STANDING IN THE NO. 1 SPOT: Since the NFL moved to a 12-team playoff format in 1990, No.1 seeds in the NFC are 17-2 (.895) in the Divisional Playoffs. However, the NFC top seed has lost in the Divisional round in each of the past two seasons.
In the AFC, the No. 1 seed has compiled an 11-8 (.579) record in the Divisional round.
Both the No. 1 seeds are in action on Saturday when the top-seeded New Orleans Saints host the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC and the No. 1-seed Indianapolis Colts face the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC.
The No. 1 seeds in Divisional-round play since 1990:
YEAR
AFC NO. 1 SEED
DIVISIONAL RESULT
NFC NO. 1 SEED
DIVISIONAL RESULT
1990
Buffalo
Defeated Miami 44-34
San Francisco
Defeated Washington 28-10
1991
Buffalo
Defeated Kansas City 37-14
Washington
Defeated Atlanta 24-7
1992
Pittsburgh
Lost to Buffalo 24-3
San Francisco
Defeated Washington 20-13
1993
Buffalo
Defeated L.A. Raiders 29-23
Dallas
Defeated Green Bay 27-17
1994
Pittsburgh
Defeated Cleveland 29-9
San Francisco
Defeated Chicago 44-15
1995
Kansas City
Lost to Indianapolis 10-7
Dallas
Defeated Philadelphia 30-11
1996
Denver
Lost to Jacksonville 30-27
Green Bay
Defeated San Francisco 35-14
1997
Kansas City
Lost to Denver 14-10
San Francisco
Defeated Minnesota 38-22
1998
Denver
Defeated Miami 38-3
Minnesota
Defeated Arizona 41-21
1999
Jacksonville
Defeated Miami 62-7
St. Louis
Defeated Minnesota 49-37
2000
Tennessee
Lost to Baltimore 24-10
New York Giants
Defeated Philadelphia 20-10
2001
Pittsburgh
Defeated Baltimore 27-10
St. Louis
Defeated Green Bay 45-17
2002
Oakland
Defeated N.Y. Jets 30-10
Philadelphia
Defeated Atlanta 20-6
2003
New England
Defeated Tennessee 17-14
Philadelphia
Defeated Green Bay 20-17 (OT)
2004
Pittsburgh
Defeated N.Y. Jets 20-17 (OT)
Philadelphia
Defeated Minnesota 27-14
2005
Indianapolis
Lost to Pittsburgh 21-18
Seattle
Defeated Washington 20-10
2006
San Diego
Lost to New England 24-21
Chicago
Defeated Seattle 27-24 (OT)
2007
New England
Defeated Jacksonville 31-20
Dallas
Lost to N.Y. Giants 21-17
2008
Tennessee
Lost to Baltimore 13-10
New York Giants
Lost to Philadelphia 23-11
2009
Indianapolis
???
New Orleans
???
-- NFL --
BIG GAME SUCCESS: The Dallas Cowboys have won 33 postseason games, the most in NFL history. With a victory against Minnesota in the Divisional Playoffs on Sunday, Dallas would advance to its 15th NFC Championship Game, surpassing the Pittsburgh Steelers (14) for the most appearances in a Conference Championship Game since 1970.
The teams with the most appearances in a Conference Championship Game since 1970:
TEAM
MOST APPEARANCES IN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
Dallas Cowboys
14
Pittsburgh Steelers
14
San Francisco 49ers
12
L.A./Oakland Raiders
11
L.A./St. Louis Rams
9
-- NFL --
ROAD TESTED: This Saturday marks the 13th playoff game in Ravens’ history and the club’s ninth on the road. Baltimore holds a 6-2 playoff record away from home, which stands as the top road winning percentage (.750) in NFL playoff history (minimum five games). Baltimore looks to improve the mark against Indianapolis in the Divisional round.
The best road winning percentage in playoff history (minimum five games):
TEAM
W-L
PCT.
Baltimore
6-2
.750
Carolina
4-2
.667
New England
7-9
.438
Pittsburgh
7-9
.438
Dallas
9-13
.409
-- NFL --
SIMPLY FAVRE-ULOUS: Minnesota quarterback BRETT FAVRE ranks second in NFL playoff history in completions, attempts, passing yards and touchdown passes. Favre needs 23 completions, 14 passing attempts, 462 passing yards and seven touchdowns to set postseason records in each passing category.
The top five quarterbacks in playoff completions, attempts, passing yards and touchdown passes:
PLAYER
COMPLETIONS
PLAYER
ATTEMPTS
Joe Montana
460
Joe Montana
734
Brett Favre*
438
Brett Favre*
721
Tom Brady*
395
Dan Marino
687
Dan Marino
385
John Elway
651
John Elway
355
Tom Brady*
637
*Active *Active
PLAYER
PASS YARDS
PLAYER
TD PASSES
Joe Montana
5,772
Joe Montana
45
Brett Favre*
5,311
Brett Favre*
39
John Elway
4,964
Dan Marino
32
Dan Marino
4,510
Kurt Warner*
31
Peyton Manning*
4,208
Terry Bradshaw
30
*Active *Active
-- NFL --
WARNER IN RANGE OF 4,000: Arizona Cardinals quarterback KURT WARNER has 3,747 passing yards in 12 career postseason games. With 253 passing yards against the New Orleans Saints on Saturday, Warner will reach 4,000 passing yards in 13 career playoff games, making him the fastest player in NFL history to reach the milestone.
The quarterbacks to reach 4,000 postseason passing yards in the fewest games:
QUARTERBACKS
NUMBER OF GAMES TO REACH 4,000 PASSING YARDS
Peyton Manning
15
Dan Marino
16
Brett Favre
17
Joe Montana
17
Tom Brady
18
John Elway
18
Kurt Warner
12*
*Warner currently has 3,747 postseason passing yards in 12 games.
With a 100+ passer rating against New Orleans on Saturday, Warner (3) can tie Pro Football Hall of Famers BART STARR and TROY AIKMAN (4) for the second-most consecutive playoff games with a 100+ passer rating in NFL history. Pro Football Hall of Famer JOE MONTANA holds the record with eight straight playoff games with a 100+ passer rating.
The most consecutive postseason games with 100+ passer rating (minimum 20 attempts each game):
PLAYER
TEAM
YEARS
STREAK
Joe Montana
San Francisco 49ers
1/1/89 – 1/20/91
8
Bart Starr
Green Bay Packers
1/1/67 – 12/31/67
4
Troy Aikman
Dallas Cowboys
1/10/93 – 1/16/94
4
Kurt Warner
Arizona Cardinals
1/18/09 – present
3*
*Active
-- NFL --
FROM EAST TO WEST: New York Jets rookie head coach REX RYAN and his rookie quarterback MARK SANCHEZ can reach two milestones when they play at San Diego on Sunday.
With a victory, Sanchez will join Ravens quarterback JOE FLACCO as only the second rookie quarterback all-time to win his first two playoff games. Ryan can become only the sixth rookie head coach to win his first two postseason games in the Super Bowl era.
The rookie head coaches to win at least their first two playoff games:
YEAR
COACH
TEAM
WINS
1970
Don McCafferty
Baltimore Colts
3
1989
George Seifert
San Francisco 49ers
3
1977
Red Miller
Denver Broncos
2
2002
Bill Callahan
Oakland Raiders
2
2008
John Harbaugh
Baltimore Ravens
2
2009
Rex Ryan
New York Jets
1
-- NFL --
THE RACE TO 300: Indianapolis Colts MVP quarterback PEYTON MANNING and Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner have six career 300-yard postseason passing games, tied for the most in NFL playoff history with Pro Football Hall of Famer JOE MONTANA.
The players with the most career 300-yard passing games in the playoffs:
PLAYER
TEAM(S)
GAMES
300-YARD GAMES
Peyton Manning*
Colts
15
6
Kurt Warner*
Rams, Cardinals
12
6
Joe Montana
49ers, Chiefs
23
6
Dan Fouts
Chargers
7
5
Four Tied
--
--
4
*Active
-- NFL --
MR. POSTSEASON: Arizona Cardinals wide receiver LARRY FITZGERALD has nine touchdown catches in five career playoff games. With a touchdown reception against the Saints on Saturday, Fitzgerald would become the sixth player in playoff history to reach 10 touchdown catches. Fitzgerald (9) can also tie Pro Football Hall of Famer FRED BILETNIKOFF and ANTONIO FREEMAN and RANDY MOSS (10) for the third-most career postseason touchdown catches in NFL history.
The players with at least 10 postseason touchdown receptions and the number of games played to reach the mark:
PLAYER
GAMES TO 10 TD RECEPTIONS
Jerry Rice
9
Randy Moss
11
Antonio Freeman
12
Fred Biletnikoff
15
John Stallworth
16
*Fitzgerald has 9 TD receptions in 5 career playoff games.
-- NFL --
VERSATILE CHARGER: San Diego Chargers running back-kick-returner DARREN SPROLES has 949 total yards in five career playoff games. With 51 all-purpose yards against the Jets on Sunday, Sproles will reach 1,000 all-purpose yards in six career postseason games and would become the fastest to the mark in NFL playoff history.
The fewest postseason games to reach 1,000 all-purpose yards:
PLAYER
FEWEST GAMES TO REACH 1,000 ALL-PURPOSE YARDS
Marcus Allen
7
Terrell Davis
7
Thurman Thomas
8
Emmitt Smith
8
Many tied
9
*Sproles has 949 all-purpose yards in five career playoff games.
1 comment:
I am just hoping that the Jets-Chargers game will be much more entertaining than the weekend’s other NFL games were.
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