Oklahoma football fans who have been battling depression since the disappointing loss to LSU in the college playoff can now turn their attention to former Sooners still at work in the NFL playoffs.
And you might be surprised how many we’re talking about.
Eight teams are still alive after the wild card round last weekend. Within that motley group, a dozen former Oklahoma players and their teams remain in the hunt for the NFL’s holy grail: the Vince Lombardi Trophy and the chance to play for it in Super Bowl LIV.
Six of the eight playoff teams remaining contain one or more former Sooners.
The time at Oklahoma of the 12 former Sooners ranges from 2010 through 2018.
Kenny Stills, wide receiver for the Houston Texans and Tony Jefferson , a safety for the Baltimore Ravens, are the longest tenured of the Sooners who are on playoff teams that are still alive. Both are in their seventh NFL season. Jefferson is on injured reserve, however, and is not expected to play in Baltimore’s postseason.
Heading the list of former Oklahoma players on NFL playoff teams is the Baltimore Ravens, the No. 1 seed in the American Football Conference, with five former Sooners on the roster (their time at Oklahoma in parentheses): WR Marquise “Hollywood” Brown (2017-18), TE Mark Andrews (2015-17), OT Orlando Brown (2015-17), S Tony Jefferson (2010-12) and OG Ben Powers (2016-18).
The Ravens will host the No. 6 Tennessee Titans in round two of the NFL playoffs, the divisional round, on Saturday. There is one former Sooner on the Tennessee roster. Defensive end Amani Bledsoe (2016-18) is on the Titan practice squad.
The Kansas City Chiefs, the No. 2 seed in the American Conference, will host the No. 4 Houston Texans on Sunday. Kenny Stills is on the Texans’ squad. The Chiefs’ roster included three former OU players: TE Blake Bell (2011-14), RB Damien Williams (2012-13) and long-snapper James Winchester (2010-12).
Two other former Sooners are on NFL playoff teams still in action. LB Curtis Bolton (2015-18) is on injured reserve as a member of the No. 2 Green Bay Packers, who will play the No. 3 Seattle Seahawks (with no Sooners on the roster). Dru Samia (2015-18) of the Minnesota Vikings is currently inactive. The Vikings travel out west this weekend to play the San Francisco 49ers, the No. 1 seed in the National Conference.