NFL 2016: What To Look For: Championship Weekend Preview

NFL 2016: What To Look For: Championship Weekend Preview

Here's what to look for during the AFC and NFC Championship Games

Regular Season Recap
Thriving on Offense | On the Defensive | Remarkable Rookies | Records & Milestones | Close Games

[ Next: Championship Weekend Preview | AFC Championship In-Depth | NFC Championship In-Depth ]

Super Championship

In 2016, the NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS won their eighth AFC East title in a row, the most consecutive division titles in NFL history, and have advanced to the AFC Championship Game for the sixth season in a row -- also the longest streak all-time. The Patriots are 8-5 (.615) in AFC Championship Games all-time.

The PITTSBURGH STEELERS have advanced to the AFC Championship Game for the 16th time in franchise history and are 8-7 (.533).

The winner of Sunday's AFC Championship Game will set an NFL record for the most Super Bowl berths in NFL history.

Most Super Bowl Appearances

Team	Super Bowls
Source: NFL Play in AFC Championship Game Sunday*
Dallas Cowboys	8
Denver Broncos	8
New England Patriots*	8
Pittsburgh Steelers*	8
San Francisco 49ers	6

Pittsburgh, New England and the GREEN BAY PACKERS have three of the four highest postseason win totals in NFL history and are all in action on Championship Sunday.

The Steelers, who defeated Miami in the Wild Card round and Kansas City in the Divisional Playoffs, have 36 postseason wins, the most in NFL history. The Packers (34) and Patriots (30) rank tied for second and tied for fourth, respectively, in all-time postseason victories.

Most NFL Postseason Wins

Team	W	L	Pct.	SB Wins
Source: NFL Play this Weekend*
Pittsburgh Steelers*	36	23	.610	6
Green Bay Packers*	34	21	.618	4
Dallas Cowboys	34	27	.557	5
New England Patriots*	30	19	.612	4
San Francisco 49ers	30	20	.600	5

Been There, Done That Quarterbacks

This weekend's Championship Games features three quarterbacks who have combined for seven Super Bowl titles: New England's TOM BRADY (four), Pittsburgh's BEN ROETHLISBERGER (two) and Green Bay's AARON RODGERS (one).

Championship Games QB's with Super Bowl titles

Quarterback	Team	Super Bowl Titles
Source: NFL Play this Weekend*
Tom Brady	New England Patriots	4 (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLIX)
Ben Roethlisberger	Pittsburgh Steelers	2 (XL, XLIII)
Aaron Rodgers	Green Bay Packers	1 (XLV)

The seven combined Super Bowl victories by Brady, Roethlisberger and Rodgers are the most by the four starting quarterbacks playing in a season's Conference Championship Games.

Most Combined Super Bowl Wins on Same Championship Game Sunday

Season	Quarterbacks (Super Bowl Wins)	Combined Super Bowl Titles
Source: NFL Play this Weekend*
2016	Tom Brady* (4), Ben Roethlisberger* (2), Aaron Rodgers* (1)	7
2015	Tom Brady (4), Peyton Manning (1)	5
2014	Tom Brady (3), Aaron Rodgers (1), Russell Wilson (1)	5
1993	Joe Montana (4), Troy Aikman (1)	5

Prolific Passers

Atlanta quarterback MATT RYAN led the NFL with a 117.1 passer rating in 2016, the fifth-highest single-season rating in NFL history. New England's TOM BRADY (112.2) and Green Bay's AARON RODGERS (104.2) ranked second and fourth respectively.

The four quarterbacks projected to start the AFC and NFC Championship Games on Sunday combined for a 107.0 passer rating this season, the highest combined regular-season passer rating by the four starting quarterbacks in a season's Championship Games.

Starting QB's with the highest combined regular-season passer rating

Season	Quarterbacks (Passer Rating)	Combined Passer Rating
Source: NFL
2016	Matt Ryan (117.1), Tom Brady (112.2), Aaron Rodgers (104.2), Ben Roethlisberger (95.4)	107.0
1998	Randall Cunningham (106.0), Vinny Testaverde (101.6), Chris Chandler (100.9), John Elway (93.0)	100.7

Streaking Stars

Several of the NFL's best and brightest have the opportunity to make their mark in the postseason record book on Championship Sunday.

Streaking Stars: Aaron Rodgers

Green Bay quarterback AARON RODGERS passed for 355 yards and two touchdowns in the Packers' 34-31 victory at Dallas in the Divisional Playoffs. Rodgers, who has passed for at least 350 yards and two touchdowns in both postseason games this season, can tie DREW BREES (three) for the most consecutive playoff games with at least 350 passing yards and two touchdown passes in NFL postseason history.

Consecutive Playoff Games with 350+ Passing Yards & 2+ TD Passes

Quarterback	Team	Seasons	Streak
Source: NFL Active streak*
Drew Brees	New Orleans Saints	2010-11	3
Aaron Rodgers*	Green Bay Packers	2016	2
Kurt Warner	Arizona Cardinals	2008-09	2
Kurt Warner	St. Louis Rams	1999-2000	2

Streaking Stars: Le'veon Bell

Pittsburgh running back Le'veon Bell rushed for 170 yards in the Steelers 18-16 win at Kansas City in the Divisional Playoffs and is the first player in NFL history to rush for at least 150 yards in each of his first two career postseason games. Bell, who had 167 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the Wild Card win against Miami, has the two highest single-game rushing performances in franchise postseason history.

With 113 rushing yards at New England on Sunday, Bell would become the fifth player in NFL history with at least 450 rushing yards in a single postseason.

Most rushing yards in a single postseason

PLayer	Team	Season	Yards
Source: NFL Through two games*
John Riggins	Washington Redskins	1982	610
Terrell Davis	Denver Broncos	1997	581
Terrell Davis	Denver Broncos	1998	468
Marcus Allen	Los Angeles Raiders	1983	466
Eddie George	Tennessee Titans	1999	449
Le'Veon Bell*	Pittsburgh Steelers	2016	337

Streaking Stars: Matt Ryan

Atlanta quarterback MATT RYAN passed for 338 yards with three touchdowns for a 125.7 rating in the Falcons' 36-20 win over Seattle in the Divisional Playoffs.

With three touchdown passes against Green Bay on Sunday, Ryan, who has thrown for three touchdowns in each of his past three playoff games, would become the first quarterback in NFL history with at least three touchdown passes in four consecutive postseason games.

Most consecutive playoff games with 3+ TD passes

PLayer	Season(s)	Team	Streak
Source: NFL Active streak*
Matt Ryan*	2012, 2016	Atlanta Falcons	3
Tom Brady	2014	New England Patriots	3
Joe Flacco	2012	Baltimore Ravens	3
Aaron Rodgers	2009-10	Green Bay Packers	3
Kurt Warner	2008-09	Arizona Cardinals	3
Bernie Kosar	1987, 1989	Cleveland Browns	3

Super Combination

New England head coach BILL BELICHICK and quarterback TOM BRADY have made six Super Bowl appearances together, the most appearances by any head coach-quarterback combination in NFL history.

With a win Sunday against the Steelers, the Patriots can extend their NFL record for the most such Super Bowl appearances.

Head Coach - QB Combinations with most Super Bowl appearances

Quarterback	Head Coach	SB Games
Source: NFL Active*
Tom Brady	Bill Belichick	New England Patriots*	6
Roger Staubach	Tom Landry	Dallas Cowboys	4
Jim Kelly	Marv Levy	Buffalo Bills	4
Terry Bradshaw	Chuck Noll	Pittsburgh Steelers	4

With a win, Belichick (six) would surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer DON SHULA (six) and become the only coach to lead his team(s) to seven Super Bowls.