NFL Week 16: Florida State Alumni Check-In and a Look at the Playoff Picture
With Week 16 action heating up across the NFL, the playoff race is in full swing-and for fans of Florida State football, there’s plenty to track beyond just the standings. From rookies getting their feet wet to veterans making key contributions, former Seminoles continue to leave their mark around the league. Let’s break down where they showed up-and how the postseason picture is shaping up heading into the final stretch.
Thursday Night Thriller: Seahawks 38, Rams 37 (OT)
This one had all the drama you could ask for-a back-and-forth battle that needed overtime to settle. While the game itself was a shootout, the FSU presence was more subtle but still worth noting.
Seattle: Cam Akers was elevated from the practice squad, but didn’t record any stats in the box score. Still, the fact that he’s back in the mix after injury setbacks is something to watch as the Seahawks gear up for the playoffs.
Los Angeles: Jared Verse continues to show why he was such a coveted prospect. The rookie edge rusher started and made his presence felt with four total tackles, including a solo stop, a shared sack for a 4.5-yard loss, and two quarterback hurries that helped disrupt Seattle’s rhythm.
Braden Fiske also saw action on the defensive line, though he didn’t register any stats. Keir Thomas remains on injured reserve.
Saturday Slate
Eagles at Commanders (5 p.m. ET, FOX)
- Philadelphia: WR Johnny Wilson remains on injured reserve.
- Washington: Defensive linemen Eddie Goldman and DeMarcus Walker are both currently on the practice squad.
Packers at Bears (8:20 p.m. ET, FOX)
- No former Seminoles are active in this one.
Sunday Early Games (1 p.m. ET)
Buccaneers at Panthers
- Tampa Bay: No FSU alumni suiting up.
- Carolina: Kicker Ryan Fitzgerald is on the roster, providing stability on special teams.
Bills at Browns
- Buffalo: Rookie wideout Keon Coleman continues to develop in a deep Bills receiver room.
- Cleveland: Offensive lineman Jeremiah Byers is part of a Browns unit that’s been quietly effective in the trenches.
Chargers at Cowboys
- Los Angeles: Derwin James remains the heartbeat of the Chargers’ secondary.
He’s joined by offensive lineman Bobby Hart and quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, who is currently on the practice squad.
- Dallas: No Seminoles on the active roster.
Jets at Saints
- New York: Jermaine Johnson II continues to be a key piece of the Jets’ defensive front.
Meanwhile, cornerback Azareye’h Thomas is on injured reserve.
- New Orleans: No FSU representation.
Vikings at Giants
- Minnesota: No former Seminoles active.
- New York: Jameis Winston is with the Giants as a backup quarterback. Edge rusher Brian Burns brings serious juice off the edge.
Kicker Graham Gano remains on injured reserve.
Chiefs at Titans
- Kansas City: Defensive linemen Derrick Nnadi and Janarius Robinson (IR) are part of the rotation, while defensive back Kevin Knowles II is also on the roster.
- Tennessee: No Seminoles in action.
Bengals at Dolphins
- No FSU alumni active in this game.
Sunday Late Afternoon Games
Falcons at Cardinals (4:05 p.m. ET, FOX)
- Atlanta: Safety Jammie Robinson is currently on the practice squad.
- Arizona: Running back Trey Benson is on injured reserve.
Outside linebacker Josh Sweat continues to be a disruptive force off the edge.
Jaguars at Broncos (4:05 p.m. ET, FOX)
- Jacksonville: Cornerback Jarrian Jones is part of a young secondary looking to help the Jags secure a division title.
- Denver: No former Seminoles active.
Steelers at Lions (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS)
- Pittsburgh: The Steelers boast a pair of FSU cornerbacks in Asante Samuel Jr. and Jalen Ramsey, giving them one of the more experienced duos in the league.
- Detroit: No Seminoles on the roster.
Raiders at Texans (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS)
- Las Vegas: No FSU alumni active.
- Houston: Veteran defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr. is on injured reserve, and cornerback Ronald Darby is listed as reserve/retired.
Sunday Night Football: Patriots at Ravens (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC)
New England: The Patriots have a trio of former Noles, including running back Jashaun Corbin (practice squad), defensive tackle Joshua Farmer, and Fabien Lovett Sr. (practice squad).
Baltimore: No FSU players currently on the roster.
Monday Night Football: 49ers at Colts (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)
San Francisco: Linebacker Tatum Bethune and cornerback Renardo Green are both on the active roster and could see meaningful snaps against a Colts team still fighting for a playoff spot.
Indianapolis: No Seminoles in uniform.
Playoff Picture: Where Things Stand
With just a couple of weeks left in the regular season, here’s how the postseason brackets are shaping up-and which teams are getting hot at the right time.
AFC
- Denver Broncos (12-2) - Already clinched, and looking like a complete team on both sides of the ball.
- New England Patriots (11-3) - Belichick’s crew has found its groove late in the year.
- Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4) - Still leading the AFC South, but the margin is thin.
- Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6) - Hanging onto the AFC North lead in a tight race.
- Los Angeles Chargers (10-4) - Quietly one of the more balanced teams in the conference.
- Buffalo Bills (10-4) - Peaking at the right time.
- Houston Texans (9-5) - Young squad, but proving they belong.
On the Bubble:
- Colts (8-6)
- Ravens (7-7)
NFC
- Seattle Seahawks (12-3) - Clinched and looking like a serious contender.
- Chicago Bears (10-4) - A strong finish could lock up a top-two seed.
- Philadelphia Eagles (9-5) - Still in control of the NFC East, but not by much.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7) - Clinging to the South lead.
- Los Angeles Rams (11-4) - Already in, and dangerous.
- San Francisco 49ers (10-4) - As physical as ever.
- Green Bay Packers (9-4-1) - That tie might just be the difference-maker.
On the Bubble:
- Detroit Lions (8-6)
- Carolina Panthers (7-7)
- Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1)
With playoff spots tightening and just two weeks remaining, every snap matters. For Florida State fans, it’s not just about who wins-it’s about watching familiar faces make big-time plays on the biggest stage. And as we’ve seen already in Week 16, several former Seminoles are doing just that.