WHAT TO LOOK FOR–NFL WILD CARD WEEKEND

2010, WildCard, 01/05/2011

WHAT TO LOOK FOR – WILD CARD WEEKEND

FROM WILD CARD TO SUPER BOWL: Winners in the Wild Card round have won the Super Bowl six times, and at least one Super Bowl participant in four of the past five years played a Wild Card game. In 2008, the NFC No. 4 seed Arizona Cardinals won three games en route to a berth in Super Bowl XLIII. Three years ago, the NFC No. 5 seed New York Giants won three road games en route to a Super Bowl XLII victory. In 2006, AFC No. 3 seed Indianapolis won Super Bowl XLI. And five 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

— WILD CARD WEEKEND —

THREE’S COMPANY:
In seven career playoff games, Kansas City running back THOMAS JONES has scored five rushing touchdowns, including four with Chicago during the Bears’ 2006 postseason run to Super Bowl XLI. He also scored a rushing touchdown for the New York Jets in last year’s Wild Card win over Cincinnati.

With a rushing touchdown this Sunday against Baltimore, Jones would become the first player in NFL postseason history to score a rushing TD for three different teams.

— WILD CARD WEEKEND —

MORE THREES: Since his 2008 rookie year, Baltimore quarterback JOE FLACCO has led the Ravens to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons.

This Sunday against the Chiefs, Flacco will become the fifth quarterback in history to start a playoff game in his first three NFL seasons and the first to do so since BERNIE KOSAR (1985-87). Pro Football Hall of Famers DAN MARINO (1983-85) and OTTO GRAHAM (1950-52) and PAT HADEN (1976-78) also accomplished the feat.

Flacco and JOHN HARBAUGH, whose NFL head coaching career began in Baltimore in 2008, are the first quarterback-head coach duo to begin their NFL careers at the same time and lead a team to the postseason in each of their first three seasons.

— WILD CARD WEEKEND —

AWESOME AARON: Green Bay quarterback AARON RODGERS passed for 423 yards in his first playoff start last season against Arizona on Wild Card Weekend. With another 400-yard passing performance this Sunday at Philadelphia, Rodgers can become the first player in NFL postseason history to accomplish the feat in consecutive playoff games. PEYTON MANNING and Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO are the only quarterbacks in NFL history to throw for at least 400 yards in two playoff games.

ENCORE, ENCORE: In the 44-year history of the Super Bowl, six wide receivers have earned Super Bowl MVP awards. Three of those players – DEION BRANCH of the Patriots, SANTONIO HOLMES of the Jets and HINES WARD of the Steelers – will be active in this year’s playoffs.

This Saturday night in Indianapolis, Holmes will play in his first postseason game since his Super Bowl XLIII MVP performance with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Here’s a look at how each Super Bowl MVP wide receiver fared in his next postseason game:

PLAYER
SUPER BOWL MVP
NEXT PLAYOFF GAME

Lynn Swann
X
12/19/1976: 5 catches for 77 yards & 2 TDs vs. Colts

Fred Biletnikoff
XI
12/24/1977: 7 catches for 88 yards vs. Colts (OT)

Jerry Rice
XXIII
1/6/1990: 6 catches for 114 yards & 2 TDs vs. Vikings

Deion Branch*
XXXIX
1/7/2006: 2 catches for 36 yards vs. Jaguars

Hines Ward*
XL
1/5/2008: 10 catches for 135 yards vs. Jaguars

Santonio Holmes*
XLIII
1/8/2011: ??? vs. Colts

* In 2010 playoffs

— WILD CARD WEEKEND —

FIRST-TIMERS: Two quarterbacks – Kansas City’s MATT CASSEL and Chicago’s JAY CUTLER – will make their first career postseason starts. Cassel passed for 3,116 yards for the Chiefs this season, while Cutler posted 3,274 for Chicago, becoming the only QB in club history with multiple 3,000-yard passing seasons.

Seattle’s CHARLIE WHITEHURST, who helped the Seahawks clinch the NFC West with a win over St. Louis in Week 17 in his second career NFL start, could also make his playoff debut as a starter on Wild Card Weekend.

The players with the most passing yards in their first career postseason start:

PLAYER
PASSING YARDS

Kelly Holcomb
429

Aaron Rodgers
423

Randall Cunningham
407

Kurt Warner
391

Neil Lomax
385

— WILD CARD WEEKEND —

INT LEADERS: Baltimore safety ED REED and Philadelphia cornerback ASANTE SAMUEL are tied for fifth all-time with seven career postseason interceptions. Both have the opportunity to move up the all-time list on Wild Card Weekend.

Reed led the NFL with eight interceptions in 2010, while Samuel led the NFC with seven INTs.

The players with the most career postseason interceptions in NFL history:

PLAYER
TEAM(S)
INTs

Charlie Waters
Dallas
9

Bill Simpson
L.A. Rams, Buffalo
9

Ronnie Lott
San Francisco, L.A. Raiders
9

Lester Hayes
Oakland/L.A. Raiders
8

Asante Samuel*
New England, Philadelphia
7

Ed Reed*
Baltimore
7

Willie Brown
Oakland
7

Dennis Thurman
Dallas
7

Rodney Harrison
San Diego, New England
7

* In 2010 Playoffs

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