass TORRY HOLT (242 yards in 1999) for the most postseason receiving yards by a rookie in NFL history.
The rookies with the most postseason receiving yards in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM
SEASON
REC. YARDS
Torry Holt
St. Louis Rams
1999
242
Austin Collie
Indianapolis
2009
241
DeSean Jackson
Philadelphia
2008
207
Steve Junker
Detroit
1957
201
Ricky Nattiel
Denver
1987
171
DK Metcalf
Seattle
2019
160*
*Entering Sunday
Seattle running back MARSHAWN LYNCH recorded his 10th career postseason rushing touchdown in the win on Wild Card Weekend.
With at least two rushing touchdowns on Sunday, Lynch would tie Pro Football Hall of Famers TERRELL DAVIS (12) and JOHN RIGGINS (12) for the fourth-most career postseason rushing touchdowns in NFL history.
The players with the most career postseason rushing touchdowns in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM
RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS
Emmitt SmithHOF
Dallas
19
Franco HarrisHOF
Pittsburgh
16
Thurman ThomasHOF
Buffalo
16
Terrell DavisHOF
Denver
12
John RigginsHOF
Washington
12
Marshawn Lynch
Seattle
10*
*Entering Sunday
Green Bay quarterback AARON RODGERS enters Sunday’s contest having thrown at least two touchdown passes in each of his past five postseason games.
With four touchdown passes against Seattle, Rodgers would tie PEYTON MANNING (40) for the fourth-most career postseason touchdown passes in NFL history.
The players with the most career postseason touchdown passes in NFL history:
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – It was another successful season for Tennessee’s crop of former players in the National Football League. In total, 21 former Vols saw action in the league this season while numerous others were on rosters throughout the year.
With the playoffs now in full swing, check out how all the former Vols fared this season below.
Four Vols Set to Compete in Divisional Round
On Saturday and Sunday, four VFLs will compete in the 2019 NFL Divisional Playoff Round.
For the Minnesota Vikings, punter Britton Colquitt saw action in all 16 games. He punted the ball 62 times for 2,802 yards, landing 24 punts inside the 20-yard line. The Vikings travel to San Francisco on Saturday to play the 49ers at 4:35 p.m. ET.
Emmanuel Moseley has been a mainstay in the 49ers secondary all season, appearing in all 16 games while starting nine. The VFL collected 50 tackles, defended eight passes and made one interception this season. San Francisco will host Minnesota on Saturday at 4:35 p.m. ET.
Punter Dustin Colquitt will represent the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs when they host the Houston Texans on Sunday at 3:05 p.m. ET. Colquitt appeared in all 16 regular-season games, punting the ball 48 times for 2,126 yards while landing 21 inside the 20-yard line.
Zach Fulton started 15 games at guard for Houston this year and helped pave the way for the NFL’s ninth-best rushing attack during the regular season, averaging 125.6 yards per game. Fulton and the Texans will travel to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs at 3:05 p.m. on Sunday.
Witten Shines in Return to the NFL
VFL and future Hall of Fame tight end Jason Witten came out of retirement to join the Dallas Cowboys for a 16th season and did not disappoint. He amassed 529 yards on 63 catches, finding the end zone four times. Witten ends the season at No. 4 on the NFL’s all-time receptions list with 1,215, which ranks second among tight ends and active players. His 12,977 career receiving yards rank 19th all-time in the NFL’s 100-year history.
Alexander Johnson Has Breakout Season in Denver
Former UT linebacker Alexander “AJ” Johnson had a breakout season for the Denver Broncos. The second-year pro took over a starting role early in the season and finished second on the team with 93 tackles this year. Johnson also had seven tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
Coleman and Moseley Both with Big Years
The Tennessee defensive back duo of Justin Coleman and Emmanuel Moseley both had extremely productive seasons for their respective teams.
Coleman had arguably the best season of his five-year NFL career, finishing with 54 tackles – one away from matching his career high that he set in 2018. During his first year with the Detroit Lions, Coleman led the team with a career-high 13 passes defended and also set a career high with three forced fumbles.
In his second year in the league, Moseley came out of nowhere to become one of the 49ers most reliable defensive backs. After playing in just one game in 2018, Moseley played in all 16 this year and finished tied for fourth on the team with eight passes defended. He also had 50 total tackles, two tackles for loss and intercepted a pass for San Francisco, who finished the regular season with a 13-3 record to capture the No. 1 seed in the NFC Playoffs.
Kamara Puts Forth Another Productive Season
While his numbers were slightly down from the previous two seasons, Alvin Kamara was still one of the most versatile and productive players in the NFL this season. Despite missing two games because of injury, Kamara still led the Saints with 797 rushing yards and was third on the team with 533 receiving yards in the regular season. He also scored six touchdowns and helped lead New Orleans to a 13-3 record and NFC South Division title.
The Saints were eliminated from the playoffs by the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Wild Card round, dropping a heartbreaker in overtime, 26-20. Kamara had seven carries for 21 yards and a touchdown while also making eight catches for 34 yards in the loss.
Regular Season Stats for VFLs
Tyler Bray, QB – Chicago Bears
Did not play Practice Squad
Derek Barnett, DE – Philadelphia Eagles
14 GP/14 GS, 30 tackles, 6.5 sacks
Justin Coleman, DB – Detroit Lions
16 GP/11 GS, 54 tackles, 13 passes defended, 1 interception, 3 forced fumbles
Britton Colquitt, P – Minnesota Vikings
16 GP, 62 punts for 2,802 yards, 24 inside the 20-yard line
Dustin Colquitt, P – Kansas City Chiefs
16 GP, 48 punts for 2,126 yards, 21 inside the 20-yard line
Morgan Cox, LS – Baltimore Ravens
16 GP
Jason Croom, TE – Buffalo Bills
Did not play Injured Reserve
Joshua Dobbs, QB – Jacksonville Jaguars
Did not play
Jakob Johnson, FB – New England Patriots
4 GP/3 GS, 1 reception for 5 yards
Colton Jumper, LB – New Orleans Saints
Did not play Injured Reserve
Alvin Kamara, RB – New Orleans Saints
14 GP/9 GS, 171 rushes for 797 yards and five touchdowns, 81 receptions for 533 yards and one touchdown
Daniel McCullers, DT – Pittsburg Steelers
16 GP, 8 tackles, one pass defended
Khalil McKenzie, G – Seattle Seahawks
Did not play Practice Squad
Emmanuel Moseley, DB – San Francisco 49ers
16 GP/9 GS, 50 tackles, 8 passes defended, 1 interception
Michael Palardy, P – Carolina Panthers
16 GP, 75 punts for 3,452 yards, 25 inside 20-yard line
Cordarrelle Patterson, WR – Chicago Bears
16 GP/4 GS, 11 receptions for 83 yards, 17 rushes for 103 yards
Special Teams: 29 kickoff returns for 825 yards and one touchdown.
Kyle Phillips, DE – New York Jets
15 GP/4 GS, 39 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 pass defended
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 23/24 Tennessee (12-3, 2-1 SEC) is back home on Sunday to play host to Georgia (10-6, 1-2 SEC) in a 1:02 p.m. ET matinee at Thompson-Boling Arena. This will mark the 69th meeting between these programs, with the Lady Vols leading the all-time series by a 51-17 advantage.
Tennessee is coming off a dominating performance in Oxford, Mississippi, on Thursday night, flying past the Rebels, 84-28, at the Pavilion at Ole Miss.
Georgia opened SEC play with a 59-51 win at Ole Miss before dropping two in a row at home, including a 73-66 loss to No. 14 Mississippi State on Jan. 5 and a 63-55 setback vs. Vanderbilt on Thursday night.
Following Sunday’s tilt, Tennessee next plays at Florida on Thursday night (6 ET/SECN+), while Georgia hosts Auburn on Jan. 19 (2 ET / ESPNU).
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Sunday’s game will be televised on the SEC Network with Courtney Lyle (PxP) and Carolyn Peck (Analyst) handling the call.
The contest also can be heard on Lady Vol Network radio stations and by audio stream, with Mickey Dearstone calling the action for the 21st season.
A link to the live audio stream can be found on each game’s Hoops Central page or the Lady Vol schedule on UTSports.com.
For a list of Lady Vol Network affiliates, please click on the Fans tab at the top of UTSports.com, select Vol Network and then click on Vol Network Affiliates in the black bar at the top of the page.
Air time for games on the Lady Vol Radio Network generally occurs 30 minutes prior to tip-off.
SECN+ games are online broadcasts and are available only on WatchESPN via computers, smartphones and tablets.
All of the games included in the ESPN package (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU) and the SEC Network will be available through WatchESPN, accessible online at WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app, and streamed on televisions through Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox 360 or Xbox One to fans who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provider.
PROMOS
Gates open at noon ET on Sunday. Tickets start at just $10. Purchase yours today at AllVols.com.
The world-famous Red Panda returns to Knoxville to entertain fans with her thrilling halftime act.
There is free parking & shuttle service available from UT’s Ag Campus. Shuttles begin two hours prior to tip-off.
Enjoy the pregame Kids’ Corner at Gate F. It opens one hour prior to tipoff. Fun includes free face painting, the Big Orange prize wheel, visits from Smokey and cheerleaders, crafts and more at the Kids’ Corner.
Want to be the Jr.Vol of the Game? Sign up for the Jr.Vol Club today and get the chance to see yourself on the video board. Members also receive free Jr.Vol swag, tickets to games for all sports and exclusive Jr.Vol events.
There will be postgame lay-ups on Sunday. Kids 12 and younger can shoot a lay-up on the court after the game.
Come High-Five the Lady Vols. Kids 12 & younger can pick up a wristband at the Fan HQ table on the concourse to participate in the pregame High-Five Tunnel. Wristbands are limited. To purchase discounted group tickets and reserve wristbands for your team, call 865-946-7000.
You can be a part of the Lady Vols’ electric introductions. Make sure to download our light show app courtesy of Coca Cola. The “Hoops Hype” app is available free of charge from the Apple Store or the Google Play Store.
RECAPPING OUR LAST GAME
No. 23/24 Tennessee picked up its second SEC win of the season on Thursday night, rolling past Ole Miss, 84-28.
Junior Rennia Davis led the Lady Vols (12-3, 2-1 SEC) with 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Freshman Jordan Horston narrowly missed a double-double, finishing with 11 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Freshman Jessie Rennie also was in double figures with 11 points, shooting a perfect 3-of-3 from behind the arc and 2-of-2 from the free-throw line.
Ole Miss (8-8, 0-3 SEC) was paced by Dominique Banks with 12 points and Jayla Alexander who had nine.
Tennessee shot a season-high 62.5 percent from the floor in the first half and every active member of the UT roster scored at least two points by halftime.
NOTES FROM THE LAST GAME
Rennie Finding Her Groove: Over the first eight games, freshman Jessie Rennie hit just 3-of-15 of her 3-point attempts, but over the last seven games she’s managed a sizzling .632 from behind the arc, going 12-of-19. She’s 15-of-34 on the season for a team-high 3-point average of .441.
The Run Game: The Lady Vols reeled off their second-longest run of the season against Ole Miss, holding the Rebels scoreless for eight minutes and 23 seconds spanning the first and second quarters while pouring in 19 points on offense. That run is second only to the 20-0 run the team had against Ark.-Pine Bluff. UT also had an 11-0 spurt (3Q-4Q).
Cleaning The Glass: UT out-rebounded the Rebels, 56-23. Tennessee has now won the battle of the boards against 13 opponents and boasts a rebounding margin of +16.9.
Fast Start: Tennessee held Ole Miss to just six first quarter points, the fewest UT has allowed in an opening period this season. UT’s 19-point first quarter lead tied for the largest opening period advantage this season with the 19-point lead they held against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Nov. 26.
Lockdown Defense: Tennessee held Ole Miss to just 28 points on the night, tying for the third-lowest point total by an opponent in Lady Vol history and the fewest ever by an SEC foe. The 14 points Ole Miss scored in the second half ties for the sixth-fewest all-time, and the two points UT allowed in the fourth quarter ties for second fewest points scored in a quarter by an opponent.
Big-Time Bench Points: More than half of Tennessee’s total points came from the bench, which finished with 43 on the night. That is the second-highest total bench points the team has managed this season, ranking behind only the 45 points scored by the reserves against Howard.
Improved At The Line: Tennessee is hitting 63.6 percent from the free-throw line for the season, but it has improved its shooting over the past two games. UT was 12 of 13 vs. Ole Miss and now is 29 of 34 over the past two contests for 85.3 percent.
TENNESSEE TOPICS
The Lady Vols average 51.1 rebounds per game, which is No. 2 nationally. That rate stands above the school record threshold, a 46.9 average in 1992-93.
After hitting 13 of 14 at Ole Miss Thursday night, UT is 39 of 49 on free throws in three SEC games for a 79.6 percentage. UT struggled to a 61.6 percentage during the non-conference schedule.
The Lady Vols are shooting 48.4 percent from the field and scoring 79.0 per game in SEC play. They shot 44.3 percent and tallied 74.5 ppg. vs. non-conference foes.
UT ranks No. 1 in the SEC in field goal percentage defense (33.7) and No. 2 in scoring defense (58.0 ppg.) in league games.
Rennia Davis has scored in double figures in 13 straight games and in 14 of 15 contests this season. Including last year, she has hit 10 or more points in 27 of her past 28 games.
Rennia Davis ranks second in the SEC in scoring (21.0 ppg.) in league games. She is second in double-doubles this season with seven and is third among active SEC players with 25 career double-doubles.
Freshman Jordan Horston and sophomore Jazmine Massengill are racking up the assist numbers. Horston is tied for the SEC lead at 4.9 apg., while Massengill is fourth at 4.6. Massengill is first in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.0 to 1).
Jaiden McCoy (8) and Emily Saunders (8) combined for 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting off the bench vs. Ole Miss.
Freshman Tamari Key had a career-best six blocks vs. Ole Miss, tying for the third-best ever by a Lady Vol freshman. She now has 37 for the season and pushed UT to 103 for the year. That total in 15 games already has surpassed last year’s 95 blocks.
Freshman Jordan Horston has scored in double figures in five consecutive games and is averaging 14.2 ppg. during that span.
Ole Miss’ 28 points Thursday night vs. UT were the third-fewest ever by a Lady Vol opponent and the fewest ever scored by a league foe.
Over the past five contests, Tennessee is shooting 49.1 percent from the field and averaging 82.6 points per game.
Tennessee has recorded 15 or more assists in every game but one this season (Stanford, 7) and has tallied 20 or more on five occasions.
The Big Orange women have won the opening tip in all 15 games, with Lou Brown leading the Lady Vols with four game-opening buckets for her team.
Brown also leads UT with five charges taken.
UT-UGA SERIES NOTES
UT enters Sunday’s contest with a 51-17 advantage in the series. Tennessee has won 19 of the past 22, but Georgia has been victorious in two of the past three.
The Lady Vols are 22-4 in Knoxville and 15-3 at neutral sites all-time vs. the Lady Bulldogs. UT is 14-10 vs. Georgia in Athens, including losses there in 2017 and 2019.
Tennessee is 1-3 vs. UGA in overtime games.
The Lady Vols have a 14-3 postseason record against Georgia after winning in the 2015 SEC quarterfinals.
These programs have met 54 times when both teams were ranked and twice with neither team ranked. This is the 13th occasion when only one squad is ranked.
This is Kellie Harper‘s first meeting with UGA as a head coach. She was 6-2 vs. the Lady Bulldogs as a player from 1995-99.
Tennessee and Georgia met in the 1996 NCAA Championship game in Charlotte, with the Lady Vols prevailing, 83-64, in the first of three straight national championship seasons.
Tennessee and Georgia rank No. 1 and No. 2 in SEC regular season championships, with the Lady Vols owning 18 and the Lady Bulldogs having seven.
Dawn Marsh dished out a Lady Vol record 18 assists vs. Georgia on March 6, 1988.
ABOUT GEORGIA
Georgia was picked 10th by the coaches and media in the SEC preseason polls.
The Lady Bulldogs returned four starters and nine letterwinners from an 18-12/9-7 squad in 2019-20.
Guard Gabby Connally leads UGA at 12.8 ppg., while center Jenna Staiti tosses in 10.1 ppg.
RECAPPING UGA’S LAST GAME
The Georgia Lady Bulldogs fell to Vanderbilt, 63-55, Thursday night at Stegeman Coliseum.
UGA led 15-12 after the first quarter but was outscored 37-22 over the next two frames. The Lady Bulldogs took the fourth period, 18-14, but it wasn’t enough to overtake VU.
Redshirt junior Jenna Staiti led Georgia in both scoring and rebounding, recording her fourth career double-double and third of the season, with a season-high 18 points and 11 rebounds. Juniors Maya Caldwell and Que Morrison registered 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Koi Love fired in 22 points to lead Vandy.
The Commodores connected on 42.3 percent of their shots from the field while holding the Lady Bulldogs to 33.3 percent shooting.
THE LAST TIME WE MET THE LADY BULLDOGS
Sophomore Evina Westbrook poured in 10 points in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a third-quarter UT shooting slump and Georgia’s second-half rally, as the Lady Vols fell at Stegeman Coliseum, 66-62, on Jan. 13, 2019.
There were five ties and 10 lead changes in that game.
Westbrook led Tennessee (12-4, 1-3 SEC) in scoring with a game-high 23 points, logging her eighth 20+ point performance of the season. Rennia Davis had six points and 12 rebounds, while Cheridene Green added six points and 10 rebounds.
Caliya Robinson was Georgia’s (12-5, 3-1 SEC) high scorer with 16. Gabby Connally had 13, while Taja Cole and Jenna Staiti each had 12.
LAST TIME IN KNOXVILLE
Mercedes Russell collected the 1,000th rebound of her fantastic career, leading No. 11/11 Tennessee to a 62-46 victory over No. 18/18 Georgia on Feb. 11, 2018, at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The 6-foot-6 senior center became the sixth Lady Vol to reach the 1,000-rebound mark, finishing with 13 points and a game-high 15 boards to help UT (21-4, 9-3 SEC) move into a tie for second place in the SEC standings.
The Lady Vols put on a stellar defensive performance in holding Georgia to a season-low 46 points and 29.5 percent shooting (18-of-61) from the field. UT dominated on the glass throughout the game, finishing with a 50-30 rebounding advantage and forcing UGA into 20 turnovers.
