Minnesota Gophers in the NFL: Wildcard Round

We started with eight former Minnesota Golden Gophers in the NFL Playoffs looking for a chance to play for a Super Bowl and after the first weekend of action that number has been cut in half. With Jacksonville, Pittsburgh and the Chargers all losing, four other Gophers can worry about tee-times and beach vacations rather then football for the next few months. But, we still have four players who have a chance to try and get to football’s holy grail—2 in the NFC and 2 in the AFC. Here is a review of last weekend’s action and a look ahead to this weekend’s matchups.

Houston Texans

Wildcard Playoffs @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Divisional Playoffs @ New England Patriots Sunday 2PM

Aireontae Ersery— LT

Ersery played all 68 offensive snaps and 5 more on special teams in the win the Steelers. PFF didn’t love Ersery’s run blocking performance, but the Texans still got the win to advance to the next round.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Wildcard Playoffs vs Buffalo Bills

Eric Murray S

Murray played 59 defensive snaps in the heartbreaking loss to the Bills to knock the Jags out of the Playoffs. He led Jacksonville with seven tackles, four of them solo.

Danny Striggow DE

Striggow played nine defensive snaps and five special teams snaps in his playoff debut. He did not record a stat.

Los Angeles Chargers

Wildcard Playoffs @ New England Patriots

Benjamin St. Juste CB

St. Juste played 22 defensive snaps and 12 special teams snaps in the season ending loss to the Patriots. He had one tackle. He was targeted twice, but did not give up a reception.

New England Patriots

Wildcard Playoffs vs Los Angeles Chargers

Divisional Playoffs vs Houston Texans—Sunday 2 PM

Jack Gibbens LB

Gibbons played 14 defensive snaps and 9 more on special teams in the win over the Chargers. Gibbens ended with seven tackles, one of them solo in the win. He was targeted once and allowed a seven yard completion.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Wildcard Playoff vs Houston Texans

Esezi Otomewo DT

Otomewo played 24 defensive snaps and five on special teams in the season ending loss to the Texans. He recorded a pair of tackles.

Final Season Stats:

12 Games, 9 tackles, 5 of them solo, 1 TFL, 1 QB hit, 1 sack

Seattle Seahawks

Wildcard Playoff—BYE

Divisional Playoffs vs San Francisco 49ers—Saturday 7 PM

Seattle enjoyed the opening round bye as the NFC’s #1 seed.

Boye Mafe OLB

Nick Kallerup TE

This Weekend’s Schedule:

San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks 7 PM Saturday

Boye Mafe, Nick Kallerup and the Seahawks make their playoff debut hosting the 49ers for their third battle this season. The teams bookended the season with each team winning on the road-the 49ers winning in Week 1, and the Seahawks winning in Week 18. Mafe has 5 tackles in the pair of games against the 49ers this season, while Kallerup did not see action in either game in the regular season.

Houston Texans @ New England Patriots 2 PM Sunday

One Gopher will earn a chance to play for an AFC Championship on Sunday when Ersery’s Texans head to Foxboro to face Gibbens’ Patriots. The teams did not face one another in 2025. Both players are in their first postseasons with this being Ersery’s rookie season and Gibbens having played the last three seasons in Tennessee. One is guarantees to move one, and one is guaranteed to go home.