FROM WILD CARD TO SUPER BOWL: Winners in the Wild Card round have won the Super Bowl eight times, including each of the past two seasons. At least one Super Bowl participant in six of the past seven years played a Wild Card game.
The New York Giants won four playoff games last year to win Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis. Two seasons ago, the Green Bay Packers claimed four playoff victories to become the second No. 6 seed to win the Super Bowl. In 2008, the NFC No. 4 seed Arizona Cardinals won three postseason games for a berth in Super Bowl XLIII.
Five years ago, the NFC No. 5 seed New York Giants won three road playoff games en route to a Super Bowl XLII victory. In 2006, AFC No. 3 seed Indianapolis won Super Bowl XLI. Seven years ago, Pittsburgh became the first No. 6 seed to win a Super Bowl, defeating the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL.
The Wild Card participants to win the Super Bowl:
SEASON
|
TEAM
|
SUPER BOWL RESULT
|
1980
|
Oakland
|
Defeated Philadelphia in Super Bowl XV, 27-10
|
1997
|
Denver
|
Defeated Green Bay in Super Bowl XXXII, 31-24
|
2000
|
Baltimore
|
Defeated New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV, 34-7
|
2005
|
Pittsburgh
|
Defeated Seattle in Super Bowl XL, 21-10
|
2006
|
Indianapolis
|
Defeated Chicago in Super Bowl XLI, 29-17
|
2007
|
New York Giants
|
Defeated New England in Super Bowl XLII, 17-14
|
2010
|
Green Bay
|
Defeated Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLV, 31-25
|
2011
|
New York Giants
|
Defeated New England in Super Bowl XLVI, 21-17
|
-- WILD CARD WEEKEND --
ROOKIE-QB RECORD: Three rookie quarterbacks projected to start this weekend – Indianapolis’ ANDREW LUCK (11), Seattle’s RUSSELL WILSON (11) and Washington’s ROBERT GRIFFIN III (nine) – led their team to the playoffs with a combined 31 wins as starters, compiling eight more victories than the league-wide rookie record entering the season (23 in 2011). Starting rookie QBs won 46 games in 2012.
Wild Card Weekend in 2012 will feature the most rookie quarterbacks starting a postseason game since 1966 (two in 2011; two in 2008). All three starters could become the sixth rookie quarterback to win his first playoff game, and at least one is guaranteed to join the ranks.
On Sunday, the AFC No. 5 seed Colts (11-5) visit the No. 4 seed Ravens (10-6), while the NFC No. 4 seed Redskins (10-6) host the No. 5 seed Seahawks (11-5). The Seattle-Washington contest will be the second playoff game in NFL history and in as many seasons with two rookie quarterbacks starting against each. Last year, T.J. YATES led the Texans to a 31-10 victory over ANDY DALTON and the Bengals in the Wild Card round.
With Luck (No. 1 overall) and Griffin (No. 2 overall) qualifying, the 2012 postseason is the first to feature the top-two picks from the most recent draft since 1983 when Pro Football Hall of Famers JOHN ELWAY(with Denver, No. 1 overall by the Baltimore Colts) and ERIC DICKERSON (No. 2 overall by the Los Angeles Rams) reached the playoffs. It will also be only the second time since the advent of the common draft in 1967 that the first two teams to select quarterbacks in that year’s draft reached the postseason (2008: MATT RYAN, No. 3 overall by Atlanta; JOE FLACCO, No. 18 overall by Baltimore).
The 11 rookie quarterbacks to start a playoff game (since 1966):
QUARTERBACK
|
SEASON
|
TEAM
|
FIRST START RESULT
|
PLAYOFF RESULT
|
Dan Marino
|
1983
|
Miami
|
Lost 27-20 vs. Seattle
|
Advanced to Divisional
|
Bernie Kosar
|
1985
|
Cleveland
|
Lost 24-21 at Miami
|
Advanced to Divisional
|
Jim Everett
|
1986
|
L.A. Rams
|
Lost 19-7 at Washington
|
Advanced to Wild Card
|
Todd Marinovich
|
1991
|
L.A. Raiders
|
Lost 10-6 at Kansas City
|
Advanced to Wild Card
|
Shaun King
|
1999
|
Tampa Bay
|
Won 14-13 vs. Washington
|
Advanced to NFC Championship
|
Ben Roethlisberger
|
2004
|
Pittsburgh
|
Won 20-17 vs. NY Jets (OT)
|
Advanced to AFC Championship
|
Joe Flacco
|
2008
|
Baltimore
|
Won 27-9 at Miami
|
Advanced to AFC Championship
|
Matt Ryan
|
2008
|
Atlanta
|
Lost 30-24 at Arizona
|
Advanced to Wild Card
|
Mark Sanchez
|
2009
|
N.Y. Jets
|
Won 24-14 at Cincinnati
|
Advanced to AFC Championship
|
Andy Dalton
|
2011
|
Cincinnati
|
Lost 31-10 at Houston
|
Advanced to Wild Card
|
T.J. Yates
|
2011
|
Houston
|
Won 31-10 vs. Cincinnati
|
Advanced to Divisional
|
Robert Griffin III
|
2012
|
Washington
|
???
|
???
|
Andrew Luck
|
2012
|
Indianapolis
|
???
|
???
|
Russell Wilson
|
2012
|
Seattle
|
???
|
???
|
-- WILD CARD WEEKEND --
FIRST-TIMERS: Five quarterbacks – Washington’s ROBERT GRIFFIN III, Indianapolis’ ANDREW LUCK, Minnesota’s CHRISTIAN PONDER, Houston’s MATT SCHAUB and Seattle’s RUSSELL WILSON – will make their first career postseason starts during Wild Card Weekend.
The players with the most passing yards in their first career postseason start:
PLAYER
|
TEAM
|
DATE
|
ROUND
|
PASSING YARDS
|
Kelly Holcomb
|
Cleveland
|
1/5/2003
|
Wild Card
|
429
|
Aaron Rodgers
|
Green Bay
|
1/10/2010
|
Wild Card
|
423
|
Randall Cunningham
|
Philadelphia
|
12/31/1988
|
Divisional
|
407
|
Kurt Warner
|
St. Louis
|
1/16/2000
|
Divisional
|
391
|
Neil Lomax
|
St. Louis
|
1/8/1983
|
Wild Card
|
385
|
-- WILD CARD WEEKEND --
NFC NORTHERN EXPOSURE: This Saturday, the GREEN BAY PACKERS (11-5) host the NFC North rival MINNESOTA VIKINGS (10-6) in the third game between the clubs this year. During the regular season, the home team won both contests, with the Vikings kicking a field goal as time expired to earn a 37-34 victory in Week 17 and a Wild Card berth.
While the division foes meet in the playoffs for only the second time (2004 Wild Card), both have frequented the NFL’s second season as the Packers (46) and Vikings (45) rank fourth and fifth, respectively, for most postseason games all-time.
With a 29-17 record, Green Bay also owns the league’s top postseason winning percentage (.630) and can become the third team in league annals (DALLAS, 33; PITTSBURGH 33) with 30 playoff victories.
The Packers are led by quarterback AARON RODGERS, who finished the season with the league’s top passer rating (108.0) and possesses the highest passer rating (105.5) in NFL postseason history. Rodgers has passed for more yards (2,840) and touchdowns (24) against Minnesota than any other opponent.
Vikings running back ADRIAN PETERSON, who rushed for 199 yards and two touchdowns last week and tied Pro Football Hall of Famer EARL CAMPBELL (1980) for the most 150-yard games (seven) in a season in league history, registered 2,097 rushing yards in 2012, the second-most in a season in NFL history (Pro Football Hall of Famer ERIC DICKERSON, 2,105 in 1984). In 12 career games against Green Bay, Peterson has 1,442 rushing yards (120.2 per game), his most against any opponent.
The NFL’s all-time top playoff teams by wins, games played and winning percentage:
MOST PLAYOFF WINS
|
MOST PLAYOFF GAMES
|
BEST PLAYOFF WINNING PERCENTAGES
| |||||||
Dallas
|
33
|
Dallas
|
58
|
Green Bay*
|
29
|
17
|
.630
| ||
Pittsburgh
|
33
|
Pittsburgh
|
54
|
Pittsburgh
|
33
|
21
|
.611
| ||
Green Bay*
|
29
|
NY Giants
|
48
|
Carolina
|
6
|
4
|
.600
| ||
San Francisco
|
26
|
Green Bay*
|
46
|
San Francisco
|
26
|
18
|
.591
| ||
Oakland
|
25
|
Minnesota*
|
45
|
New England
|
23
|
16
|
.590
| ||
*2012 Wild Card participant
|
*2012 Wild Card participant
|
*2012 Wild Card participant
| |||||||
-- WILD CARD WEEKEND --
WINTER WAYNE: Colts wide receiver REGGIE WAYNE posted 106 receptions in 2012 and his fourth career 100-catch season, tied for the second-most in league history.
With at least six catches at Baltimore, Wayne (83 receptions) can move into second on the all-time postseason receptions list, surpassing ANDRE REED (85), Pro Football Hall of Famer MICHAEL IRVIN (87) andHINES WARD (88). Pro Football Hall of Famer JERRY RICE holds the record with 151 receptions.
The players with the most receptions in the postseason all-time:
PLAYER
|
TEAM(S)
|
RECEPTIONS
|
Jerry Rice
|
San Francisco, Oakland, Seattle
|
151
|
Hines Ward
|
Pittsburgh
|
88
|
Michael Irvin
|
Dallas
|
87
|
Andre Reed
|
Buffalo
|
85
|
Reggie Wayne*
|
Indianapolis
|
83
|
*Active
|
-- WILD CARD WEEKEND --
RELIABLE RAVENS: Sunday afternoon, Baltimore quarterback JOE FLACCO will become the first quarterback to start a postseason game in each of his first five seasons during the Super Bowl era. Flacco (5-4) won at least one playoff game in each of his first four years.
With one interception on Wild Card Weekend, safety ED REED (eight) would tie Pro Football Hall of Famer RONNIE LOTT (nine), BILL SIMPSON (nine) and CHARLIE WATERS (nine) for the most postseason interceptions in league annals.
The players with the most interceptions in the postseason all-time:
PLAYER
|
TEAM(S)
|
INTs
|
Ronnie Lott
|
San Francisco, L.A. Raiders
|
9
|
Bill Simpson
|
L.A. Rams, Buffalo
|
9
|
Charlie Waters
|
Dallas
|
9
|
Lester Hayes
|
Oakland/L.A. Raiders
|
8
|
Ed Reed*
|
Baltimore
|
8
|
*Active
|
(From NFL Media)
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