PASADENA, CA – SEPTEMBER 22: Matthew Slater #18 of the UCLA Bruins celebrates scoring a touchdown in the second half against the Washington Huskies at the Pasadena Rose Bowl on September 22, 2007 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)
Former UCLA Bruin Matthew Slater will play for his third career Super Bowl championship after he and the Patriots completed a 10-point, fourth-quarter comeback in the AFC Championship Game against the Jaguars on Sunday.
Slater, a special teams stalwart for the Patriots, had one tackle in the 24-20 victory as Tom Brady led the Patriots to 14 unanswered points in the final 8:44 of the game. New England is playing in its third Super Bowl in four years.
Fellow UCLA alums Myles Jack and Marcedes Lewis had stand-out plays for the Jaguars as Jack had a forced fumble and fumble recovery and Lewis caught his first career postseason touchdown.
Myles Jack just made the biggest play in Jaguars history pic.twitter.com/uFBS9t2JAl
— Barstool Sports (@barstooltweetss) January 21, 2018
“Grandpa” Marcedes Lewis puts the #Jaguars up early! #JAXvsNE pic.twitter.com/KLziZQYEgr
— FlurrySports (@FlurrySports) January 21, 2018
In the NFC Championship Game, the Eagles crushed the Vikings 38-7. Former UCLA linebackers Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr and six and three tackles, respectively, for the Vikings.
Former UCLA safety Randall Goforth signed with the Eagles as an undrafted free agent, but is on the reserve/injured list after tearing his ACL during training camp. UCLA tight end Caleb Wilson‘s father Chris coaches the Eagles’ defensive line.