Cyclones in the NFL: Divisional Round Recap

Iowa State saw its postseason participants drop from five to one over the weekend, as both the Texans and 49ers were eliminated while the Broncos advanced to the AFC Championship Game.

The top-seeded Broncos will look to overcome an injury to starting QB Bo Nix and become the AFC's representative in the Super Bowl. Should Denver win, he would be the first Cyclone since Brock Purdy to make a Super Bowl.

Brock Purdy – #13, San Francisco 49ers (13-6)
Purdy took his depleted 49ers offense up to Seattle to face their divisional foe. Seattle, a place Purdy had never lost, turned into a house of horrors as the Seahawks were on San Francisco from the jump – returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown. The San Fran offense was stymied by Seattle as Purdy's playoff run came to an end.
Last Time Out: L at SEA, 6-41 // 15-27 for 140 yards and 5rushes for 37 yards
Up Next: offseason

Jayden Higgins – #81, Houston Texans (13-6)
With Nico Collins out with a concussion, Higgins essentially filled wide receiver one duties for the Texans against the No. 2-seeded Patriots. Higgins was targeted a career-high 10 times as he secured a personal-best 6 catches. The elements affected multiple throws, forcing them to go off-target. Higgins' regular-season rookie campaign came to a close with 41 catches for 525 yards and six scores. In the playoffs, he had nine snags for 98 yards.
Last Time Out: L at NE, 16-28 // 6 catches for 59 yards
Next Up: offseason

Jaylin Noel – #14 – Houston Texans (13-6)
Noel's role was reduced purely to special teams in the playoffs, as he was again held without a catch in the loss to the Patriots. Noel fell two yards short of 100 total yards against New England in the return game. He finished his 2025 regular season with 26 catches for 292 yards and two touchdowns. He had 39 kickoff returns go for 799 yards and 31 punt returns go for 335 yards.
Last Time Out: L at NE, 16-28 // 3 KR for 69 yards, 3 PR for 29 yards
Next Up: offseason

Xavier Hutchinson – #19, Houston Texans (13-6)
Hutchinson was peppered against New England as he got a career-high 13 targets from quarterback CJ Stroud. Many of those targets, though, fell by the wayside as the Foxboro elements impacted most throws. In two playoff games, Hutchinson was targeted 17 times and finished with six catches for 65 yards.
Last Time Out: L at NE, 16-28 // 4 catches for 44 yards
Next Up: offseason

Enyi Uwazurike – #96, Denver Broncos (15-3)
Uwazurike helped power a Bronco defense to hold reigning MVP Josh Allen in check over the weekend as Denver won its first playoff game since 2015. The Denver defense forced five Buffalo turnovers to earn the victory. Uwazurike will try to avenge the trio of ISU receivers as he takes on New England in the AFC Championship Game.
Last Time Out: W vs. BUF, 33-30 (OT) // 3 tackles (1 solo)
Up Next: Jan. 25, vs. New England (2 pm on CBS)

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Cyclones in the NFL: Divisional Round Recap

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