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New, York, New York - Nineteen points.

 

Add up the point differential in the 2008 regular-season meetings of the teams playing in this weekend’s four NFL Divisional Playoffs, and you get the grand total of - 19 points.  And that’s not in four games, but five, because one of this week’s matchups is a division rematch.

 

Think the games in “Rematch Weekend” this Saturday and Sunday could be close?  Could be!

 

“We’re familiar with them,” says San Diego Chargers head coach NORV TURNER, “and they’re familiar with us.”  Norv is speaking about the Chargers’ foe this Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he could be describing the opponents in all four games this weekend. 

 

“We know them well, which is a good thing,” says New York Giants defensive end JUSTIN TUCK (left) of the NFC East-rival Philadelphia Eagles, who he will be facing for a third time this season.  “But they know us well, too.” 

 

Tuck summarizes the whole “you-look-familiar” weekend, which has some great storylines:

 

The Divisional Playoffs Weekend:

 

 

STORYLINE:  Turnover battle! 

 

The takeaways could be flying in this one!  Both teams excel in the category, finishing second (Tennessee, plus-14) and third (Baltimore, plus-13) this season in NFL turnover differential.

 

They are also quite similar on defense.  Linemen who call for double-teams…quick linebackers who can rush or drop back into coverage…and ball-hawking secondaries. 

 

The Titans’ KERRY COLLINS (right) -- who can become the first QB in history to win at least one playoff game with three different clubs (Carolina and the New York Giants) -- was intercepted only seven times this season.  Problem is, he goes against a defense led by S ED REED that topped the league in pickoffs with 26.  The Ravens added four more in the Wild Card, with Reed snatching two (one for a TD) to give him two apiece in five of his last seven games.       

 

But it certainly won’t be all defense.  Each team packs a wallop of a running game.  Rookie CHRIS JOHNSON teams up with LEN DALE WHITE (15 rushing TDs) for Tennessee and Baltimore brings it with the FB who could be a RB, 260-pound All-Star LE’ RON MC CLAIN (75 yards in the Wild Card), rookie RAY RICE and veteran WILLIS MC GAHEE.

 

 

STORYLINE:  A clash of philosophies.

And the more conservative one won last time – barely.

 

Give the Cardinals a choice and they’d rather throw the ball.  “We’ve been successful throwing the football all over the field this year,” says Arizona QB KURT WARNER, who led the league’s No. 2 passing game.

 

The 8-0-at-home Panthers?  They like running the ball.  And they’ve been successful doing that, ranking No. 3 in the league.  “I love that we’re able to run the football,” says Carolina QB JAKE DELHOMME (left), who is 5-2 in the playoffs.

 

How will it all play out?  Well, the last time the teams met (October 26), Carolina RB DE ANGELO WILLIAMS indeed ran for 108 yards, but Delhomme rallied the Panthers from a 17-3 deficit while throwing for 248 yards and two TDs with the winner coming on a 65-yarder to WR STEVE SMITH.  The Panthers did it through the air. 

 

On Saturday, who knows?  One thing to look for, though.  The “pass-first” Cards also have been utilizing their ground game to good effect recently in the person of veteran EDGERRIN JAMES (173 yards in the last two games).   

 

 

STORYLINE:  Where else -- the NFC East!

It seems fitting that the Giants would have to begin their ’08 playoff journey against one of the toughest divisions in the league – their own.

 

The champs lost only two division games this year – one to the Eagles (20-14 on December 7 at Giants Stadium).  And it was a game that somewhat matched Philadelphia’s Wild Card win last Sunday with an approach the Giants will key for.

 

On Sunday, Eagles RB BRIAN WESTBROOK (right) tied for the second-longest scoring play of the weekend when he caught an outlet pass and took it 71 yards for the icing touchdown against Minnesota.  In the December 7 game, Westbrook had a 30-yard TD run and a 40-yard score off a swing pass similar to Sunday’s.  “He’s an elite player,” says Giants LB ANTONIO PIERCE.  “You have to know where he is.” 

 

Of course, the Giants are far from lacking in the run game that may be needed on a cold January Sunday.  They led the league in rushing with BRANDON JACOBS and DERRICK WARD each reaching 1,000 yards – only the fourth RB duo in history to do so.  If Jacobs (knee) is limited, Ward can more than take up the slack (356 yards in his last three games).

 

     SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (9-8) at PITTSBURGH STEELERS (12-4) (Sunday, CBS, 4:45 PM ET)      

 

STORYLINE:  Out of the ice, into the cold.

 

And the Chargers hope he stays hot.  “He” is RB DARREN SPROLES (left), who last week for an injured LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON produced the third-most combined yards ever in a playoff game -- 328 -- including the winning 22-yard TD romp in overtime.  “We’ll pack him in ice in the training room,” kidded Chargers coach NORV TURNER of the exhausted Sproles, who had 34 touches in the Wild Card on rushes, receptions, and punt/kickoff returns.  “We’ll let him out Friday.”        

 

Just in time for more cold!  And just in time for the defense that allowed the fewest points in the league (223) and ranked No. 1 in overall and pass defense.  Pittsburgh did not allow a 100-yard rusher or 300-yard passer this season, let only one team (Tennessee) gain 300 yards and limited eight of its opponents to 10 or fewer points.   

 

“I think definitely through 17 games that’s the toughest defense we faced,” says San Diego’s PHILIP RIVERS, the lone QB to post a 100.0 passer rating this season (105.5), but who had his lowest of the year (44.4) against Pittsburgh when the Chargers lost to them 11-10 on November 16.

 

Rivers (No. 4 overall) will join the Steelers’ BEN ROETHLISBERGER (No. 11) and Giants’ ELI MANNING (No. 1) as the top three quarterback picks in the 2004 NFL Draft who will be active Sunday.  Between them, they have two Super Bowl titles, four Championship Game appearances, and a 12-6 (.667) playoff record.

 

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SIXTH SEEDS ADVANCE:  The triumphs last Sunday by sixth-seeded Baltimore and Philadelphia in the Wild Card round mark the second time in four years that both sixth seeds won in the first round.  In 2005, sixth seeds Pittsburgh and Washington won, with the Steelers going on to win Super Bowl XL.

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TEAMS MEET for 3rd time in postseason.  Incl. playoffs, all-time series is tied, 9-9.

 

RAVENS:  Club has won 10 of past 12…Team aims for 2nd consecutive playoff win at Ten…Ravens have 4-1 (.800) road record in postseason…In past 12 (incl. WC win at Mia.), Ravens are averaging 155.1 rush yards per game (1,861 total rush yards)…Rookie QB JOE FLACCO (1st round, No. 18) can become 1st rookie QB to win 2 playoff games in NFL history… In past 12 (incl. WC), Flacco has completed 176 of 307 passes (57.3 pct.) for 2,262 yards with 13 TDs vs. 5 INTs & 87.9 passer rating.  Club has 6-1 (.857) record in past 7 on road & Flacco has 9 TDs vs. 2 INTs & 96.5 passer rating…In 2 career games vs. Ten., RB WILLIS MC GAHEE averages 79.5 rush yards per game (44 att., 159 rush yards).  Last week, McGahee gained 62 rush yards in 1st career playoff appearance, incl. long of 48 yards…In past 4 (incl. WC), FB LE’ RON MC CLAIN is averaging 92.7 rush yards per game (371 total) & aims for 4th consecutive game with at least 1 rush TD.  McClain was selected to 1st career Pro Bowl…WR DERRICK MASON spent 8 seasons (1997-2004) with Ten. & ranks 5th in franchise history with 453 receptions.  WR MARK CLAYTON posted 7 receptions for 125 yards (17.9 avg.) with 1 TD in last meeting at Ten…TE TODD HEAP recorded career playoff-high in receptions (6) & rec. yards (80) in last meeting against Titans…Club led NFL with 26 INTs (2nd most in Ravens history) in ’08 regular season & has 8 INTs in past 3 games…Club aims for 10th consecutive game with INT in playoffs…In 3 career postseason games, S ED REED has 5 INTs.  Reed can become 2nd player in NFL history to record at least 1 INT in each of his 1st 4 postseason games (AENEAS WILLIAMS).  Reed tied career-high with 9 INTs in ’08 & has 4 in past 2 games.  In past 7 games (incl. WC), Reed has 10 INTs, 2 FRs & 3 TDs (2 INT-TDs; 1 FR-TD)…Bal. has not allowed RB to gain 100+ rush yards in 9 postseason games (tied for 3rd longest active streak)…LB RAY LEWIS registered 50-yard INT-TD return in last postseason game at Ten…CB SAMARI ROLLE posted 23 INTs in 7 seasons (1998-2004) with Ten…Club had 5 players selected to Pro Bowl (Lewis, McClain, Reed, special teamer BRENDON AYANBADEJO & DE TERRELL SUGGS).

 

TITANS:  Club will make 6th playoff appearance in past 10 years & earned 1st No. 1 seed since 2000…Titans posted 4-1 (.800) record against playoff teams in ’08 during regular season...Head coach JEFF FISHER has 5-5 (.500) postseason record.  Fisher joins Pro Football Hall of Famers TOM LANDRY & DON SHULA & former San Diego Chargers head coach MARTY SCHOTTENHEIMER as only coaches since 1975 to earn No. 1 seed in 15th year or later as head coach (NFL designated No. 1 seeds starting in 1975)...Club is 2-1 (.667) at home in postseason under Fisher…For career, QB KERRY COLLINS has 3-0 postseason record at home.  Collins is 13-6 (.684) as starter with Titans…Pro Bowl rookie RB CHRIS JOHNSON (1st round, No. 24) ranked 3rd in AFC with 1,228 rush yards.  RB LEN DALE WHITE tied for 3rd in NFL with career-high 15 rush TDs.  Club has 8-1 (.889) record when White has 90+ rush yards…WR JUSTIN GAGE averaged career-high 19.1 yards per catch in ’08 (34 receptions, 651 yards)…TE BO SCAIFE led team with career-high 58 receptions.  Scaife posted team-high 7 receptions for 72 yards (10.3 avg.) in last meeting against Ravens.  TE ALGE CRUMPLER recorded 11-yard game-winning TD in last game vs. Bal…Defense ranked 2nd in NFL by allowing 14.6 points per game…S MICHAEL GRIFFIN tied for 2nd in NFL with career-high 7 INTs…CB CORTLAND FINNEGAN posted career-high 7 INTs in ’08 & aims for 2nd consecutive playoff game with INT…In last playoff game against Ravens (w/Colts on 1/13/07), CB NICK HARPER posted 1st postseason INT…Incl. postseason, DE JEVON KEARSE has 9 career sacks against Ravens…Rookie DT JASON JONES (2nd round, Eastern Michigan) tied for 1st among rookies with 5 sacks…P CRAIG HENTRICH ranks 2nd in playoff history with 97 career postseason punts (RAY GUY, 111).

 

 

 

 

 

CHARGERS:  Club aims for 3rd consecutive playoff win against Steelers…Incl. postseason, club aims for 6th win in row…Chargers have won 2 of past 3 divisional playoff games…Head coach NORV TURNER is 4-2 (.667) in postseason as head coach…In past 5 consecutive wins (incl. WC playoff), QB PHILIP RIVERS has completed 100 of 157 passes (63.7 pct.) for 1,271 yards with 11 TDs vs. 2 INTs & 106.9 passer rating.  In only divisional round appearance (1/13/08 against Colts), Rivers completed 14 of 19 passes (73.7 pct.) for 264 yards with 3 TDs vs. 1 INT & 133.2 passer rating.  Team is 2-0 when Rivers has TD pass in postseason play…RB LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON has 4 rush TDs in 4 career games against Steelers.  Tomlinson has 7 rush TDs in past 6 games, incl. WC vs. Ind.  RB DARREN SPROLES’ 328 total yards last week (105 rush, 45 receiving, 72 PR, 106 KR) were 3rd-most in postseason history.  Sproles aims for 3rd consecutive game with 100+ rush yards.  In past 2 (incl. WC), Sproles has totaled 572 yards (220 rush, 62 receiving, 88 PR, 202 KR).  RB MICHAEL BENNETT averaged 6.0 yards per carry in Chargers’ debut last week (4 att., 24 yards)… Team is 9-0 when TE ANTONIO GATES has 2 or more TD receptions.  Gates had postseason-high 8 receptions last week.  Gates has 2 TD receptions in past 3 against Pit…In 4 career postseason games, WR CHRIS CHAMBERS averages 83.7 receiving yards per game (335 total).  In past 2 road playoff games, WR VINCENT JACKSON is averaging 93 receiving yards per game (13 rec., 186 yards) with 1 TD…CB ANTONIO CROMARTIE has 2 career postseason INTs in past 3…LB STEPHEN COOPER had 4 INTs in past 5 in ’08…LB SHAUN PHILLIPS aims for 4th consecutive game against Steelers with at least 0.5 sack…DE JACQUES CESAIRE recorded 2 sacks in last game vs. Pit...P MIKE SCIFRES had NFL postseason record with 6 punts inside 20-yard line last week & his 52.7 average was 3rd-highest in playoff history.

 

STEELERS:  Team has 28-19 (.596) postseason record & is 16-9 (.615) at home in playoffs...Steelers are 13-8 (.619) in divisional round playoff games, incl. 10-2 (.833) record at home…Team has won 4 consecutive regular-season games against Chargers…Club clinched AFC North title for 2nd consecutive season under head coach MIKE TOMLIN…QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER has 5-2 (.714) postseason record & has completed 118 of 189 passes (62.4 pct.) for 1,547 yards with 12 TDs vs. 11 INTs & 85.1 passer rating.  Incl. postseason, Roethlisberger has 29-10 (.743) career record at home.  Incl. playoffs, team is 29-2 (.935), when Roethlisberger has 100+ passer rating.  Roethlisberger has 2-1 (.667) record vs. SD…In last postseason game (Super Bowl XL), RB WILLIE PARKER totaled 93 rush yards (9.3 avg.), incl. 75-yard TD run (longest run from scrimmage in SB history).  Parker gained 115 yards (4.6 avg.) on 25 att. in last game against Chargers.  Club has 4-0 record with Parker in postseason…WR HINES WARD ranks 2nd among active players with 896 postseason receiving yards (REGGIE WAYNE, 963) & needs 104 yards to become only 8th player since 1970 to record 1,000 career postseason receiving yards.  Ward aims for 3rd consecutive 100-yard receiving game in playoffs (123, 135) & aims for 5th playoff game in row at home with 100+ receiving yards (104, 105, 109, 135).  Ward (1,043) posted 5th season with 1,000 receiving yards in ’08.  Ward registered season-high in receptions (11) & receiving yards (124) in last meeting against SD…In 5 playoff games, TE HEATH MILLER has 15 receptions for 192 yards (12.8 avg.) with 2 TDs…Defense ranked 1st in NFL allowing 13.9 points per game in ’08…Pro Bowl LB JAMES HARRISON set franchise record with 16 sacks.  Harrison has 2 INTs in past 3 against Chargers…LB LA MARR WOODLEY posted 2 sacks in only career postseason game (1/5/08)…Pro Bowl S TROY POLAMALU totaled career-high 7 INTs in ’08, incl. 1 INT vs. SD.