Conference, 2010, 01/19/2011
WHAT TO LOOK FOR – AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
RETURN ENGAGEMENT: For the fifth consecutive season and 15th time since 1990 when the NFL went to the 12-team playoff format, teams that played at least once during the regular season will meet in the AFC Championship Game when the New York Jets face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. If New York defeats Pittsburgh, it will mark the 11th time in 15 opportunities that a team won the AFC Championship Game against a team it defeated in the regular season.
AFC Championship Games that were rematches of regular-season meetings since 1990:
SEASON
SEASON WINNER
OPPONENT
AFC CHAMP. GAME RESULT
1990
Buffalo
L.A. Raiders
Buffalo, 51-3
1992
Buffalo/Miami *
Buffalo/Miami *
Buffalo, 29-10
1993
Kansas City
Buffalo
Buffalo, 30-13
1994
San Diego
Pittsburgh
San Diego, 17-13
1996
New England
Jacksonville
New England, 20-6
1997
Pittsburgh
Denver
Denver, 24-21
1999
Tennessee **
Jacksonville
Tennessee, 33-14
2002
Oakland
Tennessee
Oakland, 41-24
2003
New England
Indianapolis
New England, 24-14
2004
Pittsburgh
New England
New England, 41- 27
2006
Indianapolis
New England
Indianapolis, 38-34
2007
New England
San Diego
New England, 21-12
2008
Pittsburgh **
Baltimore
Pittsburgh, 23-14
2009
New York Jets
Indianapolis
Indianapolis, 30-17
2010
New York Jets
Pittsburgh
???
*Met twice during season. Teams split; ** Met twice during season. Tennessee and Pittsburgh won both games.
— AFC —
UNPREDICTABLE NFL: With their win last week, the New York Jets became the third AFC No. 6 seed since the 12-team playoff format was adopted in 1990 to reach the AFC Championship game. Pittsburgh accomplished the feat following the 2005 season en route to their victory in Super Bowl XL. Baltimore reached the AFC title game in 2008.
If the Jets top the Steelers this weekend, they will be only the second No. 6 seed to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl since 1990.
— AFC —
PITTSBURGH IN THE POSTSEASON: This Sunday, Pittsburgh makes its 15th AFC/AFL championship game appearance and hosts its 11th AFC championship, both of which are the most in AFC/AFL history. It also marks the Steelers’ 28th home playoff game, the most among all teams in the Super Bowl era (since 1966), surpassing the Dallas Cowboys (27).
If the Steelers win, they will tie the Dallas Cowboys (33) for the most postseason wins in NFL history. A victory would also give Pittsburgh its 20th home playoff victory, breaking a tie with Dallas and Oakland (19) for the most such wins all-time.
The teams with the most all-time postseason wins:
TEAM
POSTSEASON WINS
Dallas
33
Pittsburgh
32*
Green Bay
27*
Oakland
25
San Francisco
25
*Active in 2010 playoffs
— AFC —
SUPER (BOWL) STEELERS: With a win, the Steelers and head coach MIKE TOMLIN will join elite groups of Super Bowl participants.
The Steelers have played in seven Super Bowls, winning an NFL-best six (Super Bowl IX, X, XIII, XIV, XL and XLIII). Pittsburgh can earn its eighth Super Bowl berth (lost Super Bowl XXX), tying Dallas for the most ever.
TEAM
SUPER BOWL BERTHS
Dallas
8
Pittsburgh
7*
New England
6
Denver
6
Three tied
5
Tomlin has won four consecutive playoff games, including three during the Steelers’ Super Bowl XLIII championship run. If he earns his fifth consecutive playoff victory, Tomlin will join Pro Football Hall of Famer JOE GIBBS (Super Bowl XVII and XVIII) as the only head coaches to reach two Super Bowls in their first four seasons as a head coach.
— AFC —
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Last week, the New York Jets won their second road playoff game of the season, making them the first team to win at least two postseason games on the road in back-to-back seasons.
Including four wins on the road over the past two postseasons, the Jets have won seven road playoff games in franchise history, tied for the second-most in the Super Bowl era. With a victory, New York would trail only Dallas (nine) for the most road postseason victories since 1966.
TEAM
ALL-TIME POSTSEAON ROAD WINS
Dallas
9
Baltimore
7
Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans
7
L.A./St. Louis Rams
7
New York Jets
7*
Pittsburgh
7
*Play at Pittsburgh on Sunday
Jets quarterback MARK SANCHEZ improved to 4-1 in road playoff games, tying him with Pro Football Hall of Famers LEN DAWSON and ROGER STAUBACH and JAKE DELHOMME for the best winning percentage (.800) in a quarterback’s first five postseason starts on the road.
If New York wins this Sunday at Pittsburgh, Sanchez will earn his fifth postseason road victory as a starting quarterback, the most in NFL history.
The most playoff road wins by a starting quarterback in NFL history:
PLAYER
CAREER
PLAYOFF ROAD WINSAS STARTING QB
Mark Sanchez
2009-present
4*
Len Dawson
1957-1975
4
Jake Delhomme
1999-present
4
Joe Flacco
2008-present
4
Roger Staubach
1969-1979
4
*Plays at Pittsburgh this Sunday
— AFC —
WOODLEY AS STRONG AS OAK: Steelers linebacker LA MARR WOODLEY has registered nine sacks in five career playoff games and has posted at least one sack in each contest. Among players who competed in their first postseason game after 1982, Woodley and JASON BUCK are the only players to record at least one sack in each of their first five postseason games.
With at least one sack on Sunday, Woodley can become the 10th player to register at least 10 postseason sacks since 1982. He would reach double-digit postseason sacks in his sixth career game, the fewest number of playoff games to record at least 10 sacks.
The players to reach 10 postseason sacks in the fewest games:
PLAYER
GAMES TO 10 POSTSEASON SACKS
Richard Dent
7
Terrell Suggs
9
Trace Armstrong
10
Willie McGinest
12
Three players
13
LaMarr Woodley
5*
*9 career postseason sacks; plays in sixth career postseason game on Sunday
— AFC —
HINES & THE FIELD: In 15 postseason games, Steelers wide receiver HINES WARD has caught 79 passes for 1,089 yards and nine touchdowns. Ward, who currently ranks fifth for career playoff receptions, will look to climb the all-time postseason receiving lists this weekend.
Career postseason receiving leaders for catches, yards and touchdowns:
PLAYER
REC.
PLAYER
REC. YARDS
PLAYER
REC. TDs
Jerry Rice
151 Rec.
Jerry Rice
2,245 Yds.
Jerry Rice
22 TD
Michael Irvin
87 Rec.
Michael Irvin
1,315 Yds.
John Stallworth
12 TD
Andre Reed
85 Rec.
Cliff Branch
1,289 Yds
Fred Biletnikoff
10 TD
Reggie Wayne
83 Rec.
Andre Reed
1,229Yds.
Antonio Freeman
10 TD
Hines Ward
79* Rec.
Fred Biletnikoff
1,167 Yds.
Randy Moss
10 TD
Hines Ward
1,089* Yds.
Hines Ward
9* TD
*Active in 2010 playoffs
— AFC —
AFC TROPHY PRESENTATION: The LAMAR HUNT TROPHY will be presented to the winner of the AFC Championship Game.
The late Hunt, founder of the Kansas City Chiefs and American Football League, helped professional football attain its stature as America’s No. 1 sport. In the 10-year history of the AFL, his team posted the most wins (87) and earned berths in two of the first four Super Bowls, including a victory in Super Bowl IV.
In 1972, Hunt became the first person from the AFL to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR – NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
HELLO AGAIN: The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers have met 181 times, which includes only one meeting in the postseason (1941). When the two clubs play for the NFC Championship this weekend, it will mark the longest gap (based on days) between postseason meetings in NFL history.
The longest gap between postseason meetings in NFL history (based on days):
MATCHUP
POSTSEASON MEETING
NEXT POSTSEASON MEETING
TIME ELAPSED
Green Bay-Chicago Bears
12/14/1941
1/23/2011*
69 years, 40 days
Chicago/Arizona-Philadelphia
12/19/1948
1/18/2009
60 years, 30 days
NY Giants-Green Bay
12/30/1962
1/20/2008
45 years, 21 days
Washington-NY Giants
12/19/1943
1/11/1987
43 years, 23 days
Philadelphia-Green Bay
12/26/1960
1/11/2004
43 years, 16 days
*Will play in NFC Championship Game this Sunday
— NFC —
DIVISION FOES: For the sixth time since the merger, the NFC Championship Game will be contested between division rivals. Chicago and Green Bay split the regular-season series, with each team winning on its home field. The Bears defeated the Packers 20-17 in Week 3, while the Packers were victorious in Week 17, 10-3.
NFC Championship Games between division foes (since 1970):
MATCHUP
SEASON
RESULT
San Francisco-Los Angeles
1989
49ers 30, Rams 3
NY Giants-Washington
1986
Giants 17, Redskins 0
Washington-Dallas
1982
Redskins 31, Cowboys 17
Philadelphia-Dallas
1980
Eagles 20, Cowboys 7
Washington-Dallas
1972
Redskins 26, Cowboys 3
Green Bay-Chicago
2010
???
— NFC —
DON’T PACK IT IN: With a win this Sunday, the Green Bay Packers could become the fourth team to win three consecutive road playoff games en route to the Super Bowl. The team could also become the first NFC No. 6 seed to reach the Super Bowl.
SEASON
TEAM
POSTSEASON ROAD GAMES WON
2007
New York Giants
Tampa Bay (24-14); Dallas (21-17); Green Bay (23-20, OT)
2005
Pittsburgh Steelers
Cincinnati (31-17); Indianapolis (21-18); Denver (34-17)
1985
New England Patriots
NY Jets (26-14); L.A. Raiders (27-20); Miami Dolphins (31-14)
2010
Green Bay Packers*
Philadelphia (21-16); Atlanta (48-21)
* NFC Championship Game in Chicago on Sunday
— NFC —
GRACIOUS HOST: There have been 13 postseason games played at Soldier Field since 1970, with the Bears compiling a 7-6 record in those contests.
This weekend, Soldier Field will host its 14th playoff game, the third-most playoff games hosted by a stadium in the NFC since 1970. Candlestick Park holds the record with 24 NFC postseason games during that span.
STADIUM
NFC PLAYOFF GAMES HOSTED SINCE 1970
Candlestick Park
24
Texas Stadium
22
Soldier Field
14*
RFK Stadium
12
Lambeau Field
12
*Includes Sunday’s NFC Championship game
— NFC —
MR. RODGERS: Green Bay Packers quarterback AARON RODGERS has thrown 10 touchdown passes in his first three postseason starts, the most in NFL history.
Rodgers will make his fourth postseason start in Chicago this Sunday. With two touchdown passes, Rodgers can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer TROY AIKMAN and KURT WARNER (11) for the most touchdown passes in the first four postseason starts of any quarterback in NFL history.
Rodgers, who has thrown six touchdowns this postseason, can also challenge the record for the most touchdown passes thrown in a single conference playoffs.
The record for the most touchdown passes in a single conference playoffs:
PLAYER
SEASON
TOUCHDOWN PASSES
Peyton Manning
2003
9
Brett Favre
1995
8
Kurt Warner
2008
8
Many tied
7
Aaron Rodgers
2010
6*
*Through Divisional Playoffs
— NFC —
NFC TROPHY PRESENTATION: The winner of the NFC Championship Game will be presented with the GEORGE HALAS TROPHY.
Halas, the late owner of the Chicago Bears and a founder of the NFL, is the second-winningest coach in history (324-151-31) behind DON SHULA (347-173-6). He won six NFL championships with the Bears and is a charter enshrinee of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1963).
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