NFL Conference Championship Capsules

BALTIMORE RAVENS–AFC NORTH (12-6) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS–AFC EAST (13-4)

SERIES

	RAVENS	PATRIOTS
LEADER (REG. SEASON)		6-1
STREAKS (REG. SEASON)		4-0 at home
COACHES VS. OPP. (REG. & POSTSEASON)	Harbaugh: 2-3	Belichick: 5-2
COACHES PLAYOFF RECORD	7-4	18-7
VS. COMMON OPP. (REG. SEASON)	Bal.: 0-2 (Den. 0-1; Hou. 0-1) NE: 2-0 (Den. 1-0; Hou. 1-0)
PLAYOFF RECORD	12-7	24-16
LAST WEEK	W 38-35 at Broncos (OT)	W 41-28 vs. Texans
LAST GAME (REG. SEASON)	9/23/12: Patriots 30 at Ravens 31. Patriots take 13-0 1st quarter lead on SNF. Ravens QB Joe Flacco passes for 382 yards with 3 TDs, including 2 to WR Torrey Smith. RB Ray Rice adds 101 rush yards with TD as Baltimore nets 503 total yards. Rookie K Justin Tucker kicks game-winning 27-yard FG as time expires.
LAST GAME AT SITE (REG. SEASON)	10/17/10: Patriots 23, Ravens 20 (OT). Patriots score game’s final 13 points. QB Tom Brady throws for 292 yards & 4th quarter TD. Patriots K Stephen Gostkowski converts all 3 FG attempts, including 24-yarder to force OT & 35-yarder to earn win.
LAST PLAYOFF	1/22/12: Ravens 20 at Patriots 23. In AFC Championship, Ravens QB Joe Flacco throws 29-yard TD to rookie WR Torrey Smith to give Ravens 17-16 lead. Patriots QB Tom Brady has 1-yard rush TD to gain 4th quarter advantage. Ravens K Billy Cundiff misses 32-yard FG with :15 seconds left as Patriots advance to Super Bowl XLVI.
BROADCAST	CBS (6:30 PM ET): Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, Steve Tasker & Solomon Wilcots (Field reporters). Dial Global Radio: Kevin Harlan, Dan Fouts, Mark Malone (Field reporter). SIRIUS: 88 (DGR), 92 (Bal.), 86 (NE). XM: 88 (DGR), 225 (Bal.), 226 (NE).

STAT LEADERS

PASSING	Flacco: 317-531-3,817-22-10-87.7	Brady: 401-637-4,827 (1C)-34 (2C)-8-98.7 (2C)
RUSHING	Rice: 257-1,143-4.4-9	Ridley: 290-1,263 (3C)-4.4-12 (T3L)
RECEIVING	Boldin: 65-921-14.2-4	Welker: 118 (1C)-1,354-11.5-6
OFFENSE	352.5	427.9 (1L)
TAKE/GIVE	+9 (3C)	+25 (1L)
DEFENSE	350.9	373.3
SACKS	Kruger: 9	Ninkovich: 8
INTs	E. Reed, C. Williams: 4 (T3C)	McCourty: 5 (T1C)
PR	J. Jones: 9.2	Welker: 9.7
KR	J. Jones: 30.7 (1L)	McCourty: 24.2
PUNTING	Koch: 47.1	Mesko: 43.1
KICKING	Tucker (R): 132 (42/42 PAT; 30/33 FG)	Gostkowski: 153 (1L) (66/66 PAT; 29/35 FG)

NOTES

TEAMS MEET for 3rd time in postseason. Patriots defeated Ravens, 23-20, in AFC Championship Game on 1/22/12.

RAVENS: Club has 8-5 (.615) all-time road record in postseason, highest win pct. in postseason history (minimum 10 games)…Aim for 2nd SB appearance in franchise history…In past 2 postseason games, QB JOE FLACCO has 5 TDs vs. 0 INTs & 120 passer rating. Flacco registered 5th career playoff road win last week, tied with ELI MANNING for most in NFL history. Tied NFL single-game postseason record for most touchdown passes of 30+ yards (70, 59, 32) last week. Passed for most yards (331) in franchise history in single-postseason game last week. Flacco is 1st QB in Super Bowl era to win postseason game in each of his 1st 5 seasons. In past 3 vs. NE (incl. postseason), Flacco has completed 77 of 110 passes (70 pct.) for 973 yards with 7 TDs vs. 2 INTs & 110.9 passer rating. Has 7-4 postseason record, incl. 2 AFC Championship appearances. Had career-best 3,817 passing yards in ’12, 2nd-most in season by Raven. Incl. postseason, Bal. is 31-3 (.912) when Flacco has 100+ passer rating…RB RAY RICE (131) posted 2nd career 100-yard rush game in postseason last week (159 vs. NE on 1/10/10). Rice is averaging 123 scrimmage yards per game in ’12 postseason. Rice (1,621) reached 1,600 scrimmage yards for 4th season in row. Led AFC RBs with 61 catches in 2012. Rookie RB BERNARD PIERCE is averaging 6.5 yards per carry in postseason (18 att., 117 yards)…WR TORREY SMITH has 5 receptions for 129 yards (25.8 avg.) with 2 TDs in 2012 postseason. In 2 career games vs. Patriots (incl. playoffs), Smith has 9 catches for 209 yards (23.2 avg.) with 3 TDs. Smith averages 24.4 yards per catch in 4 career postseason games (9 receptions, 220 yards). Smith had career-best in receiving yards (855) & TDs (8) in ’12. WR ANQUAN BOLDIN is averaging 108 receiving yards per game in 2 playoff games in ’12. 10 of Boldin’s 11 receptions in ’12 postseason have been for 1st downs. Boldin (145) registered most receiving yards in postseason game in franchise history in Wild Card vs. Colts. For career in postseason, Boldin has 41 receptions for 642 yards (15.7 avg.) with 4 TDs. KR-WR JACOBY JONES had 2nd-longest postseason TD reception in franchise annals last week (SHANNON SHARPE, 96). Ranked 1st in NFL with 30.7 KR avg. in ’12. Tied league-high with 3 kick-return TDs (2 KO, 1 PR) this season…Incl. postseason, TE DENNIS PITTA has 2 TDs in past 2 vs. NE. Pitta (7) tied TODD HEAP (7 in ’05) for most TD receptions by TE in franchise history this season…Defense has 7 INTs in past 4 against Patriots…LB RAY LEWIS has played in 19 career postseason games (12-7, .632). S ED REED has 8 career postseason INTs, tied for 4th-most in NFL history. S BERNARD POLLARD had team-high 98 tackles in ’12…CB COREY GRAHAM became 4th Raven to register 2 INTs in playoff game last week…LB TERRELL SUGGS has 12 career postseason sacks, tied for 3rd-most since sacks became official statistic. Has 3 sacks in past 4 vs. NE (incl. postseason)…K JUSTIN TUCKER made 47-yard game-winning FG in OT last week, tied for 3rd-longest OT FG in NFL postseason history & longest ever by rookie…Club had 6 players selected to 2013 Pro Bowl (KR Jones, FB VONTA LEACH, DT HALOTI NGATA, S Reed, RB Rice, G MARSHAL YANDA).

PATRIOTS: Club is 14-3 (.824) at home in postseason…Patriots have 7-2 all-time record (4-0 at home) in Conference Championship Games…Seek 2nd consecutive Super Bowl berth & 8th overall…Head coach BILL BELICHICK & QB TOM BRADY (17) have most postseason wins by QB-head coach duo…Belichick (18) surpassed HOFer JOE GIBBS (17) for 3rd-most playoff wins all-time last week, trailing only HOFers TOM LANDRY (20) & DON SHULA (19)…Brady’s 17 postseason wins are most playoffs wins by QB in NFL history. Brady (5,629) has 4th-most passing yards in NFL playoff history. Brady (41) joined Montana (45) & BRETT FAVRE (44) as only QBs to reach 40 postseason TD passes all-time. Brady (524) has most career postseason completions all-time. Has 17-6 (.739) playoff record, best postseason record as starting QB in NFL history (min. 15 starts). Brady has 5 postseason games with 300+ passing yards, trailing only PEYTON MANNING (8), HOFer JOE MONTANA (6) & KURT WARNER (6)…RB STEVAN RIDLEY rushed for 82 yards on 15 att. (5.5 avg.) with TD last week. Ridley (1,263) is 5th player in franchise history to reach 1,200 rush yards in season. Last week RB SHANE VEREEN joined ROGER CRAIG & RICKY WATTERS as only players in NFL postseason history with 2 TD catches & TD run in same playoff game. Vereen totaled 124 scrimmage yards last week (83 receiving, 41 rushing)…WR WES WELKER (61) has most career postseason receptions in club history. Welker (131) posted 2nd 100-yard career receiving game in postseason last week. WR BRANDON LLOYD (108) & Welker (142) each posted 100+ receiving yards in last meeting against Ravens (9/23/12). Lloyd posted TD reception in 1st career playoff game last week. WR DEION BRANCH (836) has most career postseason receiving yards in Patriots history…TE AARON HERNANDEZ had 6 catches for 85 yards last week…LB JEROD MAYO led club with 147 tackles in ’12. LB BRANDON SPIKES has sack, INT, FF & FR in 5 career postseason games…DT VINCE WILFORK had sack in AFC Championship Game vs. Bal. last season…DE ROB NINKOVICH posted 1st career INT in playoffs last week…Club had 7 players selected to 2013 Pro Bowl (QB Brady, TE Gronkowski, G LOGAN MANKINS, LB Mayo, WR MATTHEW SLATER, WR Welker, DT Wilfork).

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SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS–NFC WEST (12-4-1) AT ATLANTA FALCONS–NFC SOUTH (14-3)

SERIES

	49ERS		FALCONS
LEADER (REG. SEASON)	44-29-1
STREAKS (REG. SEASON)			Past 4, 6 of past 9
COACHES VS. OPP. (REG. & POSTSEASON)	Harbaugh: 0-0		Smith: 2-0
COACHES PLAYOFF RECORD	Harbaugh: 2-1		Smith: 1-3
VS. COMMON OPP. (REG. SEASON)	SF: 4-1 (Ari. 2-0; Det. 1-0; NO 1-0; NYG 0-1) Atl.: 4-1 (Ari. 1-0; Det. 1-0; NO 1-1; NYG 1-0)
PLAYOFF RECORD	27-18	7-11
LAST WEEK	W 45-31 vs. Packers	W 30-28 vs. Seahawks
LAST GAME (REG. SEASON)	10/3/10: 49ers 14 at Falcons 16. Atlanta overcomes 14-point deficit. Falcons WR Harry Douglas catches 8-yard TD from QB Matt Ryan. Matt Bryant kicks 3 FGs, including game-winning 43-yard FG with 2 seconds remaining.
LAST GAME AT SITE (REG. SEASON)	10/3/10
LAST PLAYOFF	1/9/99: 49ers 18 at Falcons 20. Atlanta RB Jamal Anderson rushes for 113 yards & 2 TDs (2, 34). Falcons defense holds San Francisco to 55 rushing yards & forces 3 INTs, including 2 by S William White.
BROADCAST	FOX (3:00 PM ET): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Pam Oliver & Erin Andrews (Field reporters). Dial Global Radio: Dave Sims, James Lofton, Tony Boselli (Field reporter). SIRIUS: 88 (DGR), 92 (SF), 86 (Atl.). XM: 88 (DGR), 225 (SF), 226 (Atl.).

REGULAR SEASON STAT LEADERS

PASSING	Kaepernick: 136-218-1,814-10-3-98.3	Ryan: 422-615-4,719-32 (3C)-14-99.1
RUSHING	Gore: 258-1,214-4.7-8	Turner: 222-800-3.6-10
RECEIVING	Crabtree: 85-1,105-13.0-9	Gonzalez (TE): 93-930-10.0-8
OFFENSE	361.8	369.1
TAKE/GIVE	+9	+13
DEFENSE	294.4 (1C)	365.6
SACKS	Ald. Smith: 19.5 (1C)	Abraham: 10
INTs	Goldson: 3	DeCoud: 6
PR	Ginn: 10.2 (3C)	Franks: 7.8
KR	James: 29.8	Jac. Rodgers: 25.7
PUNTING	Lee: 48.1 (2C)	Bosher: 47.5
KICKING	Akers: 131 (44/44 PAT; 29/42 FG)	Bryant: 143 (3L) (44/44 PAT; 33/38 FG)

NOTES

TEAMS MEET for 2nd time in postseason. Falcons defeated 49ers 20-18 in 1998 Divisional Playoff (1/9/99). Teams last met in 2010 regular season (Atl. 16-14, 10/3/10). 49ers lead all-time series (incl. playoffs 44-30-1).

49ERS: Have won NFL-best 16 division titles since 1980. JIM HARBAUGH is 8th head coach since 1970 to win division title in each of 1st 2 NFL seasons. 49ers led NFL with 9 players selected to Pro Bowl: LB NA VORRO BOWMAN (1st), S DASHON GOLDSON (2nd), RB FRANK GORE (4th), G MIKE IUPATI (1st), LB ALDON SMITH (1st), DT JUSTIN SMITH (4th), T JOE STALEY (2nd), S DONTE WHITNER (1st) & LB PATRICK WILLIS (6th)…Last week, 49ers set single-game franchise postseason records with 579 total net yards & 323 rush yards. QB COLIN KAEPERNICK is 6-2 (.750) as starter (incl. playoffs). In those 8 starts, has 98.7 passer rating with 12 TDs vs. 4 INTs & 419 rush yards with 4 TDs. In 1st career playoff start, passed for 263 yards with 2 TDs & rushed for 181 yards with 2 TDs. His 181 rush yards are most ever by QB in any NFL game. Joined HOFer OTTO GRAHAM (twice) & JAY CUTLER as only QBs with 2+ pass TDs & 2+ rush TDs in postseason game…RB Gore rushed for 1,214 yards, his team-record 6th 1,000-yard season. Is franchise leader with 8,839 career rush yards & 51 career rush TDs. Rushed for 119 yards & TD last week…WR MICHAEL CRABTREE had career-high 85 catches, 1,105 yards & 9 TDs. Had 9 catches for 119 yards & 2 TDs in Divisional game. In past 4 (incl. playoffs), has 28 catches for 463 yards (115.8 per game) & 6 TDs. TE VERNON DAVIS has 11 catches for 336 yards (112 per game) & 4 TDs in 3 career playoff games. In playoffs, averages 30.5 yards per catch. Since 2009 (incl. playoffs), leads NFC TEs with 35 TDs. WR RANDY MOSS has 10 rec. TDs in playoff career, tied for 3rd most in NFL postseason history. Needs 2 rec. TDs in playoffs to tie HOFer JOHN STALLWORTH (12) for 2nd. In past 3 vs. Atl., has 24 catches for 331 yards (110.3 per game) & 2 TDs. Aims for 3rd in row vs. Atl. with 100+ yards or TD…Team had 16 giveaways, tied for 2nd fewest in NFL…49ers led NFC in total defense (294.4 yards per game) & pass defense (200.2). Ranked 2nd in run defense (94.2). LB Aldon Smith’s 33.5 sacks are most by player in 1st 2 seasons. Led NFC with team-record 19.5 sacks. Has 15 sacks in past 11 (incl. playoffs). Has sack in 2 of 3 career playoff games. Had FF last week in Div. LB Bowman led team with 144 tackles. Has 30 tackles in past 3 playoff games. LB Willis ranked 2nd on team with 120 tackles. Aims for 3rd playoff game in row with sack. Has been selected to Pro Bowl in each of 1st 6 seasons. DT Justin Smith has sack in 2 of past 3 playoff games. CB TARELL BROWN had INT in Divisional game. Aims for 3rd game in row (incl. playoffs) with INT. Has INT in 2 of past 3 postseason games.

FALCONS: Have qualified for postseason in three consecutive years for 1st time in franchise history. Under head coach MIKE SMITH, team has made playoffs in 4 of past 5 seasons. Club has posted 5 consecutive winnings seasons for 1st time in franchise history. Falcons had 3 players selected to Pro Bowl: TE TONY GONZALEZ (13th), WR JULIO JONES (1st) & QB MATT RYAN (2nd)…QB Ryan has 56 regular-season wins as starter, most by QB in 1st 5 NFL seasons. Recorded 1st career playoff win last week & tied franchise postseason record with 3 TD passes. Passed for team-record 4,719 yards & 32 TDs. His 68.6 comp. pct. was also a club record. Had career-high 99.1 passer rating, 2nd highest mark in franchise history. In career at home (incl. playoffs), is 34-6 (.850). Has posted 100+ rating in 33 games & Falcons are 32-1 (.970). Has 100+ rating in 20 home games & Atlanta is 20-0. Pass offense averaged 281.8 net pass yards per game, highest in team history. Offense averaged 369.1 net yards per game, 2nd best mark in franchise history (376.6 in 2011)…RB MICHAEL TURNER rushed for 10 TDs, his team-record 5th consecutive 10 TD season. Has 10+ rush TDs in all 5 seasons with Atl. Since joining Atl. in 2008, has 62 rush TDs, 2nd most in NFL (incl. playoffs). Has rush TD in 6 of past 8. Rushed for 98 yards last week…WRs RODDY WHITE (1,351) & Jones (1,198) are 1st Falcons teammates with 1,000+ rec. yards in same season since 1998. White had team-record 6th consecutive 1,000-yard season. Since 2007 (incl. playoffs), has 590 receptions, most in NFC. Set club single-game postseason record with 11 catches in 1/3/09 WC. Had 47-yard TD last week. In last 2 vs. SF, White has 15 catches for 314 yards (157 per game) & 2 TDs. Jones had 6 catches & sealed game with INT last week. 1st player since KEYSHAWN JOHNSON with 5+ catches & INT in postseason game (1/10/99). TE Gonzalez was named to 13th Pro Bowl, most ever for TE. Led team with 93 catches. Has 5 seasons with 90+ receptions, most by TE in NFL history. Holds NFL record with 14 consecutive seasons with 60+ catches. Had TD in Div…DE JOHN ABRAHAM has 126 career sacks, most by active player (incl. playoffs). Led team with 10 sacks, his 7th season with 10+ sacks. LBs STEPHEN NICHOLAS & SEAN WEATHERSPOON tied for team lead with 95 tackles. CB ASANTE SAMUEL led team with 19 passes defensed & was 2nd on club with 5 INTs. Has INT in 3 of past 4 games. Holds NFL postseason record with 4 career INT-TDs. Has 7 career INTs in playoffs, 2nd most by active player & tied for 6th most in NFL history. S THOMAS DE COUD was 2nd among S with 6 INTs. DeCoud & WILLIAM MOORE (4) were only S teammates with 4+ INTs each.