The NFL playoffs begin on Saturday and Sunday, January 5-6, with Wild Card Weekend. On Saturday, the Indianapolis Colts play at the Houston Texans (ESPN/ABC, 4:35 PM ET) and the Seattle Seahawks visit the Dallas Cowboys (FOX, 8:15 PM ET). Wild Card Weekend continues Sunday with the Los Angeles Chargers at the Baltimore Ravens (CBS, 1:05 PM ET) and the Philadelphia Eagles traveling to face the Chicago Bears (NBC, 4:40 PM ET).
The following week (January 12-13), the Kansas City Chiefs (Saturday, NBC, 4:35 PM ET) and New England Patriots (Sunday, CBS, 1:05 PM ET) in the AFC and the Los Angeles Rams (Saturday, FOX, 8:15 PM ET) and New Orleans Saints (Sunday, FOX, 4:40 PM ET) in the NFC host the Divisional Playoffs. The Chiefs and Saints own home-field advantage for the Conference Championship Games (January 20) if they win their Divisional contests.
The 2019 Pro Bowl (ESPN, with simulcast on ABC, 3:00 PM ET) will be played on Sunday, January 27 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida and Super Bowl LIII will take place on Sunday, February 3 (CBS, 6:30 PM ET), at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
TURNAROUND TEAMS & CONSISTENT WINNERS HIGHLIGHT PLAYOFF FIELD
There are seven new playoff teams in 2018: BALTIMORE, CHICAGO, DALLAS, HOUSTON, INDIANAPOLIS, the LOS ANGELES CHARGERS and SEATTLE.
Since 1990 – a streak of 29 consecutive seasons – at least four teams have qualified for the playoffs in every season that were not in the postseason the year before.
The teams since 1990 to make the playoffs a season after failing to qualify:
SEASON
|
PLAYOFF TEAMS NOT IN PREVIOUS SEASON’S PLAYOFFS
|
1990
|
7 (Cincinnati, Chicago, Kansas City, Los Angeles Raiders, Miami, New Orleans, Washington)
|
1991
|
5 (Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, New York Jets)
|
1992
|
6 (Miami, Minnesota, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Diego, San Francisco)
|
1993
|
5 (Denver, Detroit, Green Bay, Los Angeles Raiders, New York Giants)
|
1994
|
5 (Chicago, Cleveland, Miami, New England, San Diego)
|
1995
|
4 (Atlanta, Buffalo, Indianapolis, Philadelphia)
|
1996
|
5 (Carolina, Denver, Jacksonville, Minnesota, New England)
|
1997
|
5 (Detroit, Kansas City, Miami, New York Giants, Tampa Bay)
|
1998
|
5 (Arizona, Atlanta, Buffalo, Dallas, New York Jets)
|
1999
|
7 (Detroit, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Washington)
|
2000
|
6 (Baltimore, Denver, New Orleans, New York Giants, Oakland, Philadelphia)
|
2001
|
6 (Chicago, Green Bay, New England, New York Jets, Pittsburgh, San Francisco)
|
2002
|
5 (Atlanta, Cleveland, Indianapolis, New York Giants, Tennessee)
|
2003
|
8 (Baltimore, Carolina, Dallas, Denver, Kansas City, New England, St. Louis, Seattle)
|
2004
|
5 (Atlanta, Minnesota, New York Jets, Pittsburgh, San Diego)
|
2005
|
7 (Carolina, Chicago, Cincinnati, Jacksonville, New York Giants, Tampa Bay, Washington)
|
2006
|
7 (Baltimore, Dallas, Kansas City, New Orleans, New York Jets, Philadelphia, San Diego)
|
2007
|
6 (Green Bay, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Washington)
|
2008
|
7 (Arizona, Atlanta, Baltimore, Carolina, Miami, Minnesota, Philadelphia)
|
2009
|
6 (Cincinnati, Dallas, Green Bay, New England, New Orleans, New York Jets)
|
2010
|
5 (Atlanta, Chicago, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Seattle)
|
2011
|
6 (Cincinnati, Denver, Detroit, Houston, New York Giants, San Francisco)
|
2012
|
4 (Indianapolis, Minnesota, Seattle, Washington)
|
2013
|
5 (Carolina, Kansas City, New Orleans, Philadelphia, San Diego)
|
2014
|
5 (Arizona, Baltimore, Dallas, Detroit, Pittsburgh)
|
2015
|
4 (Houston, Kansas City, Minnesota, Washington)
|
2016
|
6 (Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit, Miami, New York Giants, Oakland)
|
2017
|
8 (Buffalo, Carolina, Jacksonville, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Tennessee)
|
2018
|
7 (Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles Chargers, Seattle)
|
Four teams won division titles – Baltimore (AFC North), Chicago (NFC North), Dallas (NFC East) and Houston (AFC South) – after missing the playoffs last season.
The divisions with new champions in 2018:
AFC SOUTH
|
AFC NORTH
|
NFC EAST
|
NFC NORTH
| |
2018
|
Houston
|
Baltimore
|
Dallas
|
Chicago
|
2017
|
Jacksonville
|
Pittsburgh
|
Philadelphia
|
Minnesota
|
In the 17 seasons since realignment, 29 of the 32 NFL teams have won a division title at least once.
How the 2018 playoff teams have fared in the 17 seasons since realignment in 2002 (2018 division winners in bold/italics):
TEAM
|
DIVISION TITLES
|
PLAYOFF BERTHS
|
New England
|
15
|
15
|
Indianapolis
|
9
|
13
|
Seattle
|
8
|
12
|
Philadelphia
|
7
|
10
|
Baltimore
|
5
|
9
|
Dallas
|
5
|
7
|
Houston
|
5
|
5
|
Kansas City
|
5
|
8
|
Los Angeles Chargers
|
5
|
7
|
New Orleans
|
5
|
7
|
Chicago
|
4
|
4
|
Los Angeles Rams
|
3
|
4
|
Both the Chicago Bears (NFC North) and Houston Texans (AFC South) completed “worst-to-first” turnarounds and at least one team has won its division the season after finishing in or tied for last place in 15 of the past 16 seasons. With Chicago and Houston earning division titles, 2018 marked the second consecutive season that two teams went from worst to first (Jacksonville and Philadelphia in 2017) – something that has never happened in any other major US sport.
The teams to go from “worst-to-first” in their divisions since 2003:
SEASON
|
TEAM
|
RECORD
|
PRIOR SEASON RECORD
|
ADVANCED TO
|
2003
|
Carolina Panthers
|
11-5
|
7-9
|
Super Bowl XXXVIII
|
2003
|
Kansas City Chiefs
|
13-3
|
8-8*
|
Divisional Playoffs
|
2004
|
Atlanta Falcons
|
11-5
|
5-11
|
NFC Championship
|
2004
|
San Diego Chargers
|
12-4
|
4-12*
|
Wild Card Playoffs
|
2005
|
Chicago Bears
|
11-5
|
5-11
|
Divisional Playoffs
|
2005
|
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
|
11-5
|
5-11
|
Wild Card Playoffs
|
2006
|
Baltimore Ravens
|
13-3
|
6-10*
|
Divisional Playoffs
|
2006
|
New Orleans Saints
|
10-6
|
3-13
|
NFC Championship
|
2006
|
Philadelphia Eagles
|
10-6
|
6-10
|
Divisional Playoffs
|
2007
|
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
|
9-7
|
4-12
|
Wild Card Playoffs
|
2008
|
Miami Dolphins
|
11-5
|
1-15
|
Wild Card Playoffs
|
2009
|
New Orleans Saints
|
13-3
|
8-8
|
Won Super Bowl XLIV
|
2010
|
Kansas City Chiefs
|
10-6
|
4-12
|
Wild Card Playoffs
|
2011
|
Denver Broncos
|
8-8
|
4-12
|
Divisional Playoffs
|
2011
|
Houston Texans
|
10-6
|
6-10*
|
Divisional Playoffs
|
2012
|
Washington Redskins
|
10-6
|
5-11
|
Wild Card Playoffs
|
2013
|
Carolina Panthers
|
12-4
|
7-9*
|
Divisional Playoffs
|
2013
|
Philadelphia Eagles
|
10-6
|
4-12
|
Wild Card Playoffs
|
2015
|
Washington Redskins
|
9-7
|
4-12
|
Wild Card Playoffs
|
2016
|
Dallas Cowboys
|
13-3
|
4-12
|
Divisional Playoffs
|
2017
|
Jacksonville Jaguars
|
10-6
|
3-13
|
AFC Championship
|
2017
|
Philadelphia Eagles
|
13-3
|
7-9
|
Won Super Bowl LII
|
2018
|
Chicago Bears
|
12-4
|
5-11
|
???
|
2018
|
Houston Texans
|
11-5
|
4-12*
|
???
|
*Tied for last place
The 2018 field also showcases teams that have enjoyed recent postseason success. Since realignment in 2002, the New England Patriots have been to the playoffs 15 times, which is the most in the NFL.
The 2018 playoff teams with the most postseason appearances since 2002 (includes 2018):
TEAM
|
POSTSEASON APPEARANCES
|
New England
|
15
|
Indianapolis
|
13
|
Seattle
|
12
|
Philadelphia
|
10
|
Baltimore
|
9
|
Seven of this season’s 12 playoff teams have won at least one Super Bowl since 1999, capturing 12 of the past 19 Vince Lombardi Trophies. Those teams are the Patriots (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLIX, LI), Ravens (XXXV, XLVII), Colts (XLI), Eagles (LII), Rams (XXXIV), Saints (XLIV) and Seahawks (XLVIII).
SUPER BOWL
|
SEASON
|
WINNER
|
XXXIV
|
1999
|
St. Louis Rams*
|
XXXV
|
2000
|
Baltimore Ravens*
|
XXXVI
|
2001
|
New England Patriots*
|
XXXVII
|
2002
|
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
|
XXXVIII
|
2003
|
New England Patriots*
|
XXXIX
|
2004
|
New England Patriots*
|
XL
|
2005
|
Pittsburgh Steelers
|
XLI
|
2006
|
Indianapolis Colts*
|
XLII
|
2007
|
New York Giants
|
XLIII
|
2008
|
Pittsburgh Steelers
|
XLIV
|
2009
|
New Orleans Saints*
|
XLV
|
2010
|
Green Bay Packers
|
XLVI
|
2011
|
New York Giants
|
XLVII
|
2012
|
Baltimore Ravens*
|
XLVIII
|
2013
|
Seattle Seahawks*
|
XLIX
|
2014
|
New England Patriots*
|
50
|
2015
|
Denver Broncos
|
LI
|
2016
|
New England Patriots*
|
LII
|
2017
|
Philadelphia Eagles*
|
*In 2018 postseason
| ||
The Baltimore Ravens (.652) and New England Patriots (.630) rank first and second all-time in postseason winning percentage.
The 12 playoff teams and their postseason records:
TEAM
|
WINS LOSSES
|
PCT.
| |||
Baltimore Ravens
|
15
|
8
|
.652
| ||
New England Patriots
|
34
|
20
|
.630
| ||
Dallas Cowboys
|
34
|
27
|
.557
| ||
Seattle Seahawks
|
16
|
15
|
.516
| ||
Philadelphia Eagles
|
22
|
21
|
.512
| ||
Indianapolis Colts
|
22
|
23
|
.489
| ||
Chicago Bears
|
17
|
18
|
.486
| ||
New Orleans Saints
|
8
|
10
|
.444
| ||
Los Angeles Rams
|
19
|
25
|
.432
| ||
Houston Texans
|
3
|
4
|
.429
| ||
Los Angeles Chargers
|
11
|
17
|
.393
| ||
Kansas City Chiefs
|
9
|
18
|
.333
| ||
YOUTH & CONSISTENCY HIGHLIGHT THE PLAYOFF QUARTERBACKS
The 2018 postseason is filled with young stars on the rise and veterans at the top of their game at the quarterback position.
Three quarterbacks – Baltimore’s LAMAR JACKSON, Chicago’s MITCHELL TRUBISKY and Houston’s DESHAUN WATSON – are expected to make their first career postseason starts on Wild Card Weekend while Kansas City’s PATRICK MAHOMES, who led the league with 50 touchdown passes, will make his postseason debut in the AFC Divisional round.
New England quarterback TOM BRADY, who has led the Patriots to 10 consecutive division titles and five Super Bowl championships, is the postseason’s all-time leader in games played (37), passing yards (10,226) and touchdown passes (71). Brady and Philadelphia quarterback NICK FOLES, who will make his fifth career postseason start, combined for an NFL-record 874 pass yards in Super Bowl LII last season. Foles had a 115.7 passer rating during the 2017 playoffs to help lead the Eagles to their first Super Bowl title in franchise history.
New Orleans quarterback DREW BREES, a veteran of 18 NFL seasons, will make his 14th postseason start in the NFC Divisional round after leading the league with an NFL-record 74.4 completion percentage and 115.7 passer rating in 2018. Los Angeles Chargers PHILIP RIVERS, in his 15th season, registered his 10th career 4,000-passing yard season and will make his 10th career postseason appearance.
Los Angeles Rams quarterback JARED GOFF and Dallas quarterback DAK PRESCOTT, both selected by their teams in the 2016 NFL Draft, have led their franchises to division titles in two of their first three NFL seasons and each will be making their second career postseason start.
Both members of the 2012 NFL Draft class, Indianapolis Colts quarterback ANDREW LUCK will be making his seventh career postseason start while Seattle Seahawks quarterback RUSSELL WILSON, who has led Seattle to the playoffs in six of his seven seasons, will be making his 13th career postseason start on Wild Card Weekend. Wilson led Seattle to a Super Bowl XLVIII championship in 2013 and a Super Bowl XLIX appearance in 2014.
A by-the-numbers look at the 12 quarterbacks in the 2018 postseason:
4
|
Rookie or 2nd-year
|
Jackson, BAL; Mahomes, KC; Trubisky, CHI; Watson, HOU
|
7
|
1st-round Draft picks
|
Goff, LAR; Jackson, BAL; Luck, IND; Mahomes, KC; Rivers, LAC; Trubisky, CHI; Watson, HOU
|
2
|
No. 1 overall picks
|
Goff, LAR; Luck, IND (2012)
|
4
|
Drafted No. 75 overall or later, or undrafted
|
Brady, NE; Foles, PHI; Prescott, DAL; Wilson, SEA
|
9
|
30 years old or younger
|
Foles, PHI; Goff, LAR; Jackson, BAL; Luck, IND; Mahomes, KC; Prescott, DAL; Trubisky, CHI; Watson, HOU; Wilson, SEA
|
3
|
35 years old or older
|
Brady, NE; Brees, NO; Rivers, LAC
|
BEST NFL PLAYOFF PERFORMANCES
(Single postseason)
PASSING YARDS
| ||||||
PLAYER, TEAM
|
SEASON
|
COMP.
|
ATT.
|
YARDS
|
TD
|
INT
|
Eli Manning, New York Giants
| 2011 | 106 | 163 | 1,219 | 9 | 1 |
Kurt Warner, Arizona
| 2008 | 92 | 135 | 1,147 | 11 | 3 |
Joe Flacco, Baltimore
| 2012 | 73 | 126 | 1,140 | 11 | 0 |
Tom Brady New England
| 2016 | 93 | 142 | 1,137 | 7 | 3 |
Tom Brady, New England
| 2017 | 89 | 139 | 1,132 | 8 | 0 |
RUSHING YARDS
| |||||
PLAYER, TEAM
|
SEASON
|
ATT.
|
YARDS
|
TD
| |
John Riggins, Washington
| 1982 | 136 | 610 | 4 | |
Terrell Davis, Denver
| 1997 | 112 | 581 | 8 | |
Terrell Davis, Denver
| 1998 | 78 | 468 | 3 | |
Marcus Allen, Los Angeles Raiders
| 1983 | 58 | 466 | 4 | |
Eddie George, Tennessee
| 1999 | 108 | 449 | 3 | |
RECEIVING YARDS
| |||||
PLAYER, TEAM
|
SEASON
|
REC.
|
YARDS
|
TD
| |
Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona
| 2008 | 30 | 546 | 7 | |
Hakeem Nicks, New York Giants
| 2011 | 28 | 444 | 4 | |
Jerry Rice, San Francisco
| 1988 | 21 | 409 | 6 | |
Steve Smith, Sr., Carolina
| 2003 | 18 | 404 | 3 | |
Charlie Brown, Washington
| 1983 | 14 | 401 | 1 | |
RECEPTIONS
| |||||
PLAYER, TEAM
|
SEASON
|
REC.
|
YARDS
|
TD
| |
Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona
| 2008 | 30 | 546 | 7 | |
Hakeem Nicks, New York Giants
| 2011 | 28 | 444 | 4 | |
Demaryius Thomas, Denver
| 2013 | 28 | 306 | 3 | |
Steve Smith, Sr., Carolina
| 2015 | 27 | 335 | 3 | |
Wes Welker, New England
| 2007 | 27 | 213 | 2 | |
SCRIMMAGE TOUCHDOWNS
| |||||
PLAYER, TEAM
|
SEASON
|
TOTAL TD
|
RUSH TD
|
REC. TD
| |
Terrell Davis, Denver
| 1997 | 8 | 8 | 0 | |
Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona
| 2008 | 7 | 0 | 7 | |
Larry Csonka, Miami
| 1973 | 6 | 6 | 0 | |
Franco Harris, Pittsburgh
| 1974 | 6 | 6 | 0 | |
John Riggins, Washington
| 1983 | 6 | 6 | 0 | |
Jerry Rice, San Francisco
| 1988 | 6 | 0 | 6 | |
Gerald Riggs. Washington
| 1991 | 6 | 6 | 0 | |
Ricky Watters. San Francisco
| 1993 | 6 | 6 | 0 | |
Emmitt Smith, Dallas
| 1995 | 6 | 6 | 0 | |
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