NFL: WHAT TO LOOK FOR-DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS

WHAT TO LOOK FOR – DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS

VIEW FROM THE TOP: Since the NFL moved to a 12-team playoff format in 1990, No.1 seeds in the NFC are 18-2 (.900) in the Divisional Playoffs. However, the NFC top seed has lost in the Divisional round in two of the past three seasons.

In the AFC, the No. 1 seed has compiled a 12-8 (.600) record in the Divisional round during that span.

Both the No. 1 seeds are in action this weekend when the top-seeded Atlanta Falcons host the Green Bay Packers in the NFC and the No. 1-seed New England Patriots face the New York Jets in the AFC.

The No. 1 seeds in Divisional-round play since 1990:

YEAR
AFC NO. 1 SEED
DIVISIONAL RESULT
NFC NO. 1 SEED
DIVISIONAL RESULT

1990
Buffalo
Defeated Miami 44-34
San Francisco
Defeated Washington 28-10

1991
Buffalo
Defeated Kansas City 37-14
Washington
Defeated Atlanta 24-7

1992
Pittsburgh
Lost to Buffalo 24-3
San Francisco
Defeated Washington 20-13

1993
Buffalo
Defeated L.A. Raiders 29-23
Dallas
Defeated Green Bay 27-17

1994
Pittsburgh
Defeated Cleveland 29-9
San Francisco
Defeated Chicago 44-15

1995
Kansas City
Lost to Indianapolis 10-7
Dallas
Defeated Philadelphia 30-11

1996
Denver
Lost to Jacksonville 30-27
Green Bay
Defeated San Francisco 35-14

1997
Kansas City
Lost to Denver 14-10
San Francisco
Defeated Minnesota 38-22

1998
Denver
Defeated Miami 38-3
Minnesota
Defeated Arizona 41-21

1999
Jacksonville
Defeated Miami 62-7
St. Louis
Defeated Minnesota 49-37

2000
Tennessee
Lost to Baltimore 24-10
New York Giants
Defeated Philadelphia 20-10

2001
Pittsburgh
Defeated Baltimore 27-10
St. Louis
Defeated Green Bay 45-17

2002
Oakland
Defeated N.Y. Jets 30-10
Philadelphia
Defeated Atlanta 20-6

2003
New England
Defeated Tennessee 17-14
Philadelphia
Defeated Green Bay 20-17 (OT)

2004
Pittsburgh
Defeated N.Y. Jets 20-17 (OT)
Philadelphia
Defeated Minnesota 27-14

2005
Indianapolis
Lost to Pittsburgh 21-18
Seattle
Defeated Washington 20-10

2006
San Diego
Lost to New England 24-21
Chicago
Defeated Seattle 27-24 (OT)

2007
New England
Defeated Jacksonville 31-20
Dallas
Lost to N.Y. Giants 21-17

2008
Tennessee
Lost to Baltimore 13-10
New York Giants
Lost to Philadelphia 23-11

2009
Indianapolis
Defeated Baltimore, 20-3
New Orleans
Defeated Arizona, 45-14

2010
New England
???
Atlanta
???

— NFL —

NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN: All four Divisional matchups this weekend are rematches of regular-season games. This includes two contests between division rivals for the first time since 2000.

2010 marks the sixth time since 1970 that all four Divisional playoff games are rematches of regular-season contests (1991, 1997, 2004, 2005 and 2008).

MATCHUP
GAME TIME
REGULAR SEASON RESULT(S) (Home team in CAPS)

Baltimore at Pittsburgh
Sat. 4:30 PM (ET)
Week 4: Ravens 17, STEELERS 14; Week 13: Steelers 13, RAVENS 10

Green Bay at Atlanta
Sat. 8:00 PM (ET)
Week 12: FALCONS 20, Packers 17

Seattle at Chicago
Sun. 1:00 PM (ET)
Week 6: Seahawks 23, BEARS 20

NY Jets at New England
Sun. 4:30 PM (ET)
Week 2: JETS 28, Patriots 14; Week 13: PATRIOTS 45, Jets 3

— NFL —

ON THE ROAD AGAIN: With a victory in Kansas City last weekend, Baltimore Ravens quarterback JOE FLACCO improved his postseason road record to 4-2 (.667).

With four postseason wins on the road, Flacco is tied with Pro Football Hall of Famers LEN DAWSON and ROGER STAUBACH and JAKE DELHOMME for the most in NFL history. With a win at Pittsburgh this weekend, Flacco can set the NFL record for road playoff wins by a quarterback with five.

— NFL —

CHAMPIONSHIP GOAL: With a victory against Baltimore on Saturday, Pittsburgh would advance to its 15th AFC Championship Game, surpassing Dallas (14) for the most appearances in a Conference Championship Game since 1970.

The teams with the most appearances in a Conference Championship Game since 1970:

TEAM
MOST APPEARANCES IN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

Pittsburgh Steelers*
14

Dallas Cowboys
14

San Francisco 49ers
12

L.A./Oakland Raiders
11

L.A./St. Louis Rams
9

*Active in 2010 playoffs

— NFL —

RODGERS THAT: Green Bay Packers quarterback AARON RODGERS has thrown seven touchdown passes in his first two postseason starts, the most in NFL history.

Rodgers will make his third postseason start in Atlanta this Saturday night. With three touchdown passes, Rodgers can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO, JEFF GEORGE and DARYLE LAMONICA (9) for the most touchdown passes in the first three postseason starts of any quarterback in NFL history.

— NFL —

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME: New England Patriots quarterback TOM BRADY holds an 8-1 (.889) record in the postseason at home, including a 2006 Wild Card victory over the New York Jets.

With a win against the Jets on Sunday, Brady can pass Pro Football Hall of Famer JIM KELLY (8-1, .889) for second place among quarterbacks with the highest winning percentage in home playoff games in the Super Bowl era. KURT WARNER posted a perfect 7-0 record at home in the playoffs.

The quarterbacks with the highest winning percentage in home playoff games in the Super Bowl era (Since 1966) (min. five games):

PLAYER
HOME PLAYOFF RECORD
WINNING PERCENTAGE

Kurt Warner
7-0
1.000

Tom Brady*
8-1
.889

Jim Kelly
8-1
.889

Troy Aikman
7-1
.875

Many Tied

..833

*Active in 2010 playoffs

— NFL —

STREAK-FREE SHINE: Seattle quarterback MATT HASSELBECK has thrown a touchdown pass in nine consecutive postseason games.

With a touchdown pass this Sunday in Chicago, Hasselbeck can become the seventh player in NFL history to throw a touchdown pass in 10 consecutive postseason games. New England’s TOM BRADY (16) holds the longest active streak among playoff participants, and can add to his total this weekend.

PLAYER
YEARS
CONSECUTIVE PLAYOFF GAMES W/ TD PASS

Brett Favre
1995-2009
20

Tom Brady
2002-present
16*

Dan Marino
1983-1995
13

Kurt Warner
1999-2009
12

Joe Montana
1988-1993
10

Ken Stabler
1973-1977
10

Matt Hasselbeck
2005-present
9*

*Active in 2010 playoffs

NFL MEDIA