Sooners in the NFL: Championship Sunday
The best doubleheader in football went down on Sunday in the NFL with the two conference championship games taking place and the participants in Super Bowl 56 being solidified.
Heading into the league’s semifinal games, Oklahoma knew that no matter what happened some combination of former Sooners would be claiming a Super Bowl ring in 2022.
All four teams left had multiple OU alums on the roster meaning that Sooner fans could just sit back and let the best former Oklahoma players win.
For former Sooners running backs Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine, they were trying to help the Cincinnati Bengals get back to the big game for the first time in over three decades.
Relatively large underdogs heading into Arrowhead Stadium and facing the two-time defending AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs, Mixon and Perine would both play a vital role in helping the Bengals pull off the stunning upset.
Mixon, who continues to blossom into one of the top-end running backs in the entire league, was superb again, rushing for 88 yards on 21 carries while adding another 27 yards in the receiving game on three receptions.
Perine, who has seen his touches fluctuate throughout the year, did not get a carry but certainly still did his part with three receptions for 43 yards - including an electrifying 41-yard touchdown reception to start Cincinnati’s comeback from a 21-3 first half hole.
Samaje Perine
Albert Cesare / USA TODAY NETWORK
Perine's touchdown cut the deficit to 21-10, with the Bengals slowly making up the rest of the ground and taking the game in overtime by a final score of 27-24 to punch their ticket to the Super Bowl.
As teammates at Oklahoma, Mixon and Perine formed one of the best running back duos in the country and one of the best in the history of the Sooners football program.
At the next level, while Mixon is clearly the featured option as opposed to it being a straight tandem, the two have been able to recapture some of that magic in giving the Bengals a 1-2 punch in their backfield.
Now, the two can try and win the ultimate prize together in Super Bowl 56 against the Los Angeles Rams and fellow former Sooners Ogbonnia Okoronkwo and Bobby Evans.
As for the rest of the Sooners in the NFL, here is a recap of how they did on Championship Sunday:
Arizona Cardinals
(Eliminated in Wild Card Round)
- QB Kyler Murray:
- DL Jordan Phillips:
Baltimore Ravens
(Failed to Reach Playoffs)
- TE Mark Andrews:
- WR Marquise Brown:
- S Tony Jefferson:
- OG Ben Powers:
Buffalo Bills
(Eliminated in Divisional Round)
- OT Cody Ford:
- OT Daryl Williams:
Chicago Bears
(Failed to Reach Playoffs)
- RB Damien Williams:
Cincinnati Bengals
(W 27-24 OT at Kansas City)
- LB Jordan Evans: DNP (IR List)
- RB Joe Mixon: 21 rushes for 88 yards, longest rush 23 yards, 3 receptions on 3 targets for 27 yards, longest reception 18 yards
- RB Samaje Perine: 3 receptions on 4 targets for 43 yards, longest reception 41 yards, 1 receiving touchdown
Cleveland Browns
(Failed to Reach Playoffs)
- QB Baker Mayfield:
Dallas Cowboys
(Eliminated in Wild Card Round)
- WR CeeDee Lamb:
- DT Neville Gallimore:
Detroit Lions
(Failed to Reach Playoffs)
- CB Parnell Motley:
- LB Curtis Bolton:
- K Austin Seibert:
Kansas City Chiefs
(L 27-24 vs Cincinnati)
- TE Blake Bell: Saw playing time in reserve role, no targets or rushes
- OT Orlando Brown: Received start at left tackle
- C Creed Humphrey: Received start at center
- LS James Winchester: Served as long snapper for 8 snaps
Las Vegas Raiders
(Eliminated in Wild Card Round)
- DT Gerald McCoy:
Los Angeles Chargers
(Failed to Reach Playoffs)
- LB Kenneth Murray:
Los Angeles Rams
(W 20-17 vs San Francisco)
- OT Bobby Evans: Saw playing time in a reserve role
- LB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo: 1 assisted tackle, 1 special teams tackle
Minnesota Vikings
(Failed to Reach Playoffs)
- WR Dede Westbrook:
New England Patriots
(Eliminated in Wild Card Round)
- DE Ronnie Perkins:
- RB Rhamondre Stevenson:
New Orleans Saints
(Failed to Reach Playoffs)
- WR Kenny Stills:
New York Giants
(Failed to Reach Playoffs)
- DB Steven Parker:
- WR Sterling Shepard:
New York Jets
(Failed to Reach Playoffs)
- OL Dru Samia:
Philadelphia Eagles
(Eliminated in Wild Card Round)
- QB Jalen Hurts:
- OT Lane Johnson:
Pittsburgh Steelers
(Eliminated in Wild Card Round)
- DB Tre Norwood:
San Francisco 49ers
(L 20-17 at LA Rams)
- RB Trey Sermon: No rushes, 1 special teams tackle
- OT Trent Williams: Received start at left tackle
Seattle Seahawks
(Failed to Reach Playoffs)
- CB Tre Brown:
- RB Adrian Peterson:
Tennessee Titans
(Eliminated in Divisional Round)
- DE Amani Bledsoe:
Washington Football Team
(Failed to Reach Playoffs)
- P Tress Way:
