The journey to Super Bowl LI has been entertaining to say the least.
After 19 weeks, four teams will play on Sunday, Jan. 22 to decide a conference champion and Super Bowl participant for both the American and National Football Conference. One of Nick Saban’s best recruiting tools as head coach of University of Alabama football is pointing to individuals that not only had success in college, but also obtained greatness at the next level. Four to five former Crimson Tide standouts are scheduled to play next week for a chance to help their teams earn a trip to Super Bowl 51 on Sunday, Feb. 5 at Houston, Texas.
Listed below are the four teams slated for conference championship week and the ex-Alabama stars that eye an opportunity to hoist the coveted Vince Lombardi Trophy in the coming weeks.
AFC Championship Game: Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots
-Time: 5:40 p.m.
-Venue: Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Mass.
-Network: CBS
-Former Tide players: Donta Hightower, Cyrus Jones (Patriots)
Linebacker Dont’a Hightower was a huge component behind New England finishing the 2016 regular season at 14-2, clinching home-field advantage throughout the NFL playoffs. He turned in 65 total tackles during the season, and collected a team-high eight stops in last week’s AFC Divisional round game versus the Houston Texans. The former first-round pick anchored a defensive front that forced three interceptions off quarterback Brock Osweiler, while limiting the Texans to converting just three of 18 attempts on third down (18.8 percent).
Prior to defeating Houston 34-16, Hightower and the Patriots entered the playoffs with a top-10 defense in most of the major categories. Currently, it stands atop the league in scoring defense (15.6 ppg), first down defense (14 allowed, playoffs) and third down defense (18.8 percent).
Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger, Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown all present a daunting challenge; however, beating New England at home is a tall task for any team. As for Cyrus Jones, the second-round defensive back is questionable for next week. He was inactive for New England’s match-up with Houston and has totaled seven tackles all season.
NFC Championship Game: Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons
-Time: 2:05 p.m.
-Venue: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Ga.
-Network: FOX
-Former Tide players: Julio Jones, Courtney Upshaw, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (Packers)
A fourth 1,000-yard performance for wide receiver Julio Jones aided the Atlanta Falcons to a 11-5 regular season mark in 2016, earning it the No. 2 seed for the NFC playoff picture. He finished second behind Indianapolis’ Ty Hilton, totaling 83 catches (129 targets) for 1,409 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
Jones’ 17 yards per catch and 100.6 yards a game, both led the NFL.
Despite reaggravating a toe injury, the 2009 BCS national champion collected six passes from quarterback Matt Ryan for 67 yards and a score in Atlanta’s 36-20 win last week over Seattle.
The chemistry between Ryan and Jones powered the Falcons’ offense to first in scoring (33.8 ppg), second in total offense (6,653 yards, 415.8 ypg) and third in passing offense (295 ypg).
Jones assisted Ryan to having the NFL’s best total quarterback rating (83.3), while helping him finish second in passing during the regular season. Ryan trailed Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees with 4,944 yards and 38 touchdowns to seven interceptions on a 69.9 percent completion rating.
Atlanta has not been lights out on defense, but it’s done enough to stay afloat. Since being acquired from the Baltimore Ravens, Courtney Upshaw has 24 tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery for the Falcons. Atlanta’s 34 sacks in the regular season was good for 10th in the league.
For the Green Bay Packers, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix will have the task of facing Julio Jones.
The former five-star safety and two-time national champion (2011-12) posted 80 total tackles, a tackle for loss, five interceptions and a forced fumble in the regular season. He totaled six stops and defended two passes in playoff wins over the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
