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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 19-4 (.826) in the Divisional Playoffs. In the AFC, the No. 1 seed has compiled a 13-10 (.565) record.
Both No. 1 seeds are in action this weekend when the top-seeded Seattle Seahawks host the New Orleans Saints in the NFC and the No. 1-seed Denver Broncos face the San Diego Chargers 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
N.Y. 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
N.Y. Giants
Lost to Philadelphia 23-11
2009
Indianapolis
Defeated Baltimore 20-3
New Orleans
Defeated Arizona 45-14
2010
New England
Lost to N.Y. Jets 28-21
Atlanta
Lost to Green Bay 48-21
2011
New England
Defeated Denver 45-10
Green Bay
Lost to N.Y. Giants 37-20
2012
Denver
Lost to Baltimore 38-35 (2OT)
Atlanta
Defeated Seattle 30-28
2013
Denver
???
Seattle
???
-- NFL --
FIRST-ROUND BYES: The top seeds – SEATTLE(13-3, NFC No. 1 seed),DENVER(13-3, AFC No. 1 seed), CAROLINA (12-4, NFC No. 2 seed) and NEW ENGLAND(12-4, AFC 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 (nine) has the most, while Denver (six) has the fourth-most since 1990.
The teams with the most first-round byes since 1990:
TEAM
NUMBER OF FIRST-ROUND BYES SINCE 1990
New England Patriots
*9
Pittsburgh Steelers
8
San Francisco 49ers
8
Denver Broncos
*6
Dallas Cowboys
5
*Includes 2013
-- NFL --
CHAMPIONSHIP GOAL:This Saturday, SAN FRANCISCO(13-4, NFC No. 5 seed) will travel to take on CAROLINA(12-4, NFC No. 2 seed) in a rematch of their Week 10 game when the Panthers defeated the 49ers 10-9 at Candlestick Park.
With a victory against Carolina, San Francisco would advance to its 15th NFC Championship Game, which would tie PITTSBURGH(15) for the most appearances in a Conference Championship Game since 1970.
NEW ENGLAND is tied for fifth on the all-time list with the Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams and can move into sole possession of fifth place with a win against Indianapolis on Saturday. This would be New England's third consecutive appearance in the AFC Championship Game.
The teams with the most appearances in a Conference Championship Game since 1970:
TEAM
MOST APPEARANCES IN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
Pittsburgh Steelers
15
*San Francisco 49ers
14
Dallas Cowboys
14
L.A./Oakland Raiders
11
L.A./St. Louis Rams
9
*New England Patriots*
9
*At Carolina Sunday
** Host Indianapolis Saturday
-- NFL --
PASSING GREATS: New England quarterback TOM BRADYhas thrown 42 career postseason touchdown passes, the third most in NFL postseason history. He trails BRETT FAVRE(44)*and Pro Football Hall of FamerJOE MONTANA* (45) for the most in NFL history.
With four TD passes against Indianapolis on Saturday, Brady would surpass Favre and Montana for the most postseason TD passes in NFL history.
Denver quarterback PEYTON MANNING (32) is tied for fourth on the all-time list with Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO and can surpass him with one TD pass against San Diego on Sunday.
The starting quarterbacks with the most postseason TD passes in NFL history:
QUARTERBACK
CAREER
MOST POSTSEASON TD PASSES
Joe Montana
1979-1994
45
Brett Favre
1991-2010
44
*Tom Brady
*2000-present *
42
*Peyton Manning
1998-present
32
Dan Marino
1983-1999
32
* * *Active
-- NFL --
ROCKET MANNING:Denver quarterback PEYTON MANNING ranks fourth in NFL postseason history with 5,679 passing yards.
With 177 yards on Sunday against San Diego, Manning can surpass Montana (5,772) and Favre (5,855) for the second-most passing yards in postseason history.
Brady holds the record for most postseason passing yards (5,949) and can extend his lead Saturday against Indianapolis.
The players with the most postseason passing yards in NFL history:
QUARTERBACK
CAREER
MOST POSTSEASON PASSING YARDS
*Tom Brady
2000-present
5,949
Brett Favre
1991-2010
5,855
Joe Montana
1979-1994
5,772
*Peyton Manning
1998-present
5,679
John Elway
1983-1998
4,946
*Active
-- NFL --
KAEP IT OFF: San Francisco quarterback COLIN KAEPERNICK has 362 career postseason rushing yards, the fifth-most rushing yards by a QB in postseason history. Kaepernick has averaged 90.5 yards-per-game in his four playoff games, the highest yards-per-game average by a QB in NFL history (minimum four games).
With 71 rushing yards Sunday at Carolina, Kaepernick can surpass DONOVAN MC NABB (422) and Pro Football Hall of Famer ROGER STAUBACH (432) for the third-most rushing yards by a QB in NFL postseason history.
The quarterbacks with the most postseason rushing yards in NFL history:
PLAYER
POSTSEASON GAMES
RUSHING YARDS
YARDS PER GAME
Steve Young
22
594
27.0
John Elway
22
461
21.0
Roger Staubach
20
432
21.6
Donovan McNabb
16
422
26.4
*Colin Kaepernick
4
362
90.5
*Active
-- NFL --
HEAD OF THE CLASS: New England Patriots head coach BILL BELICHICK has compiled an 18-8 (.692) record in his postseason career. Belichick has the third-most playoff wins in NFL history, trailing only Pro Football Hall of Famers TOM LANDRY(20) and DON SHULA(19).
With a win against Indianapolis on Saturday, Belichick would tie Shula (19) for second place on the all-time wins list.
The head coaches with the most playoff wins in NFL history:
HEAD COACH
TEAM(S)
MOST PLAYOFF WINS
Tom Landry
Dallas Cowboys
20
Don Shula
Baltimore Colts, Miami Dolphins
19
Bill Belichick
Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots
*18
Joe Gibbs
Washington Redskins
17
Chuck Noll
Pittsburgh Steelers
16
*Active
