NFL Update: Justice Hill Scores Again, Playoff Seeding Set

The NFL regular season has come to an end which means that playoff football is just around the corner. Let’s take a look at some of the top storylines for former Cowboys from Week 17, and then look at those Oklahoma State alums whose teams are headed to the postseason.

Justice Scores Again, Steelers Out

Baltimore’s rookie running back followed up his first career TD last week by finding paydirt again.

Just(ice) another TD for @jhill21_ ❗️❗️ pic.twitter.com/vzc1FD0CIL

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 29, 2019

Justice carried the ball 10 times for 39 yards (a career-high) as his Ravens effectively eliminated James Washington’s Steelers from the playoffs with the 28-10 rout. (With Tennessee’s win over Houston in the same time slot, Pittsburgh would have been out anyway, but the Steelers didn’t know that during the game.)

After enjoying a breakout second half of the season, Washington turned in his worst game of the year with three drops on his three total targets in the loss to Baltimore. A week after coming off the bench for Devlin Hodges, Mason Rudolph did not see the field during the Steelers’ finale.

Tre Flowers Picks Up Second Sack

Flowers likes him some Jimmy G. in the backfield.

Tre Flowers will meet you in the backfield ? pic.twitter.com/ezqM3nFnzY

— Pistols Firing (@pistolsguys) December 30, 2019

The second-year cornerback came into Sunday night’s NFC West title-deciding finale with one sack on the season, which was also on San Francisco QB Jimmy Garoppolo back during the Seahawks’ Week 10 win at Levi Stadium.

Unfortunately for Flowers and his ‘Hawks, the 49ers earned payback against their rival with a 26-21 win to take the NFC’s No. 1 seed and drop the Birds to a Wild Card spot. Flowers ended the night with five tackles, a tackle for loss and that sack.

Marcell Ateman Comes Out of Hiding

After starting each of this first two seasons on the Raiders’ practice squad, Ateman earned an active roster spot for the second half of each year. In Oakland’s season finale, Ateman had his best game of 2019.

The second-year wideout came into Sunday’s tilt with the Broncos totaling three catches on the season. He caught three of his seven targets for 46 yards but did lose one of the first fumbles of his young pro career. The Raiders fell to the Broncos in the Mile-High City 16-15.

Pokes Headed to the Postseason

Justice Hill — Baltimore Ravens: Justice will get a chance to continue his scoring ways in two weeks. His Ravens earned a Wild Card Weekend bye as the AFC’s No. 1 seed.

Tre Flowers — Seattle Seahawks: With their loss to the 49ers the Seahawks drop to a Wild Card spot and will face the Eagles in Philadelphia on Sunday, Jan. 5.

Dan Bailey — Minnesota Vikings: Bailey went 4-for-4 with a long field goal of 39 yards and made his only extra-point attempt during the Vikings’ 21-19 loss to the Bears. Bailey and Minnesota will face the New Orleans Saints in a Wild Card round on Sunday, Jan. 5.

Vincent Taylor — Buffalo Bills: Taylor logged one tackle and a pass defended as his Bills fell to the Jets 13-6. Buffalo will face the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round on Saturday, Jan. 4.

Emmanuel Ogbah — Kansas City Chiefs (Out): Ogbah was placed on injured reserve with a torn pectoral muscle in November.

Chris Carson — Seattle Seahawks (Out): Carson suffered a fractured hip in Week 16 and was ruled out for the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs.

Lane Taylor — Green Bay Packers (Out): Taylor was placed on injured reserve back in September due to a bicep injury.