N.C. State football ended its season last Saturday with a loss to Vanderbilt in the Music City Bowl, but former Wolfpack players continued action on the gridiron this past weekend.
The National Football League playoffs began Saturday with a faceoff between the Houston Texans and the Cincinnati Bengals.
Former Pack linebacker Manny Lawson saw action for the Bengals, recording two tackles during the contest. Unfortunately for Lawson, his efforts were not enough to help lead Cincinnati to the next round, falling to the Texans, 19-13.
The Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers played in Saturday’s second game.
A pair of ex-Wolfpack rookies was on the sidelines during the game. Packers’ linebacker Terrell Manning saw playing time and recorded a pair of tackles. Vikings linebacker Audie Cole did not see the playing field. The Packers rolled to a 24-10 victory at Lambeau Field and will play the San Francisco 49ers Saturday at 8 p.m.
Action resumed Sunday afternoon with a matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and the Indianapolis Colts. Following a 24-9 Ravens victory over the Colts, the Washington Redskins squared off against the Wolfpack-fueled Seattle Seahawks in the nation’s capital.
Seahawks rookie starting quarterback Russell Wilson went 15-for-26 for 187 yards and a touchdown. Despite taking a beating in the backfield, getting sacked five times for a loss of 31 yards, Wilson also had eight rushes for 67 yards, including a season-long 28-yard rush, bringing his total to 254 all-purpose yards on the day.
Wilson’s teammate, kicker Stephen Hauschka, was also a major contributor for the Seahawks. He was perfect on the day, nailing all three of his field goal attempts and his lone extra point, despite injuring his ankle in the second quarter.
Rookie guard J.R. Sweezy started the game for Seattle but did not record any statistics.
The Seahawks trailed entering the fourth quarter and took the lead with more than seven minutes remaining. They would hold on to win, 24-14. Seattle is now on a six-game winning streak and will take on the top-seeded Atlanta Falcons Sunday at 1 p.m.