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DE Cliff Avril @cliffavril (Seahawks) - Avril was in Brees' face all day, hitting him twice, including half a sack and a forced fumble. The Seahawks move onto the NFC Championship against the 49ers, Sunday at 6:30 ET.
QB Drew Brees @drewbrees (Saints) - Brees went 24/43 for 309 yards and a touchdown, but the Saints couldn't make it past the Seahawks.
Brees was on the receiving end of an SI cover hit, thanks to another Boiler mentioned above, Cliff Avril.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Boiler on Boiler violence on the cover of <a href="https://twitter.com/SInow">@SINow</a>! Check out <a href="https://twitter.com/cliffavril">@cliffavril</a> & <a href="https://twitter.com/drewbrees">@drewbrees</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23BoilerUp&src=hash">#BoilerUp</a> <a href="http://t.co/SyHuhqrWAY">pic.twitter.com/SyHuhqrWAY</a></p>— Purdue Athletics (@PurdueSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/PurdueSports/statuses/423486759297486850">January 15, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Brees celebrates his 35th birthday today without a shot at his second Super Bowl.
C Nick Hardwick @hardwina (Chargers) - Hardwick was cleared for action, but it wasn't enough to stop the Peyton Manning led Broncos.
Here's your obligatory Phil Rivers meltdown, courtesy of Hardwick.
DE Rob Ninkovich (Patriots) - Ninkovich had a quiet game, only recording one tackle, but the Patriot D intercepted Andrew Luck four times in a rout. The Patriots play the Broncos in the AFC Championship, Sunday 3:00 ET.
DE Shaun Phillips @ShaunPhillips95 (Broncos) - Shaun Phillips had a big game, going for two sacks in the Broncos win over the Chargers. The Broncos play the Patriots in the AFC Championship, Sunday 3:00 ET.
DT Kawann Short @kk_mr93 (Panthers) - A solid rookie season ended for Short this weekend. The Panthers lost to the 49ers, but Short did notch five tackles in the defeat.
Of note, Greg Orton is also currently on the Patriots' practice squad and would receive a ring with a Patriots' Super Bowl.
That leaves 4 Boilers with a shot at a ring.