FB Parkinson action photo from 2025 Wild Card WeekendFB Parkinson action photo from 2025 Wild Card Weekend
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Football

Stanford in the NFL: Wild Card Recap

Two game-winners were scored by former Cardinal

STANFORD, Calif. — It was a Wild Card weekend to remember around the NFL, and former Stanford student-athletes played a big role in the results. Two former Cardinal scored game-winning touchdowns in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter, while eight started at their respective positions. All told, Stanford will see seven of its former players in the Divisional Round next week. 

Below is a breakdown of each performance by a former Cardinal in the Wild Card Round:

Los Angeles Rams 34, Carolina Panthers 31

  • Colby Parkinson (LAR): Started at tight end and caught two of three targets for 34 receiving yards…first reception of the game was a one-handed snag on a screen pass, going for 15 yards…caught the game-winning touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford with 38 seconds remaining, scoring on a 19-yard wheel route…his ninth overall touchdown of the season, after scoring just five times across his first five seasons.
  • Brycen Tremayne (CAR): Started at wide receiver and failed to bring in his only target of the game…first former Stanford wide receiver to start a playoff game since Jan. 5, 2019, when Doug Baldwin started for the Seattle Seahawks in the Wild Card Round against Dallas…was just the second start of his NFL career…saw 26 total snaps at between special teams and wide receiver.

Chicago Bears 31, Green Bay Packers 27

    • Drew Dalman (CHI): Started and played all 78 snaps at center as the Bears defeated the Packers…did not allow a sack and allowed just one quarterback hurry…the 352 passing yards by the Bears offense is the most they’ve had in a game all season…first playoff win for the Bears since Jan. 16, 2011 in the Divisional Round over Seattle.

Buffalo Bills 27, Jacksonville Jaguars 24

    • Walker Little (JAX): Started at left tackle and played all 56 snaps for the Jaguars…helped keep Trevor Lawrence upright all game without a quarterback sack.

San Francisco 49ers 23, Philadelphia Eagles 19

    • Christian McCaffrey (SF): Started at running back and carried the ball 15 times for 48 yards and added six receptions for 66 yards with two touchdowns…scored the final two touchdowns of the game for the 49ers, putting them ahead both times…caught a 29-yard touchdown from wide receiver Jauan Jennings on a trick play on the first play of the fourth quarter…hauled in a four-yard pass with 2:54 remaining in the fourth quarter for his second touchdown of the game, putting San Francisco ahead for good…became the fourth player in NFL history with at least 100 scrimmage yards and a touchdown in four-straight playoff games…the last running back with two touchdown receptions in a playoff game was Damien Williams for Kansas City in 2019.
    • Curtis Robinson (SF): Started at middle linebacker and played 34 total snaps between linebacker and special teams.
    • Tanner McKee (PHI): Did not appear in the Wild Card game.

New England Patriots 16, Los Angeles Chargers 3

      • Austin Hooper (NE): Started at tight end and failed to bring in both of his targets, including one in the end zone that Drake Maye overthrew…Patriots won their first playoff game since Super Bowl LII.
      • Tucker Fisk (LAC): Played 19 offensive snaps and caught all three of his targets for 12 yards, setting a new career-high in receptions…only had two receptions during the regular season.
      • Foster Sarell (LAC): Did not appear in the Wild Card game.
      • Kendall Williamson (LAC): Did not appear in the Wild Card game.

Houston Texans 30, Pittsburgh Steelers 6

      • Dalton Schultz (HOU): Started at tight end and caught three of four targets for 12 yards…finished tied for second on the Texans in receptions…advances to the Divisional Round of the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year.
      • Davis Mills (HOU): Did not appear in the Wild Card game.
      • Andrus Peat (PIT): Did not appear in the Wild Card game.

The schedule for the Divisional Round, with former Cardinal noted, is below:

Saturday

San Francisco 49ers (Christian McCaffrey, Curtis Robinson) at Seattle Seahawks – 5 p.m. PT on FOX

Sunday

Houston Texans (Davis Mills, Dalton Schultz) at New England Patriots (Austin Hooper) – 12 p.m. PT on ESPN/ABC

Los Angeles Rams (Colby Parkinson) at Chicago Bears (Drew Dalman) – 3:30 p.m. PT on NBC