15 Former Huskers on NFL Playoff Rosters

Lincoln -- A total of 15 former Husker football players are on National Football League playoff rosters, as the Wild Card round takes place this weekend.

Kansas City and St. Louis, who both have byes this weekend, each boast three former Huskers on their rosters. Pro Bowler Will Shields, Eric Warfield and Clint Finley all are member of the AFC West Champions Chiefs, Grant Wistrom and rookies DeJuan Groce and Scott Shanle are members of the Rams, who won the NFC Western Division champions.

In Green Bay, Ahman Green will lead three former Huskers into a matchup with the Seattle Seahawks Sunday afternoon at Noon (CST). The former Husker I-back leads the NFC with 1,883 rushing yards, as he set a team record with 218 yards in Green Bay's win over Denver last Sunday. The six-year pro was named as the NFC Player of the Week for his perfomance against the Broncos. He is joined by cornerback Erwin Swiney and running back Dahrran Diedrick, who is on the Packers' practice squad. Seattle counters with rookie place-kicker Josh Brown, who was 22-of-30 in field goal attemps on the year, including 15-of-16 under 40 yards. Brown set the Seahawks' team record with a 58-yarder in a loss to Green Bay in October.

In Carolina, the NFC South champion Carolina Panthers will host the Dallas Cowboys this Saturday, Jan. 3, at 7 p.m. The Panthers, who are making their first playoff appearance since 1996, are 11-5 on the year and made a 10-game improvement over the past two seasons, as a pair of former Huskers led the charge. Mike Minter leads the Panthers with 122 tackles, while Rucker, who has been sidelined most of December with a knee strain, ranks among the NFL leaders with 12 sacks. The lone former Husker on the Cowboys is offensive tackle Dave Volk, who is a member of the Cowboys practice squad.

While the Rams are off this weekend, defensive end Grant Wistrom was named the NFC's Defensive Player of the Month for Decemebr. Wistrom totaled 37 tackles, 4.5 sacks and nine quarterback pressures, helping the Rams to a 3-1 record in the Month. Wistrom finished the year with 7.5 sacks and helped the Rams to their fourth postseason appearance in the last five seasons.

A complete list of all the former Huskers in the NFL playoffs are listed below.

Offense

  Rushing ReceivingPlayer, Team Opp. ATT YDS AVG LNG TD Rec Yards AVG LNG TDBuckhalter, Correll Philadelphia Bye Week - - - - - - - - - -Green, Ahman, Green Bay vs. Seattle (Sun.) - - - - - - - - - -Diedrick, Dahrran, Green Bay vs. Seattle (Sun.) - - - - - - - - - -Linemen                      Shields, Will, Kansas City Bye Week Hochstein, Russ, New England Bye Week

Volk, Dave, Dallas Cowboys

vs. Carolina (Sat.)

Defense

  Defensive Stats Special TeamsPlayer, Team Opp. TKL AST CMB SK YDS IN YDS PD FF FR TKL AST CMB FF Bl FRMinter, Mike, Carolina vs. Dal. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Rucker, Mike, Carolina vs. Dal. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Swiney, Erwin Green Bay vs. Sea - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Warfield, Eric, Kansas City Bye - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Finley, Clint, Kansas City Bye - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Groce, DeJuan, St. Louis Bye - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Shanle, Scott , St. Louis Bye - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Grant Wistrom, St. Louis Bye - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Special Teams

. Returns Field Goals Ex. Pts PuntsPlayer, Team Opp. KR YDS PR YDS TD ATT Made YDS ATT Made No. YDS AVG TB i20 LNGBrown, Josh, Seattle vs. GB - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Groce, DeJuan, St. Louis Bye - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

() missed field goal DNP - Did Not Play; INJ - Injured, did not play; IR - Injured Reserve