Boston College Athletics
Eagles in the NFL: Playoffs Begin
December 30, 2014 | Football
With the conclusion of Week 17 and the end of the NFL regular season, six former Boston College football players' teams remain in the playoff race. With the Wild Card games set for this week, most of the Eagles will be in uniform.
Indianapolis Colts vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Sunday, January 4
1 p.m. - CBS
Three former Eagles will suit up for the Colts (11-5, 6-0 AFC South) when they host the Bengals (10-5-1, 3-3 AFC North) on Sunday in one of the AFC Wild Card games.
Offensive tackles Anthony Castonzo and Gosder Cherilus are expected to continue as stalwarts on the Colts' line. Castonzo started all 16 games this season and played the second-most snaps in the NFL this season, while Cherilus started all 13 in which he played. Both players were anchors of the Indy offensive line that backed the NFL's third-leading offense - with 406.6 total yards per game - and leading passing offense (305.9 yards per game).
Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck appeared in four games this season as he served as Andrew Luck's backup all season. Hasselbeck played in the Colts' final two games of the season, throwing for a combined 30-for-44 for 301 yards and two TDs with no interceptions. Hasselbeck is now playing on his ninth playoff team in his 16-year career.
Carolina Panthers vs. Arizona Cardinals
Saturday, January 3
4:30 p.m. - ESPN
Linebacker Luke Kuechly, the NFL's reigning defensive player of the year, led the league with 153 tackles this season as the Panthers (7-8-1) won the NFC South. With Kuechly anchoring the Carolina defense, the Panthers finished 10th in the league in total defense, allowing 339.8 yards per game. Kuechly also added 12 pass deflections, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery this year.
Seattle Seahawks vs. Wild Card Team
Saturday, January 10
8:15 p.m. - FOX
Rookie linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis appeared in seven games this season for the Seahawks (12-4, 5-1 NFC West), but will not be available as the NFL playoffs start this week. Pierre-Louis recorded 10 tackles - including a career-high five tackles against the New York Giant in Week 10 - before a shoulder injury forced him onto the injured reserve list in late November. The defending Super Bowl Champions claimed the top seed in the NFC bracket, and will have the home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Green Bay Packers vs. Wild Card Team
unday, January 11
1 p.m. - FOX
The Packers (12-4) earned a first-round bye in the playoffs and await one of the Wild Card teams. Sixth-year nose tackle B.J. Raji will not be active for the playoffs after missing the entire regular season with a torn biceps muscle suffered in a preseason game against Oakland on August 22.
