What To Look For: Divisional Playoffs Preview
What To Look For: Divisional Playoffs Preview
(Photo: Drew McKenzie, Sportspress Northwest)

Here's what to look for during this weekend's 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 20-4 (.833) in the Divisional Playoffs. In the AFC, the No. 1 seed has compiled a 14-10 (.583) record.

Both No. 1 seeds are in action this weekend when the top-seeded Seattle Seahawks host the Carolina Panthers in the NFC and the No. 1-seed New England Patriots face the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC.

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

Season AFC Top Seed Div. Result NFC Top Seed Div. Result
Source: NFL
1990BuffaloDefeated Miami 44-34San FranciscoDefeated Washington 28-10
1991BuffaloDefeated Kansas City 37-14WashingtonDefeated Atlanta 24-7
1992PittsburghLost to Buffalo 24-3San FranciscoDefeated Washington 20-13
1993BuffaloDefeated L.A. Raiders 29-23DallasDefeated Green Bay 27-17
1994PittsburghDefeated Cleveland 29-9San FranciscoDefeated Chicago 44-15
1995Kansas CityLost to Indianapolis 10-7DallasDefeated Philadelphia 30-11
1996DenverLost to Jacksonville 30-27Green BayDefeated San Francisco 35-14
1997Kansas CityLost to Denver 14-10San FranciscoDefeated Minnesota 38-22
1998DenverDefeated Miami 38-3MinnesotaDefeated Arizona 41-21
1999JacksonvilleDefeated Miami 62-7St. LouisDefeated Minnesota 49-37
2000TennesseeLost to Baltimore 24-10N.Y. GiantsDefeated Philadelphia 20-10
2001PittsburghDefeated Baltimore 27-10St. LouisDefeated Green Bay 45-17
2002OaklandDefeated N.Y. Jets 30-10PhiladelphiaDefeated Atlanta 20-6
2003New EnglandDefeated Tennessee 17-14PhiladelphiaDefeated Green Bay 20-17 (OT)
2004PittsburghDefeated N.Y. Jets 20-17 (OT)PhiladelphiaDefeated Minnesota 27-14
2005IndianapolisLost to Pittsburgh 21-18SeattleDefeated Washington 20-10
2006San DiegoLost to New England 24-21ChicagoDefeated Seattle 27-24 (OT)
2007New EnglandDefeated Jacksonville 31-20DallasLost to N.Y. Giants 21-17
2008TennesseeLost to Baltimore 13-10N.Y. GiantsLost to Philadelphia 23-11
2009IndianapolisDefeated Baltimore 20-3New OrleansDefeated Arizona 45-14
2010New EnglandLost to N.Y. Jets 28-21Atlanta Lost to Green Bay 48-21
2011New EnglandDefeated Denver 45-10Green BayLost to N.Y. Giants 37-20
2012DenverLost to Baltimore 38-35 (2OT)AtlantaDefeated Seattle 30-28
2013DenverDefeated San Diego 24-17SeattleDefeated New Orleans 23-15
2014New England???Seattle???

 

First-Round Byes

The top seeds -- NEW ENGLAND (12-4, AFC No. 1 seed), SEATTLE (12-4, NFC No. 1 seed), DENVER (12-4, AFC No. 2 seed) and GREEN BAY (12-4, NFC No. 2 seed) -- earned first-round byes and will be featured in this weekend's Divisional Playoffs.

Two of the four top seeds rank among the teams with the most first-round byes since the 12-team playoff format was adopted in 1990. New England (10) has the most, while Denver (seven) has the fourth-most since 1990.

The teams with the most first-round byes since 1990:

Team Byes
Source: NFL *Includes 2014
New England Patriots*10
Pittsburgh Steelers8
San Francisco 49ers8
Denver Broncos*7
Dallas Cowboys5

 

Championship Goal

This weekend, DALLAS (13-4, NFC No. 3 seed) will travel to take on GREEN BAY (12-4, NFC No. 2 seed).

With a victory against Green Bay, Dallas would advance to its 15th NFC Championship Game, which would tie PITTSBURGH (15) and SAN FRANCISCO (15) for the most appearances in a Conference Championship Game since 1970.

NEW ENGLAND is fourth on the all-time list and can move into a tie for third with a win against Baltimore on Saturday. This would be New England's fourth consecutive appearance in the AFC Championship Game.

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

Team Appearances
Source: NFL
Pittsburgh Steelers15
San Francisco 49ers15
Dallas Cowboys14
L.A./Oakland Raiders11
New England Patriots10

 

Strength vs Strength

This weekend, DALLAS (13-4, NFC No. 3 seed) will travel to take on GREEN BAY (12-4, NFC No. 2 seed). The matchup features the NFC East Champion Cowboys, who were 8-0 on the road this season, and the NFC North Champion Packers, who were a perfect 8-0 at home in 2014.

The game is just the third NFL playoff game featuring an undefeated road team at an undefeated home team, and the first with an 8-0 home team hosting an 8-0 road team.

The playoff games with an undefeated road team at an undefeated home team:

Date Home Team Home Record Road Team Road Record
Source: NFL
Dec 19, 1948Philadelphia Eagles6-0Chicago Cardinals6-0
Dec 31, 1972Pittsburgh Steelers7-0Miami Dolphins7-0
Jan 11, 2015Green Bay Packers8-0Dallas Cowboys8-0

 

Passing Greats

New England quarterback TOM BRADY has thrown 43 career postseason touchdown passes, the third most in NFL postseason history. He trails BRETT FAVRE (44) and Pro Football Hall of Famer JOE MONTANA (45) for the most in NFL history.

With three TD passes against Baltimore on Saturday, Brady would surpass Favre and Montana for the most postseason TD passes in NFL history.

The starting quarterbacks with the most postseason TD passes in NFL history:

Quarterback Career TD Passes
Source: NFL *Active
Joe Montana1979-199445
Brett Favre1991-201044
Tom Brady*2000-present 43
Peyton Manning*1998-present37
Dan Marino1983-199932

 

Cool Joe

Baltimore quarterback JOE FLACCO made his NFL-record tying 14th career postseason start in his first seven seasons -- tying an NFL record -- in a 30-17 win against Pittsburgh on Wild Card Weekend. Flacco completed 18 of 29 passes for 259 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 114.0 passer rating against the Steelers. Flacco has not thrown an interception in 166 consecutive attempts, the fourth-longest streak in NFL playoff history.

With 14 consecutive pass attempts without an interception on Saturday against New England, Flacco would surpass Pro Football Hall of Famers STEVE YOUNG (173 attempts; 1994-96) and JOE MONTANA (179 attempts; 1989-91) for the second-longest such streak in NFL playoff history.

The players with the most consecutive pass attempts without an interception in NFL playoff history:

Quarterback Team Seasons Attempts w/out INT
Source: NFL
Drew BreesNew Orleans2007-2012226
Joe MontanaSan Francisco1989-1991179
Steve YoungSan Francisco1994-1996173
Joe FlaccoBaltimore2012-present166

 

Awesome Andrew Luck

Indianapolis quarterback ANDREW LUCK threw for 376 yards in a 26-10 victory over Cincinnati on Wild Card Weekend. Luck has now thrown for at least 300 yards in three consecutive playoff games, tied for the second-longest streak in NFL history.

With 300 passing yards on Sunday at Denver, Luck would tie Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN FOUTS (four) for the most consecutive 300-yard playoff games in NFL history.

The players with the most consecutive 300-yard passing games in NFL playoff history:

Quarterback Team Seasons Games
Source: NFL
*Current streak **Pro Football Hall of Famer
Dan Fouts**San Diego1979-19814
Andrew Luck*Indianapolis2013-20143
Drew BreesNew Orleans2010-20113
Jim Kelly**Buffalo1989-19903
Warren Moon**Houston1991-19933

 

Head Of The Coaching Class

New England Patriots head coach BILL BELICHICK has compiled a 19-9 (.679) record in his postseason career. Belichick is tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer DON SHULA for the second-most playoff wins in NFL history.

With a win against Baltimore on Saturday, Belichick would tie Pro Football Hall of Famer TOM LANDRY (20) for first place on the all-time postseason wins list.

The head coaches with the most playoff wins in NFL history:

Head Coach Team(s) Wins
Source: NFL *Active
Tom LandryDallas Cowboys20
Bill Belichick*Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots19
Don ShulaBaltimore Colts, Miami Dolphins19
Joe GibbsWashington Redskins17
Chuck NollPittsburgh Steelers16

 

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What To Look For: Divisional Playoffs Preview