LSU, Louisiana players in AFC Playoffs | Who to watch in each matchup

The NFL Playoffs kick off this weekend with six games over three days and a slew of LSU and Louisiana representation.

Nearly two dozen (22) players will represent the Tigers this postseason, with another two dozen-plus (25) Louisiana natives also in the tournament.

Here are notes, matchup-by-matchup, on who, what, when and where to watch and how those players have been performing thus far this season.

Check out the seven AFC teams below, or click here for more on the NFC.

Chargers at Texans — Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

No. 5 wild card (11-6) at No. 4 AFC South champion (10-7)

Broadcast: CBS/Paramount+

Betting line: LAC -3

Texans CB Derek Stingley Jr. (Dunham, LSU)

The newly announced All-Pro headlines this matchup. The third-year corner started all 17 games and matched or surpassed career-highs across the board with five interceptions, 18 passes defended, 54 total tackles and 37 solo stops. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed just 38 catches in 83 targets for a career-low 45.8% completion rate — a number he’s cut down an average of 10.75% each season — and 394 yards, the lowest of his career despite playing nearly 25% more snaps in his first fully healthy season.

Texans DE Danielle Hunter (LSU)

In addition to the Texans’ top corner, their top pass-rusher is also a former LSU standout. Starting all 17 games in his first season in Houston, Hunter is No. 3 in the league in sack yards at 94 yards and tied for No. 5 in the league with 12 sacks and No. 6 in the league in tackles for loss with 17. This marks his ninth NFL season after eight in Minnesota.

Texans LB Devin White (North Webster, LSU)

The veteran linebacker appears to have settled into his new home and new role since being released by Philadelphia in early October and signing in Houston two weeks later. White earned his first start of the season in Week 18 and wrapped up a season-high six tackles in 49 snaps. Two of the final three games of the season were among the eight highest-graded by Pro Football Focus of his six-year career, which he spent primarily

Texans OL Austin Deculus (LSU)

The Texans signed the former LSU tackle off the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad on New Year’s Eve. The third-year lineman, whom Houston drafted in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, played 29 snaps off the bench in Week 18 and earned a solid pass-blocked grade from Pro Football Focus. Deculus played in a combined 12 games, including one start in 2023, during his first two seasons with the Texans.

Texans TE Irv Smith Jr. (Brother Martin)

The sixth-year tight end earned snaps in the Texans’ final five games of the season as he moved back and forth between the active roster and practice squad. The son of the former New Orleans Saints tight end has primarily served as an additional run-blocker and has yet to receive a target with the team after 113 catches for 1,015 yards and 11 touchdowns in four previous seasons. The younger Smith spent four years in Minnesota, but missed 2021 with a torn meniscus, and played with Cincinnati in 2023.

Texans LB Christian Harris (U-High)

The third-year linebacker has played in just three games so far after missing most of the season recovering from a summer calf injury and then being held out last week with an ankle. The former U-High star is listed as questionable for the playoff opener.

Chargers CB Kristian Fulton (Archbishop Rummel, LSU)

The former Tigers cornerback has been solid in his first season in Los Angeles after four years with the Titans to start his NFL career. Fulton has played in 15 games, including 14 starts, with an interception, seven passes defended and career highs of 39 solo tackles and 51 total tackles. He returns to the postseason for the first time since 2021.

Chargers WR D.J. Chark (Alexandria, LSU)

Another former Tigers standout in his first season in Los Angeles, the wide receiver battled multiple injuries through the bulk of the season before being activated in November. Chark has seen limited, but increasing action during the past seven weeks leading up to 37 snaps and a 6-yard touchdown catch in Week 18. This marks the first time in seven seasons with four different teams in which Chark will have the opportunity to participate in the playoffs.

Chargers WR Derius Davis (West Feliciana)

The young receiver out of TCU has played in 15 games this season with his biggest contributions coming on special teams. Davis is fourth in the league in combined kick- and punt-return yardage (759 yards) in the top 10 in both area: 19 kicks for 524 yards, and 19 punts for 235 yards. On offense, the former West Feliciana star has caught 13 passes for 112 yards and the first two receiving touchdowns of his two-year career. Saturday will also mark a playoff debut for Davis.

Steelers at Ravens — Saturday, 7 p.m.

No. 6 wild card (10-7) at No. 3 AFC North champion (12-5)

Broadcast: Prime Video

Betting line: BAL -9.5

Steelers LB Patrick Queen (Livonia, LSU)

The four-year Baltimore standout will face his former team for the third time in his first season on the other side of the AFC North rivalry. Queen has started all 17 games this season and led the Steelers with 129 tackles, along with a career-high seven passes defended and two forced fumbles. In the two meetings with the Ravens, he totaled 18 tackles with a forced fumble and a deflected pass.

Steelers CB Donte’ Jackson (Riverdale, LSU)

One former LSU star has led Pittsburgh in tackles, and another has led in interceptions. Jackson has snatched a career-high five picks in his first season with the Steelers, tied for No. 5 in the league. The speedy corner has also racked up eight passes defended, 38 tackles and a fumble recovery in 15 games, all of which he started. Jackson will make his playoff debut after six seasons in Carolina to start his career.

Steelers DT Breiden Fehoko (LSU)

The former LSU fan favorite re-joined Pittsburgh’s practice squad in late October after battling injury earlier in the fall. Fehoko signed with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2020 as an undrafted free agent and played 19 games, including four starts, over three seasons before spending the past two seasons with the Steelers working between the practice squad and active roster.

Ravens CB Tre’Davious White (Green Oaks, LSU)

Baltimore acquired the veteran cornerback from the Los Angeles Rams at the November trade deadline to add depth at the position. White has played 151 snaps in seven games since the deal with three pass break-ups and 10 tackles. The consensus All-American for the Tigers in 2016 started his NFL career with a decorated tenure in Buffalo, including 2017 All-Rookie Team and 2019 and 2020 All-Pro honors, but has been hampered by major injuries in recent seasons.

Ravens S Ar’Darius Washington (Evangel Christian)

After battling injuries his first three seasons out of TCU, Washington has played in all 17 games this season, started the past 10 and been one of the Ravens’ highest-graded defenders of the season by Pro Football Focus. His 64 tackles, 45 solo stops, two interceptions, eight passes defended and one forced fumble are all easily new career-highs, along with a second straight season recording a sack.

Ravens CB Arthur Maulet (Bonnabel)

The veteran New Orleans native, who began his career with hometown Saints in 2017, is now in his eighth professional season and second with the Ravens. But Maulet enters the playoffs on injured reserve after playing three games near midseason.

Broncos at Bills — Sunday, 12 p.m.

No. 7 wild card (10-7) at No. 2 AFC East champion (13-4)

Broadcast: CBS/Paramount+

Betting line: BUF -8.5

Bills LS Reid Ferguson (LSU)

The veteran long-snapper played in all 17 games for the Bills in his ninth season in the league, all with the same franchise, and received six All-Pro votes, including a couple first-team nods. After spending time on the practice squad as an undrafted free agent rookie in 2016, he is Buffalo’s longest-tenured player with eight straight seasons on the active roster. Sunday will mark his seventh playoff appearance in that span.

Bills OL Will Clapp (Brother Martin, LSU)

Buffalo elevated the versatile lineman again last week and started him Sunday at right guard in his first action of the season in which he worked back and forth between the active roster, practice squad and waiver wire. Clapp has played limited special teams snaps in two playoff games thus far in his career in the 2020 season with the New Orleans Saints and 2022 season with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Bills WR Keon Coleman (Opelousas Catholic)

The rookie has been Buffalo’s most explosive downfield weapon in 13 games, including 12 starts, in his first professional season out of Florida State. Coleman has caught 29 passes so far for 556 yards — an average of 19.2 yards per catch — and four touchdowns, which ties for the team lead. His 15.5-yard average depth of target ranked No. 8 in the league this season among players with at least 20 targets.

Bills C Sedrick Van Pran-Granger (Warren Easton)

The Bills’ fifth-round pick in last year’s draft played in 15 games as a rookie, earning a few more snaps on offense later in the season and his first career start this past weekend. Van Pran-Granger has graded out better as a run-blocker than pass-blocker thus far, per Pro Football Focus, in his first 120 professional snaps.

Bills OL O’Cyrus Torrence (St. Helena)

The second-year player has started at right guard for 35 of the team’s 36 games so far in his career, including a pair of playoff games as a rookie. The iron man on the Bills’ front line has led the offense in snaps both seasons.

Broncos DT Malcolm Roach (Madison Prep)

Roach has been a steady presence in the defensive tackle rotation in his first season in Denver with 489 snaps in 17 games. He enters the playoffs with 43 tackles, including five for loss and 2.5 sacks, and has forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and batted down two passes. Pro Football Focus has graded Roach among the Broncos’ top four defenders in a handful of games this season, including their best in Week 16. Sunday figures to mark Roach’s playoff debut after being inactive as a rookie in 2020 for the New Orleans Saints’ only postseason appearance during his four seasons with the home-state team.

Kansas City Chiefs (first-round bye)

No. 1 AFC West champion awaits lowest seed to advance.

Chiefs S Justin Reid (Dutchtown)

The younger brother of former LSU star Eric Reid is having his best season thus far with Kansas City in his third year with the franchise after four in Houston. The veteran safety out of Dutchtown and Stanford in among the team leaders with 87 tackles (No. 3), five tackles for loss (No. 7), two interceptions (No. 2) and nine passes defended (No. 2). And he’s appeared to play some of his best of late with Pro Football Focus grading his past two games as the best of the past six seasons.