NFL: AFC AND NFC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP CAPSULES

 

 

 

AFC & NFC Conference Championship Capsules

AFC NEWS ‘N’ NOTES

1/19/11

NEW YORK JETS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS

SUNDAY IN AFC CHAMPIONSHIP

SUNDAY, JANUARY 23, 2011

NEW YORK JETS–AFC EAST (13-5) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS–AFC NORTH (13-4)

SERIES
JETS
STEELERS

LEADER (REG. SEASON)

15-4

STREAKS (REG. SEASON)
3 of past 4
6 of past 9

COACHES VS. OPP. (REG. & POSTSEASON)
Ryan: 1-0
Tomlin: 0-2

COACHES PLAYOFF RECORD
4-1
4-1

VS. COMMON OPP.
(REG. SEASON)
NYJ: 6-3 (Bal. 0-1, Buf. 2-0, Cin. 1-0, Cle. 1-0, Mia. 1-1, NE 1-1)

Pit.: 7-2 (Bal. 1-1, Buf. 1-0, Cin. 2-0, Cle. 2-0, Mia. 1-0, NE 0-1)

PLAYOFF RECORD
12-12
32-19

LAST WEEK
W 28-21 at Patriots
W 31-24 vs. Ravens

LAST GAME (REG. SEASON)
12/19/10: Jets 22 at Steelers 17. Jets score game’s final 12 points, capped by DE Jason Taylor’s safety. CB Maurqice Cole defends pass in end zone on final play from Jets 10.

LAST GAME AT SITE
(REG. SEASON)
12/19/10

LAST PLAYOFF 1/15/05: Jets 17 at Steelers 20 (OT). Pit. doesn’t allow offensive TD & WR Hines Ward posts 10 rec. for 105 yards w/ game-tying score. Reed’s 33-yd. FG in OT sends Steelers to AFC Championship round.

BROADCAST
CBS (6:30 PM ET): Jim Nantz, Phil Simms. Westwood One Radio: Dave Sims, James Lofton, Hub Arkush (Field reporter). SIRIUS: 124 (WW1), 125 (NYJ.), 123 (Pit.). XM: 124 (WW1), 103 (NYJ.), 102 (Pit.).

REGULAR SEASON STAT LEADERS

PASSING
Sanchez: 278-507-3,291-17-13-75.3
Roethlisberger: 240-389-3,200-17-5-97.0 (3C)

RUSHING
Tomlinson: 219-914-4.2-6
Mendenhall: 324-1,273-3.9-13 (T2L)

RECEIVING
Keller (TE): 55-687-12.5-5
Wallace: 60-1,257 (3C)-21.0-10 (T3C)

OFFENSE
351.0
345.3

TAKE/GIVE
+9 (T3C)
+17 (2L)

DEFENSE
291.5 (3L)
276.8 (2L)

SACKS
Thomas: 6
Harrison: 10.5

INTs
Cromartie, Lowery: 3
Polamalu: 7 (T2L)

PR
Wilson: 7.4
Brown: 5.8

KR
B. Smith: 28.6 (2L)
Sanders: 25.1

PUNTING
Weatherford: 42.6
Kapinos: 41.9

KICKING
Folk: 127 (3C) (37/37 PAT; 30/39 FG)
Suisham: 61 (19/19 PAT; 14/15 FG)

NOTES

TEAMS MEET for 2nd time in postseason. Steelers are 1-0 vs. Jets in playoffs.

JETS: Marks 1st time team has reached AFC Championship Game in consecutive seasons. Jets are 1st team in NFL history to win at least 2 road playoff games in back-to-back seasons…Head coach REX RYAN’s 4 playoff wins & .800 win pct. (4-1) rank 1st among Jets all-time coaches…QB MARK SANCHEZ has 4 postseason road wins, tied for NFL record among starting QBs. With 127.3 passer rating vs. NE, Sanchez owns 2 of top 4 marks in club postseason history (139.4 on 1/9/10 at Cin.) & is only Jets QB w/ 100+ passer rating in multiple road playoff games (min. 15 att.)…Jets are 4-0 when posting 100+ rush yards under Ryan. Club has 6 rush TDs in past 5 playoff contests…Incl. last week (76 rush yards, 1 TD), RB SHONN GREENE has registered at least 75 rush yards with 1 TD in 3 postseason games & Jets are 3-0 in such contests. RB LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON posted 1st postseason receiving TD (7 yards) of career vs. Patriots. Tomlinson’s 7 postseason TDs (6 rushing, 1 receiving) rank 1st among active RBs…WR SANTONIO HOLMES has won 5 consecutive postseason games, including MVP performance (9 receptions for 131 yards with game-winning TD) in Super Bowl XLIII with Steelers. Has 4 receiving TDs in 6 career playoff games. 10 of WR BRAYLON EDWARDS’ 12 career postseason rec. (83.3 pct.) have been for 1st downs. Posted 8 receptions for 100 yards in Week 15 win at Pit. WR JERRICHO COTCHERY had 5 receptions for 96 yards vs. NE. Caught five passes for 102 yards (20.4 average) in last season’s AFC Championship Game…Defense registered 5 sacks last week, most by Jets in postseason since 1985…LB CALVIN PACE recorded sack in each of past 2 postseason games. DE SHAUN ELLIS’ two sacks last week tie Jets postseason record. LB DAVID HARRIS led team w/ 9 tackles & registered 3rd career (1st postseason) INT vs. Patriots…Pittsburgh-native LB JASON TAYLOR recorded 4th quarter safety in reg-season game at Pit. CB DREW COLEMAN posted career-high 10 tackles, first multiple-sack game (2) & 2 FFs vs. Pit. in Week 15. Coleman & DT SIONE POUHA each recorded first career postseason sack last week…In Week 15 at Pit., KR-PR-WR BRAD SMITH totaled 140 yards on three kickoff returns (46.7 average), including a 97-yard TD. KR-CB ANTONIO CROMARTIE averages 31.8 yards per kickoff return (191 yards on 6 kickoff returns) in 2010 postseason…Jets had 3 players selected to 2011 Pro Bowl (T D’BRICKASHAW FERGUSON, C NICK MANGOLD, CB DARELLE REVIS).

STEELERS: Host 11th Conference Championship Game, most among all teams since 1970. Clubs’ .627 postseason win pct. (32-19) ranks 1st in AFC (2nd NFL, Green Bay .628). With win, Pittsburgh can tie Cowboys for most postseason wins (33) & Super Bowl appearances (8)…MIKE TOMLIN can become 2nd head coach (JOE GIBBS) to reach 2 Super Bowls in 1st 4 seasons. Is 27-9 (incl. 3-1 in postseason) all-time at Heinz Field. Has won 4 consecutive postseason games…QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER is 38-12 (.760) at home in regular season & 4-2 at Heinz Field in postseason. Is 2-1 in AFC Championship Games & has passed for 756 yards w/ 5 TDs for 93.0 passer rating…RB RASHARD MENDENHALL (46 rush yards, 2 rush TDs) joined JEROME BETTIS & AMOS ZEREOUE as only Steelers RBs to rush for 2 TDs in player’s 1st postseason game. Rushed for 99 yards with 1 TD vs. Jets in regular season…WR HINES WARD has 4 100-yard receiving games at home in postseason during his career. Has 19 receptions for 287 yards (71.8 per game) & 2 TDs in AFC Championship Games. Posted reception in 15 consecutive playoff games & can surpass HOFer JOHN STALLWORTH (15) for most consecutive playoff games with at least one catch. WR MIKE WALLACE had 7 catches for 102 yards (14.6 average) vs. Jets in Week 15. Averaged an AFC-best 21.0 yards per catch in 2010 reg. season…TE HEATH MILLER has 24 receptions for 280 yards w/ 3 TDs in past 5 playoff games…Pro Bowl C MAURKICE POUNCEY became 1st Steelers rookie center to start all of his team’s games…Pit. has not allowed 100-yard rusher in 15 consecutive postseason games, tied w/ Bal. for 2nd-longest current streak (Redskins, 17). Did not allow 100-yard rusher in regular season…Steelers defense vs. Bal. allowed only 28 net yards in 2nd-half, 4th-lowest 2nd-half total in NFL postseason game since 1970…Pro Bowl LB JAMES HARRISON last week registered 3 sacks, tied for 2nd-most in franchise postseason history. LB LA MARR WOODLEY needs 1 sack to become 10th player w/ 10 postseason sacks since 1982…CB IKE TAYLOR & Pro Bowl S TROY POLAMALU each have 3 career postseason INTs. S RYAN CLARK registered 1st postseason INT of career vs. Bal. LB JAMES FARRIOR played in three postseason games with Jets.

NFC NEWS ‘N’ NOTES

1/19/11

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP:

GREEN BAY PACKERS AT CHICAGO BEARS

SUNDAY, JANUARY 23

GREEN BAY PACKERS–NFC NORTH (12-6) AT CHICAGO BEARS–NFC NORTH (12-5)

SERIES
PACKERS
BEARS

LEADER (REG. SEASON)

91-83-6

STREAKS (REG. SEASON)
4 of past 6

COACHES VS. OPP.
(REG. & POSTSEASON)
McCarthy: 5-5
Smith: 8-6

COACHES PLAYOFF RECORD
3-2
3-2

VS. COMMON OPP.
(REG. SEASON)
GB: 6-4 (Buf. 1-0, Det. 1-1, Mia. 0-1, Min. 2-0, NE 0-1, NYG 1-0, Phi. 1-0, Was. 0-1)

Chi.: 7-3 (Buf. 1-0, Det. 2-0, Mia. 1-0, Min. 2-0, NE 0-1, NYG 0-1, Phi. 1-0, Was. 0-1)

PLAYOFF RECORD
27-16
17-17

LAST WEEK
W 48-21 at Falcons
W 35-24 vs. Seahawks

LAST GAME (REG. SEASON)
1/2/11: Bears 3 at Packers 10. Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers throws TD pass to TE Donald Lee in 4th quarter for decisive points as Packers earn playoff berth.

LAST GAME AT SITE
(REG. SEASON)
9/27/10: Packers 17 at Bears 20. Chicago K Robbie Gould converts 2 FGs in final 4 minutes, including game-winning 19-yarder with 4 seconds left, to lift Bears.

LAST PLAYOFF
12/14/41: Packers 14 at Bears 33. Chicago uses 24 point 2nd quarter to overcome 7-6 deficit en route to playoff victory.

BROADCAST
FOX (2:00 PM CT): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Pam Oliver & Chris Myers (Field reporters). Westwood One Radio: Kevin Harlan, Randy Cross, Mark Malone (Field reporter). SIRIUS: 124 (WW1), 125 (GB), 123 (Chi.). XM: 124 (WW1), 103 (GB), 102 (Chi.)

REGULAR SEASON STAT LEADERS

PASSING
Rodgers: 312-475-3,922 (3C)-28 (T3C)-11-101.2 (1C)
Cutler: 261-432-3,274-23-16-86.3

RUSHING
B. Jackson: 190-703-3.7-3
Forté: 237-1,069-4.5-6

RECEIVING
Jennings: 76-1,265 (2C)-16.6-12 (T1C)
Knox: 51-960-18.8-5

OFFENSE
358.1
289.4

TAKE/GIVE
+10 (2C)
+4

DEFENSE
309.1 (2C)
314.3

SACKS
Matthews: 13.5 (2C)
Idonije, Peppers: 8

INTs
T. Williams: 6 (T2C)
C. Harris, Tillman: 5

PR
T. Williams: 8.0
Hester: 17.1 (1L)

KR
Nelson: 22.5
Manning: 24.7

PUNTING
Masthay: 43.9
Maynard: 40.1

KICKING
Crosby: 112 (46/46 PAT; 22/28 FG)
Gould: 110 (35/35 PAT; 25/30 FG)

NOTES

CLUBS MEET for 182nd time (incl. playoffs), most in NFL history…Bears lead all-time series 92-83-6, incl. 1-0 in playoffs. Chicago won only postseason meeting (1941 Division Playoff) 33-14. Teams split 2010 series 1-1.

PACKERS: Have won 12 NFL championships, most all-time. Packers have 27 postseason victories, 3rd most in NFL history. Team will play in NFC Champ Game for 2nd time in past 4 seasons. Last week, scored team postseason record 48 points, 2nd most by road playoff team in NFL history (73, Chicago, 1940 NFL Championship). Packers are 1st team in NFL history to score 45+ points in game in back-to-back postseasons. Team’s 28 points in 2nd quarter last week set franchise playoff record for most in any quarter (24, 1961 NFL Championship). Club had 5 players selected to Pro Bowl: T CHAD CLIFTON (2nd), S NICK COLLINS (3rd), WR GREG JENNINGS (1st), LB CLAY MATTHEWS (2nd) & CB CHARLES WOODSON (7th)…QB AARON RODGERS completed 31 of 36 (86.1 pct.) for 366 yards with 3 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 136.8 rating last week. Is 1st QB in NFL history to post 120+ rating in each of 1st 3 postseason starts (min. 15 att.). His 10 pass TDs are most by QB in 1st 3 playoff starts & he is 1st player to throw 3+ TDs in each of 1st 3 postseason starts. In 3 playoff games, has 129.4 rating, highest in NFL playoff history (min. 100 att.). Had 3 pass TDs & rush TD last week & is only player in NFL history to throw for 3+ TDs & rush for TD in each of 2 different postseason games. Led NFC with 101.2 rating. Is 1st Packers QB with consecutive seasons with 100+ rating (103.2 in 2009). Has 2 of top 3 marks in franchise history, trailing HOFer BART STARR’s 105 rating in 1966. Had 3,922 pass yards & his 12,394 yards since becoming starter in 2008 are 2nd most by QB in 1st 3 years as starter (KURT WARNER, 12,612)…Rookie RB JAMES STARKS is NFL postseason leader with 189 rush yards & 94.5 rush yards per game. RB JOHN KUHN had rush TD & rec. TD last week…Packers had 3 WRs with 50+ catches each for 1st time in franchise history: Jennings (76), DONALD DRIVER (51) & JAMES JONES (50). Jennings tied for NFC lead with 12 rec. TDs. Had 8 catches for 101 yards last week. Driver has longest TD catch (90 yards) in team postseason history (2007 NFC Champ vs. NYG). Jones aims for 4th playoff game in row with TD. WR JORDY NELSON had TD catch last week & has TD in 2 of 3 career playoff games…CB TRAMON WILLIAMS had 2 INTs last week, incl. 70-yard INT-TD. Marked 2nd INT-TD in NFL postseason history at end of 1st half (JAMES HARRISON, 100 yards, Super Bowl XLIII). Aims for 3rd playoff game in row with INT. Since joining GB in 2006, CB Woodson leads NFL with 8 INT-TDs. Has INT-TD in each of 5 years with GB & is only player in NFL history with INT-TD in 5 consecutive seasons. S Collins ties for 2nd with 4 INT-TDs in that span. Has INT in 4 of past 5 games vs. Chi. LB CLAY MATTHEWS had 2 sacks last week & has 4 sacks in 3 playoff games. Is 1st Packer with sack in each of 1st 3 postseason games. Finished 2nd in NFC with 13.5 sacks & is 1st Packer to start career with consecutive 10-sack seasons (10 in 2009). LB ERIK WALDEN had career-high 3 sacks in last meeting. DT B.J. RAJI had 1st playoff sack last week. S CHARLIE PEPRAH had INT in last game vs. Chi.

BEARS: Advanced to postseason for 25th time. Won NFC North for 3rd time under head coach LOVIE SMITH. Bears have won 10 division titles since 1970 merger. Have won 9 NFL championships, 2nd most all-time. Team will play in NFC Champ Game for 2nd time in past 5 seasons. Club had 4 players selected to Pro Bowl: LB LANCE BRIGGS (6th), KR DEVIN HESTER (3rd), DE JULIUS PEPPERS (6th) & LB BRIAN URLACHER (7th)…QB JAY CUTLER made postseason debut last week & accounted for 4 TDs (2 pass, 2 rush). Is 2nd player in NFL history (HOFer OTTO GRAHAM) with 2+ pass & 2+ rush TDs in playoff game. Posted 111.3 rating last week. In career, when he has 100+ rating, his teams are 22-0 (7-0 in 2010). Passed for 3,274 yards, 3rd highest total in team history. Had 3,666 yards last year & is 1st QB in franchise history with consecutive 3,000-yard seasons. Had 23 pass TDs & is 1st Bears QB with 20+ TD passes in back-to-back years (27 in 2009). Cutler & HOFer SID LUCKMAN (1943, 1947) are only QBs in team history with multiple seasons with 20+ pass TDs…RB MATT FORTÉ had 1,616 scrimmage yards (1,069 rush, 547 rec.) & joined HOFer WALTER PAYTON (1983) as only Bears with 1,000+ rush yards & 500+ rec. yards in season. Forté & HOFer GALE SAYERS are only players in franchise history with 1,000+ scrimmage yards in each of 1st 3 seasons. Had 151 scrimmage yards (91 rush, 60 rec.) in last meeting. Posted 134 scrimmage yards (80 rush, 54 rec.) vs. Sea. RB CHESTER TAYLOR had rush TD last week…TE GREG OLSEN had 3 catches for 113 yards (37.7 avg.) & TD (58 yards) last week. His 113 yards are most by Bear TE in playoff game. Had 5 rec. TDs, 3rd consecutive season with 5+ TDs. Is 1st Bears TE with 5+ rec. TDs in 3 seasons in row since HOFer MIKE DITKA (1961-64). WR-KR-PR DEVIN HESTER holds NFL record with 14 career combined KR-TDs (10 PR, 4 KR) in reg. season. Also had 92-yard KR-TD in SB XLI, only KR-TD in team postseason history. Averaged 17.1 yards per PR (564 yards, 33 PR), best single-season mark in NFL history (min. 30 PR). Has 2 PR-TDs in career vs. GB, incl. 62-yarder in Week 3. WR JOHNNY KNOX averaged 18.8 yards per catch (51 receptions, 960 yards), highest in NFC by player with 50+ receptions. Averages 23.5 yards per catch in career vs. GB (11 catches, 259 yards)…LB Urlacher reached 100 tackles for 10th time in 11-year career. Joined HOFers MIKE SINGLETARY (10), DICK BUTKUS (8) & BILL GEORGE (8) as only Bears LBs to be selected to 7+ Pro Bowls. LB Briggs reached 100 tackles for 7th season in row. Joined Singletary (10), Butkus (8) and George (8) as only Bears LBs to be selected to 6+ Pro Bowls in row. Since entering NFL in 2002, DE Peppers has 89 sacks, 3rd most in NFL. DE ISRAEL IDONIJE tied Peppers for team lead with career-high 8 sacks. For 1st time since 1986, Bears had 3 players with 4+ INTs: S CHRIS HARRIS (5), CB CHARLES TILLMAN (5) & CB D.J. MOORE (4). Tillman had INT (42 yards) & FR in last meeting. DT TOMMIE HARRIS had 2 sacks last week. Aims for 3rd in row vs. GB with sack.