Puka Nacua leads in games against Utah, which could have an impact on wild card weekend – Deseret News

There will be a solid group of Utah players available during the first round of this year’s NFL playoffs.

There they are 34 players tied for Utah on postseason rosters during the 2024 playoffs, and 28 of them are on teams that will play during Wild Card Weekend.

Headliners include Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, former BYU and Green Bay Packers star Jordan Love, a 2020 first-round selection out of Utah State, and Baltimore Ravens linebacker Kyle Van Noy, a former BYU defensive standout.

Who will have the biggest impact this weekend?

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Saturday matches

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Los Angeles Chargers at Houston Texans

• Start: 14:30 Polish time
• Premises: NRG Stadium
• TV: CBS

Impact on Utah: Former Bingham High running back Dalton Schultz has performed well this season in Houston, even though his numbers have dropped slightly from his first year with the Texans in 2023. His 53 receptions are second on the team, and Schultz added 532 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Former Orem High linebacker Alohi Gilman returned from injured reserve for the Chargers’ regular-season finale and will be ready for the playoffs. He started every game he played in Los Angeles this season.

Utah is tied for the Texans

• Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham High
• Kedon Slovis, QB, BYU (practice squad)

Utah is tied for the Chargers

• Simi Fehoko, WR, Brighton High School
• Alohi Gilman, S, Orem High School

The Pittsburgh Steelers play the Baltimore Ravens

• Start: 18:00 Polish time
• Premises: M&T Bank Stadium
• TV: The best video

Impact on Utah: Former BYU linebacker Kyle Van Noy is playing some of the best football of his career for Baltimore and has recorded a career-high 12.5 sacks in the regular season. He should play an important role in Saturday’s playoff game.

Former Utah linebacker Marcus Williams was benched for the Ravens in Week 11 and had his contract restructured earlier this week, meaning his time in Baltimore is coming to an end so he is not expected to participate in the duel.

Former Utah State, Snow College and East High linebacker Jaylen Warren had over 800 yards of total offense during the regular season for Pittsburgh, while former Southern Utah linebacker Miles Killebrew is an All-Pro special team player for the Steelers.

Utah is tied for the Ravens

• Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU
• Marcus Williams, S, Utah

Utah is tied for the Steelers

• Miles Killebrew, Southern, southern Utah
• Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State, Snow College and East High
• Eric Rowe, S, Utah (practice squad)

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Sunday matches

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Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills

• Start: 11:00 MST
• Premises: Highmark Stadium
• TV: CBS

Impact on Utah: There are multiple types of ties against Utah in this AFC playoff matchup.

Six former University of Utah stars are likely to play on either side of this game, led by Denver offensive tackle Garett Bolles on one side and Buffalo sharpshooter Dalton Kincaid.

Bolles will be making his first playoff appearance in his eighth professional season, and Kincaid is one of the top receiving options in the Bills offense.

There are also former Utes, such as Buffalo safety Cole Bishop, Denver cornerback Cody Barton and Denver wide receiver Devaughn Vele, who could be involved in key moments Sunday.

In addition to his ties to the University of Utah, former Weber State cornerback Taron Johnson has been a long-time quarterback in Buffalo and has had strong playoff performances.

Utah is tied for the Bills

• Cole Bishop, S, Utah
• Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State
• Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah

Utah is tied for the Broncos

• Cody Barton, LB, Utah and Brighton High
• Garett Bolles, OT, Utah, Snow College and Westlake High
• Jonah Elliss, LB, Utah
• Devaughn Vele, WR, Utah
• Zach Wilson, QB, BYU and Corner Canyon High
• Thomas Yassmin, TE, Utah (practice squad)

Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles

• Start: 14:30 Polish time
• Premises: Lincoln Financial Field
• TV: Fox

Impact on Utah: Former Utah State quarterback Jordan Love looked great in his first playoff appearance last season, leading Green Bay to the divisional round by throwing for 466 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions in two games.

Will he be able to do it again this year?

Love’s stats in his second year as a starter weren’t as good as last season, but he proved he was capable of delivering a big win when needed

Former BYU linebacker Zayne Anderson and linebacker Chris Brooks have also had some nice moments for Green Bay this year, though it’s unlikely they’ll be key contributors on Sunday.

It’s a shame that former Utah and Timpview High star Britain Covey is on Philadelphia’s reserve roster due to injury.

Utah is tied for the Eagles

• Britain Covey, WR/RS, Utah and Timpview High (on injured reserve)

Utah is tied for the Packers

• Zayne Anderson, S, BYU and Stansbury High
• Chris Brooks, RB, BYU
• Jordan Love, QB, Utah State

Washington’s captains of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Start: 18:00 Polish time
• Premises: Raymond James Stadium
• TV: NBC

Impact on Utah: Former Utah State linebacker Bobby Wagner already has a Super Bowl ring, but it seems like eons ago when he was a second-year pro in 2013 with Seattle.

Of course, the ageless Wagner became an All-Pro again for Washington, his third team in as many seasons.

It’s been a few years, but Wagner has plenty of playoff experience, having played in 16 postseason games over eight seasons with the Seahawks.

Utah is tied for the Buccaneers

• Sua Opeta, OG, Weber State and Stansbury High (on injured reserve)

Utah is tied for leadership

• Michael Davis, CB, BYU
• Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State

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Monday’s match

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Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams

• Start: 18:00 Polish time
• Premises: State Farm Stadium in Arizona – Game moved from SoFi Stadium due to wildfires in Los Angeles
• TV: ESPN

Impact on Utah: Former BYU and Orem High wide receiver Puka Nacua could easily have had the best weekend of any game in Utah — he became the face of the Rams in just his second season in the NFL.

Do you want evidence of this?

In his playoff debut last season, he had an NFL-record 181 yards and a touchdown on nine receptions.

However, the Rams were eliminated on wild card weekend, and Nacua will certainly have a big impact on whether Los Angeles can advance this year.

Utah is tied for the Rams

• Puka Nacua, WR, BYU and Orem High

Utah is tied for the Vikings

• Taki Taimani, DL, East High (on injured reserve, scheduled to return)
• Max Tooley, LB, BYU and Bountiful High (practice squad)