Wolverines in the NFL: Eight former Michigan players set for Championship Sunday

Eight former Michigan football players are alive in the NFL Playoffs, with championship Sunday coming up this weekend. The divisional round is being considered one of the top weekends in NFL history, with every game coming down to the wire, and former Michigan players were right in the mix.

Defensive ends Frank Clark and Mike Danna and backup quarterback Chad Henne saw their Kansas City Chiefs advance in a Sunday night thriller at Arrowhead, beating the Buffalo Bills in a back-and-forth game that went to overtime, 42-36. Clark notched two tackles, including one stop for loss, while Danna played and did not record any statistics and Henne did not see action.

The Chiefs, who are set for their fourth-straight AFC Championship Game appearance, will take on the Cincinnati Bengals in Kansas City Sunday at 3:05 p.m. ET. They’ll be going up against former Michigan running back Chris Evans, who averaged 27.3 yards per kick return and had one rush for four yards in the Bengals’ 19-16 win over former Wolverine left tackle Taylor Lewan and the Tennessee Titans.

Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were down 27-3 to former Michigan cornerback David Long Jr. and the Los Angeles Rams Sunday afternoon, before mounting a comeback that tied the game at 27-27 with 42 seconds to go.

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With an offensive line that was without star right tackle Tristan Wirfs, Brady faced relentless pressure, but still made some throws down the stretch — including a 55-yard touchdown bomb to wideout Mike Evans — to help his team climb out of the hole. Ultimately, it wasn’t enough, with the defense giving up a big play that got the Rams into field goal range to win the game as time expired.

Coming off the bench, Long registered seven tackles, including one stop for loss. He and the Rams will face the San Francisco 49ers Sunday evening at 6:40 p.m. ET.

Former Michigan defensive tackle Maurice Hurst, cornerback Ambry Thomas and safety Jarrod Wilson and the 49ers were also involved in a thriller, though none of them saw action. Hurst hasn’t played since Week 5 after battling an injury, while Thomas and Wilson were both banged up this past weekend and were inactive. The team trailed at Lambeau Field, 10-3, before blocking a punt and returning it for a touchdown, then kicking a game-winning field goal.

Every team remaining possesses at least one former Michigan player on its roster, meaning a Wolverine will win the Super Bowl for an eighth straight season.

The Chiefs (6-to-5) have the best odds to take home the Lombardi Trophy in Los Angeles Feb. 13, while the Rams have the next-best odds at 2-to-1. The 49ers have 9-to-2 odds, while the Bengals hold the longest odds at 8-to-1.

Here is a complete update on former Michigan players in the NFL, with a look at their regular-season stats and how they performed in the divisional round.

Tom Brady (Played at Michigan from 1995-99), QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The second-team All-Pro signal-caller completed 30 of his 54 pass attempts for 329 yards and one touchdown with one interception in a 30-27 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

Regular Season Stats: Connected on 67.5 percent of his passes for a league-high 43 touchdowns and NFL-best 5,316 yards while starting all 17 contests for the 13-4 Buccaneers.

Frank Clark (2011-14), DE, Kansas City Chiefs

Started and notched two tackles, including one stop for loss, in a 42-36 overtime victory over the Buffalo Bills.

Regular Season Stats: Tallied 22 tackles, three stops for loss, 4.5 sacks (second on team), two forced fumbles and 17 quarterback hits in 14 starts and tilts for the 12-5 Chiefs

Mike Danna (2019), DE, Kansas City Chiefs

Saw 16 snaps (11 on defense, five special teams) but did not record any statistics in a 42-36 win over the Buffalo Bills.

Regular Season Stats: Started six of his 17 games for the 12-5 Chiefs, with three sacks (third on team), 26 tackles, three stops for loss, 10 quarterback hits, one pass breakup and two forced fumbles.

Chris Evans (2016-20), RB, Cincinnati Bengals

Had one rush for four yards and returned three kicks for 82 yards (average of 27.3 yards per return) in the Bengals’ 19-16 win over the Tennessee Titans.

Regular Season Stats: The former Michigan running back made 13 appearances off the bench and one start for the 10-7 Bengals, notching 15 receptions for 151 yards and one score, while also rushing 17 times for 77 yards and a touchdown

Rashan Gary (2016-18), LB, Green Bay Packers

Started and registered four tackles, two sacks and three hits on the quarterback in a 13-10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers … His 86.8 PFF grade topped the team’s defense … He added six pressures.

Regular Season Stats: His 9.5 sacks led the team and were tied for 18th in the league … Also totaled 46 tackles, eight stops for loss and 28 quarterback hits while starting 16 contests for the 13-4 Packers.

Chad Henne (2004-07), QB, Kansas City Chiefs

Did not play in a 42-36 overtime victory over the Buffalo Bills.

Regular Season Stats: Completed 11 of 16 pass attempts for 82 yards while playing in four games for the 12-5 Chiefs.

Maurice Hurst (2013-17), DT, San Francisco 49ers

Did not see game action in a 13-10 win over the Green Bay Packers.

Regular Season Stats: The former Michigan defensive tackle notched two tackles, and one stop for loss, in two games for the 10-7 49ers.

Taylor Lewan (2009-13), OL, Tennessee Titans

Opened the game and played every offensive snap in a 19-16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Regular Season Stats: Started 13 outings for the 12-5 Titans, posting a 71.4 overall PFF grade with four sacks allowed.

David Long Jr. (2016-18), CB, Los Angeles Rams

Made seven tackles, including one stop behind the line of scrimmage, in a 30-27 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers … Had an interception return for a touchdown in a 34-11 win over the Arizona Cardinals during Wild Card weekend.

Regular Season Stats: Started five of his 15 games for the 12-5 Rams, with 40 tackles, five pass breakups and one interception.

Jon Runyan (2015-19), OL, Green Bay Packers

Started and played 100 percent of the team’s snaps on offense in a 13-10 setback to the San Francisco 49ers … Earned the team’s highest pass-blocking grade from PFF.

Regular Season Stats: Began 16 of 17 games for the 13-4 Packers, earning a 65.0 overall PFF grade with two sacks yielded.

Ambry Thomas (2017-19), CB, San Francisco 49ers

Missed Saturday night’s 13-10 win over the Green Bay Packers with a deep ankle bruise.

Regular Season Stats: The former Michigan cornerback started five games and appeared in 12 … Registered 23 tackles and seven pass breakups with one interception.

Jarrod Wilson (2012-15), S, San Francisco 49ers

Was inactive during the team’s 13-10 win over the Green Bay Packers.

Regular Season Stats: Recorded three tackles in four appearances for the 10-7 49ers … Began the season on the New York Jets, starting three of his five tilts and racking up 13 tackles, two stops for loss, one sack and three quarterback hits.