Sports News Southwest

Yuma, Arizona - A winning combination:  The primetime meeting this Saturday night between the New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars will mark the third highest combined regular-season team winning percentage in divisional-round history (.844), and the highest since the 16-game schedule began in 1978.

 

The five highest combined regular-season winning percentages in a divisional-round playoff game:

 

YEAR	DIVISIONAL MATCHUP	COMBINED RECORDS	WIN PCT.
1972	Dolphins (14-0) vs. Browns (10-4)	24-4	.857
1976	Raiders (13-1) vs. Patriots (11-3)	24-4	.857
2007	Patriots (16-0) vs. Jaguars (11-5)	27-5	.844
1974	Raiders (12-2) vs. Dolphins (11-3)	23-5	.821
1975	Rams (12-2) vs. Cardinals (11-3)	23-5	.821

PLANTING THE SEEDS:  Since the NFL moved to a 12-team playoff format in 1990, No.1 seeds in the NFC are unbeaten in divisional-round matchups.  The Dallas Cowboys seek to continue that dominance when they host the New York Giants on Sunday. 

 

The Giants are 8-1 on the road this season – the only road team in Divisional Playoff history with that mark – including their 24-14 Wild Card win in Tampa Bay.  New York’s lone road loss this season was to Dallas on Kickoff Weekend.

 

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

 

YEAR	NFC NO. 1 SEED	DIVISIONAL ROUND RESULT
1990	San Francisco	Defeated Washington 28-10
1991	Washington	Defeated Atlanta 24-7
1992	San Francisco	Defeated Washington 20-13
1993	Dallas	Defeated Green Bay 24-17
1994	San Francisco	Defeated Chicago 44-15
1995	Dallas	Defeated Philadelphia 30-11
1996	Green Bay	Defeated San Francisco 35-14
1997	San Francisco	Defeated Minnesota 38-22
1998	Minnesota	Defeated Arizona 41-21
1999	St. Louis	Defeated Washington 49-37
2000	New York Giants	Defeated Philadelphia 20-10
2001	St. Louis	Defeated Green Bay 45-17
2002	Philadelphia	Defeated Atlanta 20-6
2003	Philadelphia	Defeated Green Bay 20-17 (OT)
2004	Philadelphia	Defeated Minnesota 27-14
2005	Seattle	Defeated Washington 20-10
2006	Chicago	Defeated Seattle 27-24 (OT)
2007	Dallas	vs. New York Giants

 

HOW SWEEP IT IS:  The Cowboys will join exclusive company should they beat the Giants on Sunday, becoming only the 12th team since 1970 to defeat an opponent three times in a season.  This is the 18th time that two teams have met in the playoffs after one team swept the other in the regular season.

 

 

PLAYOFF PASSING PROWESS:  Coming off several record-setting performances in 2007, Green Bay quarterback BRETT FAVRE seeks to extend a playoff record.  

 

Favre can add to his NFL record of 16 consecutive playoff games with a passing touchdown this Saturday against Seattle.  New England quarterback TOM BRADY can move into a tie in the category with DAN MARINO (13) with a TD pass Saturday.

 

The most consecutive playoff games with a touchdown pass:

 

PLAYER	YEAR	GAMES
Brett Favre	1995-present	16
Dan Marino	1983-95	13
Tom Brady	2002-present	12
Ken Stabler	1973-78	10
Joe Montana	1989-94	10

 

Favre also can move into second place all-time in postseason passing yards and attempts.  With 98 yards, Favre will become only the second player to reach 5,000 playoff passing yards (JOE MONTANA, 5,772), and with 25 attempts, he will move past DAN MARINO (687) in the category. 

 

The career leaders in postseason passing yards and attempts:

 

PLAYER	TEAM(S)	PASSING YARDS		PLAYER	TEAM(S)	ATTEMPTS
Joe Montana	SF-KC	5,772 (23 games)		Joe Montana	SF-KC	734 (23 games)
John Elway	Denver	4,964 (22 games)		Dan Marino	Miami	687 (18 games)
Brett Favre	Green Bay	4,902 (20 games)		Brett Favre	Green Bay	663 (20 games)

 

MISTAKE-FREE BALL:  When the Jaguars take on the Patriots Saturday night, it will mark the first time in playoff history that opposing quarterbacks have interception percentages of less than 1.5.

 

Jaguars quarterback DAVID GARRARD led the NFL this season in interception percentage with only three pickoffs in 325 attempts (0.92 interception percentage), while the Patriots’ TOM BRADY was third in the category with eight interceptions in 578 attempts (1.38 interception percentage).  Brady avoids turnovers in the postseason as well, compiling the second-best interception percentage in playoff history.

 

The lowest postseason interception percentages (min. 150 attempts): 

 

PLAYER	TEAM	ATTEMPTS-INTERCEPTIONS	INTERCEPTION PCT.
Bart Starr	Green Bay	213-3	1.41
Tom Brady	New England	486-9	1.85
Phil Simms	N.Y. Giants	279-6	2.15

 

In addition, the meeting between Brady and Garrard marks only the seventh time since the passer rating formula was implemented in 1973 that two quarterbacks with 100.0 ratings have opposed each other in the playoffs.  Last weekend’s game pitting Garrard against Pittsburgh’s BEN ROETHLISBERGER was the sixth such occasion.

 

The playoff meetings of quarterbacks with 100.0 passer ratings since 1973:

 

DATE	QUARTERBACKS
January 6, 1985	Joe Montana, S.F. (102.9) vs. Steve Fuller, Chi. (103.3)
January 20, 1985	Joe Montana, S.F. (102.9) vs. Dan Marino, Mia. (108.9)
January 9, 1999	Chris Chandler, Atl. (100.9) vs. Steve Young, S.F. (101.1)
January 17, 1999	Randall Cunningham, Minn. (106.0) vs. Chris Chandler, Atl. (100.9)
January 16, 2005	Donovan McNabb, Phila. (104.7) vs. Daunte Culpepper, Minn.  (110.9)
January 5, 2008	Ben Roethlisberger, Pitts. (104.1) vs. David Garrard, Jax. (102.2)
January 12, 2008	Tom Brady, N.E. (117.2) vs. David Garrard, Jax. (102.2)

 

MANNING MILESTONE:  When the Indianapolis Colts host the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, Colts quarterback PEYTON MANNING can become only the eighth quarterback in playoff history to reach the 3,500 passing-yard plateau.

 

With four yards, Manning (3,496) will do so, and become the quarterback to reach the mark in the second fewest games in playoff history (14).

 

The quarterbacks who have passed for 3,500 postseason yards and the number of games it took them to reach the level:

 

PLAYER	GAMES TO 3,500
Dan Marino	13
Troy Aikman	15
John Elway	15
Brett Favre	15
Joe Montana	15
Jim Kelly	16
Terry Bradshaw	18
Peyton Manning	13*

                                                             * Has 3,496 yards in 13 games

NO PLACE LIKE HOME:  Since TOM BRADY took over as the starting quarterback in New England, the Patriots are unbeaten at home in the playoffs, going 6-0. 

 

That mark places Brady at the top of the list of quarterback winning percentages in home playoff games in the Super Bowl era (since 1966).

 

The best records in home playoff games for Super Bowl-era quarterbacks (minimum five starts):

 

PLAYER	RECORD		WINNING PCT.
Tom Brady	6-0		1.000
Jim Kelly	8-1		.889
Troy Aikman	7-1		.875
Joe Montana	10-2		.833
Ken Stabler	5-1		.833
Joe Theismann	5-1		.833