Road to playoffs runs through New England for Taylor, Bills

Fuller brothers both enjoying solid seasons at cornerback

December 22, 2017

Photo Credit - @BuffaloBills

Saturday, Dec. 23

Indianapolis (3-11) at Baltimore (8-6) – 4:30 p.m.

The Ravens are battling to stay in contention for a Wild Card berth and will face the club that formerly called Baltimore home when the Colts visit on Saturday. S Chuck Clark has played in 13 games this season, producing nine tackles (eight solo) and a pass defensed, while becoming a mainstay on the Ravens’ special teams units.

Sunday, Dec. 24

Buffalo (8-6) at New England (11-3) – 1 p.m.

If the playoffs started today, Buffalo would own the sixth and final spot in the AFC. However, that’s a big “if.” The Bills haven’t been to the playoffs since 1999 and a win at New England would go a long way towards solidifying a spot. The Patriots have already clinched another AFC East title and a first-round bye and need another win to secure homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. QB Tyrod Taylor and TE Logan Thomas are coming off an important victory against Miami. Taylor finished the day 17-of-29 for 224 yards with a TD run.

PLAYOFF BOUND ❓@TyrodTaylor knows how much it would mean to the #BillsMafia to get back in the playoffs. Big game upcoming at New England.

📽 via @BuffaloBills #Hokies 🦃 + #GoBills pic.twitter.com/6xX1plNZfI

— VT Football (@VT_Football) December 22, 2017

Falcons (9-5) at Saints (10-4) – 1 p.m.

Rookie RB Trey Edmunds is seeking to earn a playoff berth in his initial season with Saints. Currently, New Orleans is deadlocked at 10-4 with Carolina atop the NFC South standings, but the Saints swept both regular season meetings the Panthers. That means New Orleans could clinch a division title with a victory against the Falcons, who are clinging to playoff hopes. Edmunds carried the ball nine times for 48 yards with a 41-yard TD run earlier this year at Buffalo. He’s also been a key contributor in all 14 games for New Orleans.

Broncos (5-9) at Redskins (6-8) – 1 p.m.

Both teams are playing for pride as the Broncos visit Washington. CB Kendall Fuller and DeAngelo Hall and the Washington Redskins will play for the final time this season at FedExField before concluding the regular season at the N.Y. Giants next week. Fuller is tied for second in the NFC with four INTs. He also have 51 tackles (39
solo) to go with eight passes defensed and a forced fumble. Hall is in the midst of his 14th NFL campaign. He’s seen duty in five contests in 2017, racking up 11 tackles and two passes defensed. Tech alum Torrian Gray serves as Washington’s secondary coach.

#Redskins CB @Kefu11er is tied for second in the NFC in INTs this season (4).

Stat Ranking Update: https://t.co/lvjKahnreC pic.twitter.com/QbDFXbvu6S

— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) December 21, 2017

Browns (0-14) at Bears (4-10) – 1 p.m.

CB Kyle Fuller and the Chicago Bears are seeking to keep Cleveland winless as they play for the final time this season at Soldier Field. Despite the Bears’ record, Fuller is enjoying the best campaign of his four-year NFL career. He owns a career-high 66 tackles (58 solo) to go along with 16 passes defensed and an INT. T Laurence Gibson is on the Browns’ roster.

Seahawks (8-6) at Cowboys (8-6) – 4:25 pm

T Duane Brown and the Seahawks seek to keep their slim playoff hopes alive with a win at Dallas. The Cowboys are in a similar predicament, needing two wins and a lot of help to make the postseason. S Kam Chancellor is on IR for the Seahawks with a neck injury. Former Hokies’ S Nick Sorenson serves as the secondary coach for the Seahawks.

Jaguars (10-4) at 49ers (4-10) – 4:05 p.m.

The Jaguars have already clinched the AFC South title and will travel west to face S Antone Exum, Jr. and the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers are in the midst of a three-game winning streak under the guidance of QB Jimmy Garoppolo. Exum, Jr. has three tackles on the year for San Francisoc.

Other Hokies on NFL Practice Squads or reserve lists
LB Dadi Nicolas (PUP) Kansas City
T Nick Becton (PS) New York Giants
TE Ryan Malleck (PS) Houston
RB Sam Rogers (PS) Los Angeles Rams

For updates on Virginia Tech football, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_Football and on Instagram @HokiesFB