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SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 2013

CINCINNATI BENGALS–AFC NORTH (10-6) AT HOUSTON TEXANS–AFC SOUTH (12-4)

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TEAMS MEET for second time in postseason play. Texans defeated Bengals, 31-10, in Wild Card on 1/7/12. 

BENGALS: Club has reached postseason for 4th time under head coach MARVIN LEWIS (2005, 2009, 2011-2012).  Reached postseason in consecutive seasons for 1st time since 1981-82. Bengals aim for 1st postseason win since 1/6/91 against Houston Oilers (Wild Card). Club posted 6-2 road record this season…QB ANDY DALTONis 19-13 (.594) as starter, highest all-time win pct. by Bengals QB (min. 20 starts). Had career-bests in passing yards (3,669) & TDs (27) this season. Posted 95.1 4th quarter rating in 2012. Will make 2nd career postseason start. Dalton is native of Katy, TX…RB BEN JARVUS GREEN-ELLIS had career-high 1,094 rush yards in 2012. Has rushed for 183 yards on 47 carries in 4 career postseason games (all with NE)…WR A.J. GREEN (1,350) is 2nd player in Bengals history to reach 1,300 receiving yards in season (CHAD JOHNSON). Green's 97 receptions in 2012 tied for 4th-most in single season by Bengal. Green (162) has 2nd-most receptions in 1st 2 seasons of a career in NFL history, trailing only MARQUES COLSTON (168). Has 10 catches for 106 yards in 2 career games vs. Hou. (incl. postseason). Green is 1st WR to be selected to Pro Bowl in each of his 1st 2 seasons in league since RANDY MOSS (1998-99). WR ANDREW HAWKINS had career-highs in receptions (51), receiving yards (533) & TDs (4) this season. Rookie WR MARVIN JONES posted 1st career TD catch last week…TE JERMAINE GRESHAM (64) posted 2nd-most receptions by TE in franchise history in 2012 (DAN ROSS, 71 in 1981)…Defense ranked 3rd in NFL with franchise-best 51 sacks this season…Allowed 3rd-fewest yards per game (319.7) in AFC in '12…DT GENO ATKINS (12.5) & DE MICHAEL JOHNSON (11.5) ranked No. 2 & 3, respectively, for most sacks by Bengal in season since 1982 (EDDIE EDWARDS, 13 in 1983). Atkins had sack in only postseason appearance. Since '10, Atkins leads NFL DTs with 23 sacks…Rookie LB VONTAZE BURFICT posted team-high 127 tackles…LB REY MAUALUGA had career-high 122 tackles in '12…CB TERENCE NEWMAN has played in 5 career postseason games (all with Dal.)…PR-CB ADAM JONES (with Titans) has 2 career PR-TDs against Texans (52, 53)…Club had 2 players selected to 2013 Pro Bowl (DT Atkins, WR Green).

TEXANS:Have most wins in single season in franchise history (12). Captured AFC South title for 2nd consecutive season. Posted 6-0 record at home vs. AFC this season. Incl. postseason, Hou. aims for 5th consecutive win vs. Bengals…QB MATT SCHAUB will make 1st career postseason start. Schaub (4,008) reached 4,000 passing yards for 3rd time in career (4,770 in 2009; 4,370 in 2010). In 2 career regular season starts vs. Bengals, Schaub is 2-0 & has completed 52 of 68 passes (76.5 pct.) for 672 yards with 7 TDs vs. 1 INT & 135.2 passer rating. At home in '12, Schaub had 13 TDs vs. 4 INTs & 101.7 passer rating…RB ARIAN FOSTER has rushed for 100+ yards in each of his 2 career postseason games (153, 132). Against Bengals in WC last season, Foster rushed for 153 yards on 24 att. (6.4 avg.) with 2 TDs. Posted NFL-best 17 TDs (15 rush, 2 receiving) in '12. Since '10, Foster leads NFL in total TDs (47). Registered 7 games with 100+ rush yards in '12 & Texans are 7-0 in such games…WR ANDRE JOHNSON (1,598) joined HOFer JERRY RICE (4) & MARVIN HARRISON (3) as only players in NFL history to register at least 3 seasons with 1,500 receiving yards. Johnson is averaging 122.7 receiving yards per game in past 3 vs. Cin. (incl. playoffs). Posted 5 receptions for 90 yards (18 avg.) with TD in playoff game vs. Cin. Has totaled 13 catches for 201 yards (15.5 avg.) with TD in 2 career postseason games. WR KEVIN WALTER spent 3 seasons with Bengals (2003-05)…TE OWEN DANIELS had career-best 6 TD receptions in '12…DE J.J. WATT had NFL-best 20.5 sacks in 2012, tied for 6th-most since sacks became official stat in '82. Posted 16 passes defensed in '12, most among NFL DL. Has 3.5 sacks in 2 career postseason games. Watt had 29-yard INT-return TD vs. Cin. in WC game last season. LB BROOKS REED has 3.5 sacks & FF in 2 career playoff games. LB WHITNEY MERCILUS tied for 1st among AFC rookies with 6 sacks…DE ANTONIO SMITH has 3 sacks, 1 FF & 1 FR in 6 career postseason games…CB JOHNATHAN JOSEPH was selected in 1st round (No. 24) by Bengals in '06 NFL Draft & spent 5 seasons in Cin…S DANIEAL MANNING & CB Joseph each posted INTs in WC game vs. Cin. last year. S GLOVER QUIN posted team-high 84 tackles…Club had AFC-best & franchise-record 8 players selected to 2013 Pro Bowl (T DUANE BROWN, RB Foster, WR Johnson, CB Joseph, C CHRIS MYERS, QB Schaub, G WADE SMITH, DE Watt).

SUNDAY, JANUARY 6, 2013

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS–AFC SOUTH (11-5) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS–AFC NORTH (10-6)

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TEAMS MEET for 3rd time in postseason. Colts have won both meetings in playoffs.

COLTS:Head coach CHUCK PAGANO spent 4 seasons as Ravens asst. coach (2008-11)…Club has reached postseason in 10 of past 11 seasons…Colts have won 9 of past 11 games…2nd team in NFL history to win 11 or more games following season with 2 or fewer victories…QB ANDREW LUCK is 1st QB selected No. 1 overall to start postseason game as rookie. Luck (4,374) passed for most yards by rookie QB in NFL history. Registered 7 game-winning drives in 4th quarter or OT, tied for most in single season by any QB since 1970. Luck's 11 wins are most by rookie QB who was drafted No. 1 overall in SB era (since 1966). In past 3 games, Luck has 5 TDs vs. 0 INTs & 88.3 passer rating…RB VICK BALLARD ranked 2nd among AFC rookies with 814 rush yards. Posted 2nd rush TD of season last week…WR REGGIE WAYNE ranks 5th in NFL history with 83 postseason receptions. Wayne's 1,128 postseason receiving yards are 7th-most in NFL history. Reached 100 rec. for 4th time in career, tied for 2nd-most such seasons in NFL history. In 10 career games vs. Ravens (incl. 2 career postseason), Wayne has 53 receptions for 597 yards with 3 TD receptions. WR T.Y. HILTONtotaled 861 receiving yards, 2nd-most among NFL rookies. Led NFL rookies in 100-yard receiving games (5) & TD catches (7). Had career-long 70-yard TD reception last week. WR DONNIE AVERY had career-best in receptions (60) & receiving yards (781) in '12…Rookie TE COBY FLEENER posted 2nd TD reception of season last week…LB ROBERT MATHIS has 8 sacks in 12 games in '12. Mathis has recorded 5 sacks in 8 career games vs. Bal. (incl. postseason). Has 3.5 career postseason sacks. LB DWIGHT FREENEY has 9 career postseason sacks. Posted 2 sacks in last regular-season game vs. Bal. LB JERRELL FREEMAN led team with 145 tackles…DE CORY REDDING spent 2 seasons with Ravens (2010-11)…CB DARIUS BUTLER had career-high 4 INTs in '12, incl. 2 INT-return TDs. CB VONTAE DAVIS tied career-best with 2 INTs last week. Has 3 INTs in past 2 games…S ANTOINE BETHEA has 4 career postseason INTs…KR DEJI KARIM had 101-yard KR-TD last week, longest since COTTON SPEYRER's 101-yard return in 1973.…Club had 2 players selected to 2013 Pro Bowl (LB Mathis, WR Wayne).

RAVENS:Have reached playoffs for 5th consecutive season. Captured AFC North title for 2nd straight year…Ravens are 2-2 at home in postseason…QB JOE FLACCO is 1st QB to start postseason game in each of his 1st 5 seasons in Super Bowl era. Has 5-4 postseason record, incl. 2 AFC Championship appearances. Flacco is 34-7 (.829) at home (incl. playoffs). Had career-best 3,817 passing yards in '12, 2nd-most in season by Raven. Incl. postseason, Bal. is 12-2 (.857) when Flacco passes for 300+ yards. In last regular-season meeting vs. Colts (12/11/11), Flacco completed 23 of 31 passes (74.2 pct.) for 227 yards with 2 TDs vs. 1 INT & 102.5 passer rating…RB RAY RICE(1,621) reached 1,600 scrimmage yards for 4th season in row. Led AFC RBs with 61 catches in 2012. Rice totaled 127 scrimmage yards in only postseason meeting vs. Colts (67 rush, 60 receiving). Rice rushed for 103 yards with TD in last regular-season meeting vs. Ind. Rookie RB BERNARD PIERCE is averaging 106 rush yards per game in past 2 (212)…WR TORREY SMITH averages 22.8 yards per catch in 2 career postseason games (4 receptions, 91 yards). Smith had career-best in receiving yards (855) & TDs (8) in '12. For career in postseason, WR ANQUAN BOLDIN has 30 receptions for 426 yards (14.2 avg.) with 3 TDs…TE DENNIS PITTA (7) tied TODD HEAP (7 in '05) for most TD receptions by TE in franchise history this season…LB RAY LEWIS has played in 17 career postseason games (10-7). S ED REED has 8 career postseason INTs, tied for 4th-most in NFL history. Has 3 career postseason INTs vs. Colts. S BERNARD POLLARD had team-high 98 tackles in '12…LB TERRELL SUGGS has 10 career postseason sacks, tied for 7th-most all-time. Posted 3 sacks in last regular season meeting against Colts…DT HALOTI NGATA registered at least 5 sacks for 3rd season in row…CB JIMMY SMITH has INT & FR in 2 career playoff games…KR-WR JACOBY JONES ranked 1st in NFL with 30.7 KR avg. in '12. Tied league-high with 3 KR-TDs (2 KR, 1 PR) this season. Jones had 79-yard PR TD against Colts on 9/11/11 (w/ Texans)…Club had 6 players selected to 2013 Pro Bowl (KR Jones, FB VONTA LEACH, DT Ngata, S Reed, RB Rice, G MARSHAL YANDA).

MINNESOTA AT GREEN BAY SATURDAY,

SEATTLE AT WASHINGTON SUNDAY,

IN NFC WILD CARD PLAYOFFS

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 2013

MINNESOTA VIKINGS–NFC NORTH (10-6) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS–NFC NORTH (11-5)

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TEAMS MEET for 2nd time in postseason (2004 WC: Min. 31-17). Clubs split season series; met in Week 13 (GB 23-14) and 17 (Min. 37-34). GB leads all-time series, including playoffs, 54-49-1. 

VIKINGS: Are participating in playoffs for 27th time in franchise history. Won final 4 games of regular season. Had 4 players selected to Pro Bowl: DE JARED ALLEN (5th), FB JEROME FELTON (1st), RB ADRIAN PETERSON (5th) & rookieK BLAIR WALSH(1st)…QB CHRISTIAN PONDER led team to 10 wins & passed for career-high 2,935 yards & 18 TDs. Had 4 games with 100+ rating. Has 0 INTs in past 3 games…RB Peterson rushed for 2,097 yards, 2nd most in season in NFL history & 9 yards shy of breaking HOFer ERIC DICKERSON's record (2,105 in 1984). Had 7 games with 150+ rush yards, tied with HOFer EARL CAMPBELL (1980) for most in season. Has rushed for 1,598 yards (159.8 per game) & 10 TDs in past 10. In 2 meetings in 2012 vs. GB, rushed for 409 yards (204.5 per game) & scored 3 TDs (2 rush, 1 rec.). Aims for 5th in row vs. GB with rush TD. Has 10 TDs (9 rush, 1 rec.) in past 10 meetings. Since entering NFL in 2007, leads league with 8,849 rush yards & 76 rush TDs. Has 5 rush TDs in 3 career postseason games. In last playoff game (NFC Champ, 1/24/10 vs. NO), rushed for 122 yards & 3 TDs…TE KYLE RUDOLPH led team with career-high 9 TD catches, 2nd most in franchise history by TE (VISANTHE SHIANCOE, 11 in 2009). Rudolph tied for 2nd in NFL among TEs with 9 rec. TDs.  Also set career-highs in rec. (53) & yards (493). WR MICHAEL JENKINS had TD catch in Week 17 meeting. Ranked 3rd on team with 449 rec. yards & tied for 3rd with 40 receptions. Rookie WR JARIUS WRIGHT had 3 catches for career-best 90 yards (30.0 avg.) in Week 17 vs. GB, incl. career-long 65-yard catch & rec. TD…DE Allen led team with 12 sacks, his 6th consecutive 10+ sack season. Since entering NFL in 2004, has NFL-best 117 sacks. Has 15.5 sacks in past 9 vs. GB, incl. 5 games in row vs. Packers with sack. Has 3 sacks & 2 FFs in past 3 postseason games. DE EVERSON GRIFFEN had career-high 3 sacks in Week 17 meeting. Had career-best 8 sacks in 2012; entered season with 4 total sacks in career. Is 4th Viking in franchise history with 8+ sacks & INT-TD in season. LB CHAD GREENWAY led team with 148 tackles. CB ANTOINE WINFIELD led club with 12 PD & was 2nd on team with 100 tackles. Rookie S HARRISON SMITH tied for 3rd in NFL with 2 INT-TDs…K Walsh set NFL single-season record with 10 50+ yard FGs. Made 35 of 38 FGs (92.1 pct.) & all 10 50+ yard att. Scored 141 points, most by rookie in team history.

PACKERS: Have won 13 NFL championships, most all-time. Team's .630 postseason winning pct. (29-17) is best in NFL history. Club has 29 playoff wins, 3rd most in NFL annals. Team makes 28th playoff appearance, 3rd most in NFL history. Won division for 20th time in team history. Packers had 3 players selected to Pro Bowl: LB CLAY MATTHEWS (4th), QB AARON RODGERS (3rd) & C JEFF SATURDAY (6th)…QB Rodgers led NFL (108.0) in passer rating for 2nd season in row. Has 100+ rating in 4 consecutive seasons & joined HOFer STEVE YOUNG (1991-94) as only QBs to accomplish feat. Has 105.5 postseason rating, highest in NFL history. His 1.82 INT pct. (4 INTs, 220 att.) is 3rd lowest in NFL postseason annals. In 10 career starts vs. Min., Rodgers has 24 TDs, 4 INTs & 116.4 rating. In career, incl. playoffs, Packers are 29-2 (.935) when Rodgers starts & has 115+ rating…RB DU JUAN HARRIS rushed for career-high 70 yards in Week 17 vs. Min. RB RYAN GRANT holds franchise single-game playoff records with 201 rush yards & 3 rush TDs (Div., 1/12/08 vs. Sea.)…WR-PR-KR RANDALL COBB is 1st player in NFL history with 900+ KR (964) & 900+ rec. (954) yards in same season. Led team with career-high 80 catches & 954 yards. WR JAMES JONES led NFL with career-high 14 rec. TDs, tied for 4th most in season in team history. Had 5 TDs in final 3 games of season. Aims for 3rd in row vs. Min. with TD catch. WR GREG JENNINGS has 9 TDs in past 7 vs. Min., incl. 8 catches for 120 yards & 2 TDs in Week 17. Has 5 rec. TDs in postseason career, tied for 2nd most in team history. WR JORDY NELSON has 3 TDs in past 3 meetings. Since 2011, Nelson leads NFL WRs with 22 rec. TDs. Jones is tied for 2nd among WRs with 21 TDs during that span. TE JERMICHAEL FINLEY had 61 catches, most in season by TE in team history. In 2 career playoff games, has 10 catches for 196 yards (98 per game)…LB Matthews had team-best 13 sacks & has 10+ sacks in 3 of 4 career seasons. Has 5 sacks in past 4 vs. Min. & aims for 5th in row vs. Vikings with sack. In 6 career postseason games, has 4.5 sacks, 2 FFs & 2 FRs. CB CASEY HAYWARD led NFL rookies with 6 INTs, tied for 5th most by rookie in team history. Had team-high 21 PD. S MORGAN BURNETTled team with 122 tackles. LB A.J. HAWK ranked 2nd (120). CB TRAMON WILLIAMS has 15 INTs, tied for 2nd most in NFL since 2010 (incl. playoffs). Since joining GB in 2006, CB CHARLES WOODSONhas 38 INTs (3rd in NFL) & 9 INT-TDs (1st in NFL).

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 6, 2013

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS–NFC WEST (11-5) AT WASHINGTON REDSKINS–NFC EAST (10-6)

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TEAMS MEET for 3rd time in postseason (2005 Div: Sea. 20-10; 2007 WC: Sea. 35-14). Sea. has won both playoff meetings & Was. leads all-time series, including playoffs, 11-6. 

SEAHAWKS:Have won past 3 WC games. Have won 1st playoff game in each of past 4 postseason appearances. Seahawks are 2-0 in postseason vs. Was. Finished regular season winning 5 in row & 7 of past 8. During 5-game winning streak to close out season, outscored opp. 193-60. Seahawks had 5 players selected to Pro Bowl: RB MARSHAWN LYNCH (2nd), T RUSSELL OKUNG (1st), S EARL THOMAS (2nd), C MAX UNGER (1st) & KR LEON WASHINGTON (2nd)…Rookie QB RUSSELL WILSON threw 26 TD passes, tied for most by rookie in NFL history (PEYTON MANNING, 1998). Also rushed for 4 TDs. Completed 252 of 393 passes (64.1 pct.) for 3,118 yards with 26 TDs vs. 10 INTs for 100.0 passer rating. Wilson & Was. QB ROBERT GRIFFIN III are only rookie QBs in NFL history with 100+ rating in season. Wilson had 115.2 rating in Dec., best mark in NFL. In final 3 games of reg. season, had 6 pass TDs, 1 INT, 126.8 rating & 4 rush TDs…RB Lynch was selected to 2nd career Pro Bowl & 1st as Seahawk. Ranked 3rd in NFL with career-high 1,590 rush yards. Has 100+ rush yards in 8 of past 10. In past 10 games, has 1,041 rush yards (104.1 per game) & 10 TDs (9 rush, 1 rec.). In last year's WC game (1/8/11 vs. NO), rushed for 131 yards & 67-yard TD. Since Nov. 2011, leads NFL with 2,531 rush yards (incl. playoffs). Rushed for 111 yards & had 20-yard rec. TD in only career game vs. Was. (11/27/11)…WR SIDNEY RICE led team with 50 catches & 748 yards. Tied for club lead with 7 rec. TDs. Has 4 rec. TDs in past 2 postseason games & aims for 3rd playoff game in row with TD. Tied NFL postseason record with 3 rec. TDs in 1/17/10 Div. (with Min.). WR GOLDEN TATE had TD in only meeting (11/27/11). Tied for team lead with career-high 7 rec. TDs. Has 5 total TDs (4 rec., 1 pass) in past 8 games…Seahawks led NFL in fewest points allowed (245), points per game allowed (15.3) & TDs allowed (25). Defense ranked in top 5 in NFC in all 3 categories: 2nd overall (306.2), 3rd passing (203.1) & 5th rushing (103.1). Team's red zone defense was 2nd in NFC with 44.7% TD pct. allowed (17 TDs, 38 poss.)…DE CHRIS CLEMONS led team with 11.5 sacks, his 3rd consecutive season with 11+ sacks. CB RICHARD SHERMAN led team with 24 PD & 8 INTs, tied for 2nd most in NFL. Scored 2 TDs (blocked FG return & INT-TD). Rookie LB BOBBY WAGNER led team with 139 tackles. DE BRUCE IRVIN led NFL rookies with 8 sacks.

REDSKINS: Have won 7 in row, longest current winning streak in NFC. Are 5th team in NFL history to make playoffs after 3-6 start. Won NFC East for 1st time since 1999. In postseason, team is 23-17 (.575), 3rd best mark among NFC clubs (min. 15 games). Redskins had 3 players selected to Pro Bowl, all for 1st time: ST LORENZO ALEXANDER, rookie QB ROBERT GRIFFIN III and T TRENT WILLIAMS…QB Griffin set NFL rookie record with 102.4 passer rating, completing 258 of 393 (65.6 pct.) for 3,200 yards with 20 TDs vs. 5 INTs. Had 100+ rating in 8 games, incl. tying single-game NFL record 158.3 – highest attainable mark – in Week 11 vs. Phi. Only rookie to accomplish feat. Rushed for 815 yards, most by rookie QB in NFL history. Is only QB in NFL history with 4+ TD passes of 60+ yards & rush TD of 60+ yards in season…Redskins led NFL in rush offense (169.3 yards per game). RB ALFRED MORRIS rushed for team-record 1,613 yards, 3rd most by rookie in NFL history. Rushed for 75+ yards in 14 of 16 games, incl. 7 100-yard games. In past 6 games, has rushed for 744 yards (124 per game) & 8 TDs. Has 7 rush TDs in past 4 & aims for 5th in row with TD. In Week 17, rushed for 200 yards & 3 TDs as Was. won NFC East with win over Dal. Morris led NFC with 13 rush TDs & ranked 2nd overall in NFL. In past 3 at home, has rushed for 453 yards (151 per game) & 4 TDs…WR SANTANA MOSS led team with 8 rec. TDs, his most in season since 2005 (9). In 2 career playoff games vs. Sea., Moss has 13 catches for 171 yards (85.5 per game) & 2 TDs. Has scored 5 career postseason TDs (4 rec., 1 PR). WR PIERRE GARCON aims for 4th playoff game in row with TD catch. In past 3 postseason games, has 21 catches for 329 yards (109.7 per game) & 3 TDs. Had 4 TDs in 2012 & avg. 41.5 yards per TD. WR JOSH MORGAN led team with 48 catches. Had 510 yards, his 3rd 500+ yard season in past 4 years…Redskins ranked 3rd in NFC in rush defense (95.8 yards per game). Team was 2nd in NFC & 3rd in NFL with +17 turnover differential. LB LONDON FLETCHER led team with 139 tackles & career-high 5 INTs. Has 4 INTs in past 6. Had 2 sacks in Week 17. CB DE ANGELO HALL has 2 INTs in career vs. Sea., incl. INT-TD. Hall & LB ROB JACKSON tied for 2nd on club with 4 INTs. Jackson has INT in 2 of past 3. LB RYAN KERRIGAN led club with 8.5 sacks. Since entering NFL in 2011, is only player in NFL with 10+ sacks (16) & 2+ INT-TDs (2).