Wake Forest Athletics
#ProDeacs: Wild Card Recap
1/18/2023 10:12:00 PM | Football
A pair of Deacs advance following strong defensive performances.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wild Card weekend has concluded and two former Demon Deacons helped their teams advance and will now battle each other in the divisional round for a spot in the AFC championship game.
Here's a look at how the #ProDeacs did in the first round.
Bates III Continues His Playoff Dominance
Jessie Bates III improved to 4-1 in his postseason career and nearly doubled his playoff tackles in Cincinnati's 24-17 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. The fifth-year safety finished second on the team with nine tackles and brought his playoff total to 19. His biggest play of the game came late in the second quarter, as he sniffed out a pass on first and goal and got into the backfield for a loss of one, which eventually held Baltimore to a field goal instead of a touchdown.
Basham and the Bills Advance
Bates III wasn't the only Demon Deacon making an impact on the defensive side of the ball, as Carlos "Boogie" Basham Jr. tallied a season-high in tackles with five, which ranked third on the team in the 34-31 victory over the Miami Dolphins. Similar to Bates III, Basham's biggest play came in the backfield. The 2021 second-round pick came up with a seven-yard sack on second down to force a third-and-long for the Dolphins. Miami had to settle for a field goal a play later.
Playoff Boogie, @Almighty_Basham 😤#ProDeacs 🎩
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) January 16, 2023
pic.twitter.com/CaukNoZ6cj
Basham ranked fourth on the team with a 77.6 grade from ProFootballFocus.
Bates III and Basham Jr. are set to clash in the first divisional round game this Saturday at 3 p.m. on CBS. This confirms there will be at least one Demon Deacon in the AFC Championship game for the second-consecutive season.
The Future of ProDeacs
Ryan Smenda Jr. competed in the Hula Bowl on Saturday and impressed with five tackles and a 39-yard return following a fumble recovery for team Aina.
Let's go, @ryansmenda ‼️
— Wake Forest Football (@WakeFB) January 14, 2023
Making plays in the Hula Bowl 🏆
pic.twitter.com/vFbiOPpJwj
Up next, Tyler Williams will play in the Tropical Bowl on Saturday, January 21st at 4 p.m. The game will be played at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
A.T. Perry, Kobie Turner and Blake Whiteheart will take part in the East-West Shrine Bowl on Thursday, February 3rd at 8:30 p.m. The game will be televised on NFL Network and take place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Wild Card Round Slate (All times eastern)
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Carlos "Boogie" Basham Jr. - BUF (13-3, No. 2 Seed AFC)
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Wild Card Round: Miami Dolphins 31 at Buffalo Bills 34
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This Week: Cincinnati Bengals at Buffalo Bills (Sunday, 3 p.m., CBS)
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Jessie Bates III and Nate Gilliam - CIN (12-4, No. 3 Seed AFC)
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Wild Card Round: Baltimore Ravens 17 at Cincinnati Bengals 24
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This Week: Cincinnati Bengals at Buffalo Bills (Sunday, 3 p.m., CBS)
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Phil Haynes - SEA (9-8, No. 7 Seed NFC)
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Wild Card Round: Seattle Seahawks 23 at San Francisco 49ers 41
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This Week: N/A
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Ja'Sir Taylor and Sage Surratt - LAC (10-7, No. 5 Seed AFC)
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Wild Card Round: Los Angeles Chargers 30 at Jacksonville Jaguars 31
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This Week: N/A
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Luiji Vilain - MIN (13-4, No. 3 Seed NFC)
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Wild Card Round: New York Giants 31 at Minnesota Vikings 24
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This Week: N/A
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Other Divisional Round Games
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Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers (Sunday, 6:30 p.m., FOX)
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New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles (Saturday, 8:15 p.m., FOX)
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Jacksonville Jaguars at Kansas City Chiefs (Saturday, 4:30 p.m., NBC)
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