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AROUND THE SHIELD — Black Monday was in full swing in the NFL as the Atlanta Falcons announced the dismissal of head coach Arthur Smith at the stroke of midnight on the east coast.
For more than two dozen former high school and college players in Utah, though, it's the start of the NFL playoffs.
Twenty-seven players with ties to the Beehive State advanced to Super Wild Card weekend, which will include a game streamed exclusively on NBC's Peacock for the first time ever.
Utah leads all colleges with eight former players on postseason rosters, followed by BYU with seven, and Utah State and Weber State with three each. Ten of the 27 players played high school football in Utah, including two each from East and Stansbury.
NFC top seed San Francisco — including linebacker Fred Warner, punter Mitch Wishnowsky, and tight end Cameron Latu (injured reserve) — has a bye to the divisional round, as does the AFC's Baltimore Ravens, including quarterback Tyler Huntley, safety Marcus Williams and linebacker Kyle Van Noy.
Here's a look at the local players available in each game.
Saturday, Jan. 13
AFC: No. 5 Cleveland Browns at No. 4 Houston Texans
- TV: NBC, Telemundo
- Streaming: Peacock
- Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. MST
Browns (11-6)
- Sione Takitaki, LB, BYU
- Mohamoud Diabate, LB, Utah
- Siaki Ika, DT, East HS (via Baylor)
Texans (10-7)
- Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham HS (via Stanford)
AFC: No. 6 Miami Dolphins at No. 3 Kansas City Chiefs
- TV: None
- Streaming: Peacock
- Kickoff: 6 p.m. MST
Dolphins (11-6)
- Chris Brooks, RB, BYU
Chiefs (11-6)
- Matt Bushman, TE, BYU (practice squad)
- Andy Reid, BYU (head coach)
- Porter Ellett, BYU (assistant running backs coach)
- Alex Whittingham, Utah (defensive quality control)
Sunday, Jan. 14
AFC: No. 7 Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 2 Buffalo Bills
- TV: CBS
- Streaming: Paramount+
- Kickoff: 11 a.m. MST
Steelers (10-7)
- Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State/Snow/East HS (via Oklahoma State)
- Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah
- Eric Rowe, S, Utah
Bills (11-6)
- Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
- Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State
- Bryan Thompson, WR, Utah (practice squad)
NFC: No. 7 Green Bay Packers at No. 2 Dallas Cowboys
- TV: FOX, FOX Deportes
- Streaming: FoxSports.com
- Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. MST
Packers (9-8)
- Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
- Zayne Anderson, S, BYU/Stansbury HS
Cowboys (12-5)
- No locals on the active roster.
NFC: No. 6 Los Angeles Rams at No. 3 Detroit Lions
- TV: NBC
- Streaming: Peacock
- Kickoff: 6 p.m. MST
Rams (10-7)
- Puka Nacua, WR, BYU/Orem HS
- Jonah Williams, DE, Weber State
Lions (12-5)
- Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills (via Oregon)
Monday, Jan. 15
NFC: No. 5 Philadelphia Eagles at No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- TV: NBC
- Streaming: Peacock
- Kickoff: 6 p.m. MST
Eagles (11-6)
- Sua Opeta, OG, Weber State/Stansbury HS
- Britain Covey, WR/RS, Utah/Timpview HS
- Noah Togiai, TE, Hunter HS (via Oregon State) (practice squad)
- Brian Johnson, Utah (offensive coordinator)
Buccaneers (9-8)
- Deven Thompkins, WR/RS, Utah State
