Michigan HS Offensive Lineman have major role in NFL Playoff game between: Tennessee and Kansas City

Written by
Jeff Corrion
Published
01/07/2018

The Tennessee Titans erased a 21-3 deficit on the road at Kansas City in the 2018 1st round NFL Playoffs on Saturday evening winning by the score of 22-21.

Both the Titans and Chiefs had Michigan high school graduates on the roster and in total 3 played a significant role in the game; Jack Conklin (Plainwell/Tennessee - RT), Eric Fisher (Stoney Creek/Kansas City - LT), and Frank Zombo (Sterling Heights Stevenson/Kansas City - OLB).

Jack Conklin the former walk-on at Michigan State who was the #8 overall pick in the 2016 draft by the Titans was by far one of the most dominant players in the game as Conklin constantly kept 7-year pro Justin Houston away from QB Marcus Mariota, Houston averaged exactly 10 sacks a year during his career including 22 sacks in 2014. The RT Conklin can be seen on numerous occasions blocking Houston and allowing a dual-threat QB Mariota time to move in the pocket. Conklin can be seen on Mariota's infamous touchdown pass to himself of blocking Houston and Mariota as a result runs to his left, eventually scoring the touchdown.

On the opposite end of the field at LT was former 2013 #1 overall draft pick Eric Fisher. The Chiefs used a balanced attack with the NFL's leading rusher Kareem Hunt in the first half and the offense was keyed with nice blocking by Fisher and the offensive line. The 2nd half was full of dropped passes that weren't because of bad passes and TE Travis Kelce also exited the game with a concussion. The Chiefs also held the ball for just 8 total minutes in the 2nd half.

Former Super Bowl Champion, Frank Zombo had the 3rd most tackles in the game for the Chiefs with 7 total, his 43 tackles this year was a career high. Zombo appeared to have the game winning Safety on a fumble return when Mariota was in the process of being tackled for a sack, the ball got loose and Zombo returned it 58 yards for what would have been 2 points. The referees however ruled forward progress in favor of Mariota, thus voiding the play which would have made the score 23-22 Kansas City. A few minutes later, Zombo was poised to tackle Titans RB Derrick Henry on a 3rd down run in the backfield but Mariota came out of nowhere to block Zombo with a phenominal block and free Henry for the first down run.

Photos

B55c897767bdd2f860d674e87cd8111e
525ca31c9dda4da6a7ce06a25e37f9d9
7f62664e9fa29015937ffb60c47c43c0