The NFL playoffs start this weekend, and there are several local talents in the hunt for a Super Bowl. Jennifer Toland takes a look at who to root for now that the Patriots are done for the season.
Patrick Ricard (Spencer/David Prouty)
Fullback, Baltimore Ravens
Ricard helped the Ravens capture the AFC North division title, the AFC’s No. 1 seed and a first-round playoff bye.
The 6-foot-3, 305-pound Ricard, who earned four straight Pro Bowl selections (2019-22) has played his lowest percentage of snaps since 2019, but has still contributed in a key role for the Ravens’ top-ranked rushing offense.
Ricard has five receptions for 52 yards and a one-handed touchdown grab in the fourth quarter of Baltimore’s Week 17 win over the Dolphins.
Noah Gray (Gardner/Leominster High)
Tight end, Kansas City Chiefs
Gray, the backup to superstar Travis Kelce, took on an expanded role in the Chiefs’ offense this season and set career highs with 305 receiving yards and two touchdowns. His 28 catches tied last year’s mark.
Gray helped the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs win the AFC West division. Kansas City hosts Miami at 8 p.m. Saturday. Gray had three receptions for 34 yards in the teams’ regular-season meeting.
Gray, with an elbow issue, appeared on Kansas City’s first injury report of the week, but he was a full participant in practice Tuesday and Wednesday.
Steve Spagnuolo (Grafton)
Defensive coordinator, Kansas City Chiefs
Spagnuolo, who won the third Super Bowl ring of his career last season with the Chiefs, directed one of the top defensive units in the NFL in 2023.
Kansas City ranked in the top four in total defense, passing defense and scoring defense. The Chiefs allowed 32 touchdowns, tied for second fewest in the league.
At 8 p.m. Saturday, the Chiefs will face what at times this season has been an explosive Miami offense. In the teams’ regular-season meeting, Kansas City held the Dolphins to 14 points and kept star receiver Tyreek Hill out of the end zone.
Spagnuolo is the only defensive coordinator in NFL history to win a Super Bowl with two different franchises (Giants 2007, Chiefs 2019 and 2022).
Deonte (Harris) Harty (Assumption)
Wide receiver/Return specialist, Buffalo Bills
Harty, the NFL’s leading punt returner during his 2019 Pro Bowl rookie season, did not have many opportunities this season, but his chance to break one finally game in Sunday night’s game against the Dolphins.
In the fourth quarter, Harty returned a punt 96 yards for a touchdown and shifted momentum to the Bills, who won the game, 21-14, and captured their fourth straight AFC East division crown. It was the longest punt return for a TD in Bills history. Harty was the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
Harty entered the game averaging just 9.1 yards per punt return.
After four years in New Orleans, Harty signed with the Bills as a free agent before the season. He had 15 receptions for 150 yards and a touchdown.
Buffalo hosts Pittsburgh at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Matt Burke (Hudson)
Defensive coordinator, Houston Texans
Burke’s first season in Houston has been a success as the Texans captured the AFC South division title for the first time since 2019.
The Texans, who host the Browns at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, own the NFL’s sixth-ranked rush defense and 11th-ranked scoring defense.
Burke’s 20-year NFL career also included stops with the Cardinals, Jets, Eagles, Dolphins, Bengals and Lions. He served as Arizona’s defensive line coach last season.
Jacques Cesaire (Westminster/Gardner High)
Defensive line coach, Houston Texans
Cesaire, who played nine seasons for the Chargers, is in his second season coaching Houston’s defensive linemen.
Cesaire began his pro coaching career in Buffalo as an assistant defensive line coach, and after two seasons joined the Texans and former coach Lovie Smith. When DeMeco Ryans replaced Smith before this season, he retained Cesaire.
The Texans had the sixth-ranked run defense this season, but they struggled to stop the Colts on the ground last week. Houston is dealing with some injuries on the defensive line heading into Saturday’s home game against the Browns.
Cesaire was also previously the defensive line coach at the University of San Diego.
Ashton Grant (Assumption)
Offensive assistant/Quarterbacks, Cleveland Browns
Grant, who was a star receiver at Assumption and began his coaching career at Holy Cross, joined the Browns in 2020 as the team’s first recipient of the Bill Willis Coaching Fellowship and extended his time with Cleveland in the same role through 2021.
The Browns named Grant offensive quality control coach in 2022, and moved into his current position before the start of this season.
The Browns play at Houston at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
Dave Puloka (Holy Cross)
Head strength & conditioning coach, Miami Dolphins
Puloka, a 2001 Holy Cross graduate and former star Crusaders defensive end, is the longest-tenured coach on the Dolphins staff.
Puloka joined the Dolphins in 2008, and the team promoted him to head strength & conditioning coach in 2016.
Puloka began his career in the NFL in 2007 as an Atlanta Falcons assistant strength & conditioning coach.
The Dolphins play at Kansas City at 8 p.m. Saturday.
Ifeatu Melifonwu (Grafton)
Safety, Detroit Lions
Injuries (thigh, ankle) derailed Melifonwu’s first two NFL seasons, and a broken hand limited his reps the first part of this year, but since entering the Lions’ starting lineup in Week 14, Melifonwu has had a breakout.
The former third-round draft pick out of Syracuse, who played in all 17 regular-season games, set career highs with 21 tackles and two interceptions. Melifonwu recorded the picks in back-to-back games, against the Vikings and Cowboys in Weeks 16 and 17.
Melifonwu, who switched from cornerback to safety after his rookie season, helped the Lions capture the NFC North division title.
Against the Rams at 8 p.m. Sunday, Detroit will be looking for its first playoff win since 1991.
Kalif Raymond (Holy Cross)
Wide receiver/Return specialist, Detroit Lions
For the second straight year, Raymond played in all 17 regular-season games and contributed on offense and special teams.
Raymond caught 35 passes for 489 yards and a touchdown, and he averaged 11.4 yards on 29 punt returns.
Raymond, who is in his eighth NFL season and third with the Lions, earned second-team All-Pro honors as a punt returner in 2022.
Raymond’s status for Sunday night’s game against the Rams, when Detroit seeks its first playoff win in 33 years, is in question. He suffered a knee injury in the Lions’ regular-season finale win against the Vikings and did not practice Wednesday.
Zach Triner (Assumption)
Long snapper, Tampa Bay Bucs
Triner, who was a defensive lineman at Assumption, has played in 73 NFL games during his five-year career, all as the Bucs’ long snapper.
Triner missed two games this season due to an elbow injury, but helped Tampa Bay to the NFC South division title and to the playoffs for the fourth straight season. The Bucs host the Eagles at 8:15 p.m. Monday.
In 2020, as a teammate of Tom Brady, Triner was part of the Bucs’ Super Bowl LV championship.
—Contact Jennifer Toland at [email protected]. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @JenTolandTG.
Gregory Daniels is your guide to the latest trends, viral sensations, and internet phenomena. With a finger on the pulse of digital culture, he explores what’s trending across social media and pop culture. Gregory enjoys staying ahead of the curve and sharing emerging trends with his readers.
