NFL AFC-NFC PLAYOFFS

DIVISIONAL MATCH UPS AND SCHEDULES

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 2016

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS–AFC WEST (12-5) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS–AFC EAST (12-4)

SERIES

	CHIEFS	PATRIOTS
LEADER	17-13-3
STREAKS		5 of past 7
COACHES VS. OPP.	Andy Reid: 2-4	Bill Belichick: 7-3
COACHES PLAYOFF RECORD	Andy Reid: 11-10	Bill Belichick: 22-9
VS. COMMON OPP.	KC: 4-1 (1-0 Buf; Den 1-1; Hou 1-0; 1-0 Pit) NE: 4-1 (2-0 Buf; Den 0-1; Hou 1-0; 1-0 Pit)
PLAYOFF RECORD	9-15	28-18
LAST WEEK	W 30-0 at Texans	Bye (Wk. 17: L 20-10 at Dolphins)
LAST GAME	9/29/14: Patriots 14 at Chiefs 41. Kansas City QB Alex Smith throws for 248 yards & 3 TDs with a 144.4 passer rating. Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles rushes for 92 yards & TD & adds 2 rec. TDs.
LAST GAME AT SITE	11/21/11: Patriots 34, Chiefs 3. New England QB Tom Brady throws for 234 yards & 2 TDs. Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski has 96 rec. yards & 2 TDs.
LAST PLAYOFF	—
REFEREE	Craig Wrolstad
BROADCAST	CBS (4:35 PM ET): Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts, Evan Washburn (field reporter). Westwood One: Dan Miller, Tony Boselli, Ross Tucker (field reporter). SIRIUS: 88 (WW1), 83 (KC), 82 (NE). XM: 88 (WW1), 226 (KC), 82 (NE).

 

STAT LEADERS

PASSING	A. Smith: 307-470-3486-20-7-95.4	Brady: 402-624-4770 (3L)-36 (1L)-7-102.2 (2C)
RUSHING	West: 160-634-4.0-4	Bolden: 63-207-3.3-0
RECEIVING	Maclin: 87-1088-12.5-8	Gronkowski (TE): 72-1176-16.3-11
OFFENSE	331.2	374.4 (2C)
TAKE/GIVE	+14 (1C)	+7 (3C)
DEFENSE	329.3	339.4
SACKS	Houston: 7.5	Cha. Jones: 12.5
INTs	Peters (R): 8 (T1L)	Ryan: 4
PR	Thomas: 7.8	Amendola: 12.0 (2L)
KR	Davis: 25.1 (3C)	K. Martin: 25.7
PUNTING	Colquitt: 44.4	Allen: 46.0
KICKING	Santos: 129 (2C) (39/41 PAT; 30/37 FG)	Gostkowski: 151 (1L) (52/52 PAT; 33/36 FG)

 

NOTES

TEAMS MEET for 1st time in postseason play.

 

CHIEFS: Last week, earned 1st playoff win since 1/16/94 vs. Houston Oilers in Divisional round. Have won 11 consecutive games (including postseason), longest streak in club history & longest active streak in NFL. 1st team in NFL history to win 10 consecutive games & have 5-game losing streak in same season…In 4 career playoff games, QB ALEX SMITH is 2-2 & has passed for 1,063 yards with 10 TDs vs. 1 INT for 107 rating. Aims for 5th playoff game in row with 97+ rating. Won only career start vs. NE (9/29/14) & completed 20 of 26 (76.9 pct.) for 248 yards with 3 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 144.4 rating. Since 2011, ranks 2nd in NFL in INT pct. (1.4 pct.). Rushed for 498 yards in 2015, 2nd-most among AFC QBs & most ever by Chiefs QB in season…In past 5 on road (including playoffs), RB CHARCANDRICK WEST is averaging 77.8 scrimmage yards per game (222 rush, 167 receiving, 389 total) & has 3 total TDs (2 rush, 1 receiving). RB SPENCER WARE has 6 rush TDs in past 8, including 67 rush yards & TD vs. Texans in WC Playoff…WR JEREMY MACLIN led team with career-high 87 catches (most ever by Chiefs WR) for 1,088 yards & 8 TDs. In 3 career postseason games, has 13 catches for 248 yards, including 76-yard TD. Has 6 TDs in past 8 (including playoffs). Rookie WR CHRIS CONLEY had 9-yard TD catch in playoff debut last week. TE TRAVIS KELCE had career-best 72 catches in 2015, joining TONY GONZALEZ as only Chiefs TEs with 70+ receptions in single season. Had career-best 128 receiving yards on 8 catches last week vs. Texans. Since 2014, ranks 3rd in AFC & 4th in NFL amongst TEs with 1,737 receiving yards…KC led AFC & ranked 2nd in NFL with 22 INTs. Chiefs had 4 INTs last week, most in playoff game since 12/28/91 vs. Raiders in Wild Card. Rookie CB MARCUS PETERS tied for 1st in NFL with 8 INTs (most among rookies) & 2 INT-TDs. Led NFL with club-record 280 INT-return yards (3rd-most ever by NFL rookie). Has 5 INTs in past 6, including 1 last week vs. Texans in Wild Card. In past 22 (including playoffs), LB JUSTIN HOUSTON has 22.5 sacks, 4 FF & 2 INTs. Since 2012, ranks 2nd in NFL with 50.5 sacks (J.J. WATT). LB TAMBA HALI posted 6.5 sacks in 2015 & has 86 career, eclipsing NEIL SMITH (85.5) for 2nd-most in franchise history. Club had 5 players selected to 2016 Pro Bowl (TE Kelce, LBs Hali & Houston, S ERIC BERRY, CB Peters).

 

PATRIOTS: Won AFC East for 7th consecutive season, tying 1973-79 Rams (7) for most consecutive division titles in NFL annals. 1st team in NFL history to win 12 division titles in 13 seasons. With win, Patriots will advance to 5th straight AFC Championship Game. Club is 17-4 (.810) at home in postseason, 2nd-best all-time (min. 10 games). Patriots are 11-6 (.647) in Divisional Playoffs…BILL BELICHICK (22) has most postseason wins of any head coach in NFL history. Belichick & QB TOM BRADY (21) have most postseason wins by head coach-QB duo…Brady’s 21 postseason wins are most of any QB in NFL history. Brady is all-time leader in career playoff passing yards (7,345), TDs (53), completions (683) & attempts (1,085). Brady (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XLIX) & HOFer JOE MONTANA are only players to win 3 SB MVP awards. Has 21-8 (.724) playoff record, 3rd-best win percentage of any starting QB in NFL history (min. 15 starts). Has 13 division titles, most ever by starting QB. Has 3-0 record at home vs. KC, passing for 720 yards with 6 TDs vs. 1 INT for 107.2 rating…RB STEVEN JACKSON has 11,438 career rushing yards, 3rd-most amongst active players. In past 5, RB JAMES WHITE has 28 catches for 315 yards & 4 total TDs (3 receiving, 1 rush)…TE ROB GRONKOWSKI led team with 11 TD catches in 2015 & is only TE in NFL history with 5 career 10-TD seasons. In 8 career playoff games, has 37 catches for 527 yards & 6 TDs. Needs 2 TD catches to surpass JAY NOVACEK (6), KEITH JACKSON (6), VERNON DAVIS (7) & DAVE CASPER (7) for most ever by TE in NFL playoff history. Aims for 4th playoff game in row with TD catch. In past 5 playoff games, WR JULIAN EDELMAN has 42 catches for 454 yards & 2 TDs, including 9 catches for 109 yards & TD in SB XLIX…LB JAMIE COLLINS led team in tackles for 2nd consecutive season (89). Since 2014, only NFL player with 9+ sacks (9.5) & 3 INTs. DE CHANDLER JONES led team with career-high 12.5 sacks & became 3rd Patriot with multiple 10-sack seasons since 1982, joining HOFer ANDRE TIPPETT (3) & GARIN VERIS (2)…Club had 7 players selected to 2016 Pro Bowl (QB Brady, TE Gronkowski, DE Jones, LB Collins, CB MALCOLM BUTLER, K STEPHEN GOSTKOWSKI, ST MATTHEW SLATER).

 

SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2016

PITTSBURGH STEELERS–AFC NORTH (11-6) AT DENVER BRONCOS–AFC WEST (12-4)

SERIES

	STEELERS	BRONCOS
LEADER		14-8-1
STREAKS		4 of past 6
COACHES VS. OPP.	Mike Tomlin: 2-3	Gary Kubiak: 1-2
COACHES PLAYOFF RECORD	Mike Tomlin: 6-4	Gary Kubiak: 2-2
VS. COMMON OPP.	Pit: 6-5 (Bal 1-1; Cin 1-1; Cle 2-0; Ind 1-0; KC 0-1; NE 0-1; Oak 1-0; SD 1-0) Den: 8-3 (Bal 1-0; Cin 1-0; Cle 1-0; Ind 0-1; KC 1-1; NE 1-0; Oak 1-1; SD 2-0)
PLAYOFF RECORD	34-22	20-19
LAST WEEK	W 18-16 at Bengals	Bye (Wk. 17: W 27-20 vs. Chargers)
LAST GAME	12/20/15: Broncos 27 at Steelers 34. Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger throws for 380 yards & 3 TDs. Steelers WR Antonio Brown has 16 catches for 189 yards & 2 TDs.
LAST GAME AT SITE	9/9/12: Broncos 31, Steelers 19. Denver QB Peyton Manning throws for 253 yards & 2 TDs. Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas has 5 catches for 110 yards & TD.
LAST PLAYOFF	1/8/12: Steelers 23 at Broncos 29 (OT). Denver QB Tim Tebow throws for 316 yards & 2 TDs. Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas has 204 rec. yards, incl. 80-yard TD in OT.
REFEREE	Terry McAulay
BROADCAST	CBS (2:40 PM MT): Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, Tracy Wolfson (field reporter). Westwood One: Kevin Harlan, Trent Green, Steve Tasker (field reporter). SIRIUS: 88 (WW1), 83 (Pit), 82 (Den).  XM: 88 (WW1), 226 (Pit), 82 (Den).

 

STAT LEADERS

PASSING	Roethlisberger: 319-469-3938-21-16-94.5	Manning: 198-331-2249-9-17-67.9
RUSHING	D. Williams: 200-907-4.5-11 (T1L)	Hillman: 207-863-4.2-7
RECEIVING	Brown: 136 (T1L)-1834 (1C)-13.5-10	Thomas: 105-1304-12.4-6
OFFENSE	395.4 (1C)	355.5
TAKE/GIVE	+2	-4
DEFENSE	363.1	283.1 (1L)
SACKS	Heyward: 7	Miller: 11
INTs	Mitchell: 3	Talib: 3
PR	Brown: 9.6	Sanders: 6.1
KR	Wheaton: 21.0	Bolden: 22.8
PUNTING	Berry: 42.6	Colquitt: 43.6
KICKING	Boswell: 113 (26/27 PAT; 29/32 FG)	McManus: 125 (35/36 PAT; 30/35 FG)

NOTES

TEAMS MEET for 8th time in postseason. Broncos lead all-time postseason series 4-3 & regular-season series 14-8-1. Denver has won 3 of past 4 playoff meetings, including most recent (29-23 W in 1/8/12 Wild Card Playoff).

STEELERS: Last week tied Dallas (34) for most playoff wins all-time. Steelers have 34-22 (.607) all-time postseason record, 4th best playoff win pct. all-time. In 2005, became 1st No. 6 seed in NFL history to win SB (XL vs. Seahawks). Set NFL record for 2-point conversions in single season, converting 8 of 11 attempts in 2015…QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER led NFL with 328.2 passing yards per game in 2015 (3,938 yards in 12 games), 3rd-highest single-season average in NFL history. Has 11-5 (.688) career postseason record, 5th-best win pct. among starting QBs. In 2 career playoff meetings, has passed for 564 yards with 3 TDs vs. 1 INT for 96.5 rating. In only career road start (10/25/15 at KC), QB LANDRY JONES passed for 209 yards & 1 TD…RB DE ANGELO WILLIAMS tied for 1st in NFL with 11 rush TDs & ranked 3rd amongst AFC RBs with 1,274 scrimmage yards in 2015. In past 8, is averaging 112.1 scrimmage yards per game & has 8 rush TDs…WR ANTONIO BROWN had career-best 136 catches, tied for 2nd-most in single season in NFL history, & ranked 2nd in the NFL with franchise-record 1,834 receiving yards. Led NFL with 129 catches in 2014 & his 265 receptions in past 2 seasons are most of any 2-year span in history. 1 of 2 in NFL history with back-to-back 120-catch seasons (HOFer CRIS CARTER). Led team with 10 TD catches & joined HINES WARD(2002-03) as only Steelers with consecutive 10-TD catch seasons. WR MARTAVIS BRYANT has 17 TDs in 23 career games (including playoffs). Aims for 3rd playoff game in row with TD reception. TE HEATH MILLER has 48 career postseason catches & needs 4 to surpass KEITH JACKSON (51) for 5th-most by TE in playoff history…In 15 career playoff games, LB JAMES HARRISON has 7.5 sacks & 100-yard INT-TD (SB XLIII vs. Az), tied for 2nd-longest in playoff history. LB LAWRENCE TIMMONS led team with 119 tackles. Since 2007, is only NFL player with 30+ sacks (33) & 10+ INTs (10). S MIKE MITCHELLled team with 3 INTs & had career-best 9 PDs…Club had 3 players selected to 2016 Pro Bowl (QB Roethlisberger, WR Brown,G DAVID DE CASTRO).

BRONCOS: Have 15-5 (.750) postseason record at home, 4th-best all-time among AFC clubs (minimum 10 games). Club is 9-6 (.600) all-time in Divisional Playoffs. Won AFC West for 5th consecutive season (tied for 5th-longest streak in NFL history) & 15th time overall…GARY KUBIAK (12) tied RED MILLER (1977) for most wins by head coach in 1st season with Broncos…QBPEYTON MANNING ranks 2nd in playoff history in passing yards (6,800), completions (598) & attempts (935), trailing only TOM BRADY (683 of 1,085 for 7,345 yards). Manning (38) ranks 4th all-time in postseason TD passes. This season, Manning (186 wins; 71,940 yards) tied BRETT FAVRE (186 wins; 71,838 yards) for most regular-season wins by starting QB & surpassed him for most career passing yards. Has 3-2 record vs. Steelers (including playoffs) & has passed for 1,332 yards with 9 TDs vs 4 INTs for 92.3 rating…Broncos were 1 of 2 NFL teams to have 2 700-yard rushers in 2015 – RB RONNIE HILLMAN (863) & RB C.J. ANDERSON (720). Hillman led team with career-high 863 yards & 7 rush TDs…WR DEMARYIUS THOMAS led team in catches (105) & receiving yards (1,304) with 6 TDs. 1st Bronco with 4 consecutive 1,200-yard receiving seasons. 1 of 2 Broncos with back-to-back 100-catch seasons (BRANDON MARSHALL, 2007-09). Since 2012, ranks 2nd in NFL with 5,787 receiving yards. In 7 career playoff games, averages 99.9 yards per game (699 total) with 6 TDs. Aims for 6th in row in postseason with TD catch. In 8 career starts vs. KC, has 45 catches for 743 yards & 4 TDs, including 4 100-yard games. In past 3, WR EMMANUEL SANDERS has 19 catches for 347 yards & 2 TDs. Spent 4 seasons with Pit (2010-13) & had 161 rec. for 2,030 yards with 11 TDs…LBs DANNY TREVATHAN (110) & BRANDON MARSHALL (101) ranked 1st & 2nd on team in tackles in 2015…Broncos led NFL in total defense (283.1 yards per game) & pass defense (199.6 yards per game)…LB DE MARCUS WARE has 4 sacks in 5 career postseason games. Since 2008, CB AQIB TALIB leads NFL with 8 INT-TDs. LB VON MILLERled team with 10 sacks & joined SIMON FLETCHER (5) as only Broncos with 4+ 10-sack seasons…Club had 4 players selected to 2015 Pro Bowl (LB Miller, LB Ware, CB CHRIS HARRIS, CB Talib).

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GREEN BAY PACKERS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS SATURDAY,

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS SUNDAY,

IN NFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS

 

SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 2016

GREEN BAY PACKERS–NFC NORTH (11-6) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS–NFC WEST (13-3)

SERIES

	PACKERS		CARDINALS
LEADER (REG. SEASON)	44-23-4
STREAKS (REG. SEASON)	3 of past 4
COACHES VS. OPP. (REG. & POSTSEASON)	Mike McCarthy: 3-2		Bruce Arians: 1-0
COACHES PLAYOFF RECORD	Mike McCarthy: 8-6		Bruce Arians: 0-1
VS. COMMON OPP. (REG. SEASON)	GB: 6-3 (Chi 1-1; Det 1-1; Min 1-1; StL 1-0; SF 1-0; Sea 1-0) Ari: 7-2 (Chi 1-0; Det 1-0; Min 1-0; StL 1-1; SF 2-0; Sea 1-1)
PLAYOFF RECORD	32-20	6-8
LAST WEEK	W 35-18 at Redskins	Bye (Wk. 17: L 36-6 vs. Seahawks)
LAST GAME (REG. SEASON)	12/27/15: Packers 8 at Cardinals 38: Arizona QB Carson Palmer passes for 265 yards & 2 TDs. Cardinals DE Cory Redding & CB Jerraud Powers both record FR-TD.
LAST GAME AT SITE (REG. SEASON)	12/27/15
LAST PLAYOFF	1/10/10: Packers 45 at Cardinals 51 (OT). Arizona LB Karlos Dansby has 17-yard FR-TD in OT. Cardinals QB Kurt Warner throws for 379 yards & 5 TDs.
REFEREE	Clete Blakeman
BROADCAST	NBC (6:15 PM MT): Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth. Westwood One: Kevin Kugler, James Lofton, Mark Malone (Field reporter). SIRIUS: 88 (WW1), 83 (GB), 82 (Ari). XM: 88 (WW1), 226 (GB), 83 (Ari).

 

 

REGULAR SEASON STAT LEADERS

PASSING	Rodgers: 347-572-3821-31-8-92.7	Palmer: 342-537-4671 (2C)-35 (T1C)-11-104.6 (3L)
RUSHING	Lacy: 187-758-4.1-3	D. Johnson (R): 125-581-4.6-8
RECEIVING	Cobb: 79-829-10.5-6	Fitzgerald: 109 (2C)-1215 (3C)-11.1-9
OFFENSE	334.6	408.3 (1L)
TAKE/GIVE	+5	+9 (2C)
DEFENSE	346.7	321.7 (2C)
SACKS	Peppers: 10.5	Freeney: 8
INTs	3 tied: 3	R. Johnson: 5 (T3C)
PR	Hyde: 5.8	Peterson: 8.1
KR	Janis: 29.0	D. Johnson (R): 27.2
PUNTING	Masthay: 43.9	Butler: 42.9
KICKING	Crosby: 108 (36/36 PAT; 24/28 FG)	Catanzaro: 137 (3L) (53/58 PAT; 28/31 FG)

NOTES

TEAMS MEET for 3rd time in postseason. GB won 1982 playoff meeting (41-16 on 1/8/83) & Az won 2009 WC (51-45 in OT on 1/10/10). GB leads all-time series (incl. playoffs 45-24-4). Az won Week 16 meeting 38-8.

PACKERS: Have won 13 NFL championships, most all-time. Team’s .615 postseason winning pct. (32-20) is best in NFL history among teams with 25+ games played. Club has 32 playoff wins, 3rd most all-time. This is team’s 31st playoff appearance, tied for most in NFL history…MIKE MC CARTHY has led team to playoffs in 8 of his 10 seasons as head coach…Packers had 4 players selected to Pro Bowl: FB JOHN KUHN (3rd), LB CLAY MATTHEWS (6th), QB AARON RODGERS (5th) & G JOSHSITTON (3rd)…QB Rodgers has 104.1 career passer rating, highest in NFL history. Has 100.3 postseason passer rating, 4th best in NFL history. Has 103.8 passer rating (incl. playoffs), highest in NFL history. Passed for 423 yards, 4 TDs & 121.4 rating in 2009 WC…RB EDDIE LACY has 12 TDs (10 rush, 2 rec.) in 17 career Dec./Jan. games (incl. playoffs). Has rushed for 3,075 yards (1,025 per season) & 23 TDs in 1st 3 NFL seasons. RB JAMES STARKS was 1 of 4 RBs this season with 600+ rush yards (601), 2+ rush TD (2), 350+ rec. yards (392) & 2+ rec. TD (3). In WC, Lacy (63 yards, TD) & Starks (53 yards, TD) were 1st GB RBs with 50+ rush yards & rush TD in same playoff game. FB Kuhn is only player in 2015 playoffs with 4+ rush (4) & 3+ rec. (3) TDs in postseason…WR RANDALL COBB led team in catches (79) & was 2nd in rec. yards (829). Ranked 3rd on club with 7 total TDs (6 rec., 1 FR). In past 2 seasons, has 170 catches for 2,116 yards (1,058 per season) & 18 TDs. Aims for 4th postseason game in row with 100+ yards or TD. WR DAVANTE ADAMS had TD catch last week & has TD in 2 of his 1st 3 career playoff games. WR JAMES JONES & TE RICHARD RODGERS tied for team lead with 8 TDs. Jones has 4 career postseason rec. TDs. Rodgers’ 8 rec. TDs were 2nd most by NFC TE…LB Matthews has 10 career postseason sacks, most in franchise history (HOFer REGGIE WHITE, 8). In 11 postseason games, has 10 sacks, 4 FFs & 3 FRs, incl. 1.5 sacks & FF last week. Ranked 2nd on club with 6.5 sacks. LB JULIUS PEPPERS led team with 10.5 sacks, his 9th career season with 10+ sacks. Is only player in NFL history with 100+ sacks (136) & 10+ INTs (11). Also has 4.5 sacks & INT in postseason career. CB SAM SHIELDS has 5 INTs, incl. 52-yard TD, in his past 8 playoff games. Tied for team lead with 3 INTs this season with rookieCB DAMARIOUS RANDALL & CB MICAH HYDE. Randall led club with 14 PD. S HA HA CLINTON-DIX has 2 INTs in 3 career postseason games. Led team with 99 tackles. DT MIKE DANIELS has 16 sacks in past 3 seasons. Had 1st career INT in Week 16. LB MIKE NEAL had 2 sacks, FF & FR last week. Had 4 sacks in 2015, his 4th consecutive season with 4+ sacks. LB NICK PERRY had 2 sacks last week & has 4.5 sacks in 4 career playoff games.

CARDINALS: Won NFC West for 1st time since 2009. Set franchise record with 13 wins. Scored team-record 489 points (30.6 avg.) & led NFL in total offense (408.3 yards per game). Club has won 10+ games in all 3 seasons under head coach BRUCE ARIANS. Arians has 34-14 record (.708) with Az. His 34 wins are most in 3-year span in franchise history. Are 19-5 (.792) in past 3 seasons at home…Cardinals had 7 players selected to Pro Bowl: ST JUSTIN BETHEL (3rd), DE CALAIS CAMPBELL(2nd), WR LARRY FITZGERALD (9th), G MIKE IUPATI (4th), S TYRANN MATHIEU (1st), QB CARSON PALMER (3rd) & CB PATRICK PETERSON (5th)…QB Palmer has won 26 of past 31 starts, incl. 10 of past 12 at home. Set franchise record with 35 pass TDs, 4,671 pass yards & 104.6 passer rating. Is 1st QB in team history with 2 4,000-yard seasons. Had 100+ passer rating in 11 games, most in NFL. Had 100+ passer rating in 6 of 8 home games…RB DAVID JOHNSON led NFL rookies with 13 TDs. Had 8 rush TDs, 4 rec. TDs & KR-TD joining HOFer GALE SAYERS (1965) as only rookies in NFL history to do so. In past 5 (1st 5 career starts), has 658 scrimmage yards (131.6 per game), most in NFL. Had 127 scrimmage yards & TD in Week 16…WR Fitzgerald had team-record 109 catches, his 3rd career 100-catch season. Had 1,215 rec. yards, his club-record 7th career 1,000-yard season. Has catch in 186 consecutive games, incl. playoffs. Since entering NFL in 2004, has 107 rec. TDs (incl. playoffs), most in NFL. In 7 career postseason games, has 45 catches for 736 yards (105.1 per game) & 9 TDs. In 3 career home playoff games, has 21 catches for 335 yards (111.7 per game) & 6 TDs. Holds NFL records for most catches (30), rec. yards (546) & rec. TDs (7) in single postseason. Has 5 TDs in 4 games vs. GB, incl. 2 TDs in WC. WR JOHN BROWN had career-high 65 catches, 1,003 yards & 7 TDs. Has TD in 4 of past 5 at home. WR MICHAEL FLOYD has 5 100-yard games in past 8, incl. 111 yards vs. GB in Week 16. Since 2013, averages 16.7 yards per catch, 2nd best in NFL (min. 150 catches)…Cardinals had 33 takeaways (19 INT, 14 FR), 2nd most in NFL. S RASHAD JOHNSON & S Mathieu tied for team lead with 5 INTs. Johnson is only player in NFL with 14+ INTs & 3+ INT-TDs since 2012. CB Peterson has recorded 2+ INTs in all 5 career NFL seasons. Is 1 of 4 in NFL history (HOFers JIM BROWN, BARRY SANDERS, EMMITT SMITH) to be selected to 5 Pro Bowls before age 26. LB DEONE BUCANNON led team with 109 tackles, his 1st career 100-tackle season. Is 1 of 2 in NFL (THOMAS DAVIS) with 100+ tackles, 3+ sacks, 3 FFs & INT. Had sack & FF in Week 16. LB DWIGHT FREENEY had 8 sacks in 11 games, incl. 3 sacks in Week 16. Has 9 career postseason sacks. DE Campbell was 2nd on club with 5 sacks, his 7th consecutive season with 5+ sacks. Had 2.5 sacks in Week 16. DE CORY REDDING (36 yards) & CB JERRAUD POWERS (7 yards) each had FR-TD in Week 16.

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2016

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS–NFC WEST (11-6) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS–NFC SOUTH (15-1)

SERIES

	SEAHAWKS	PANTHERS
LEADER (REG. SEASON)	5-3
STREAKS (REG. SEASON)	4 of past 5
COACHES VS. OPP. (REG. & POSTSEASON)	Pete Carroll: 5-1	Ron Rivera: 1-4
COACHES PLAYOFF RECORD	Pete Carroll: 9-5	Ron Rivera: 1-2
VS. COMMON OPP. (REG. SEASON)	Sea: 1-1 (Dal 1-0; GB 0-1) Car: 2-0 (Dal 1-0; GB 1-0)
PLAYOFF RECORD	15-13	7-6
LAST WEEK	W 10-9 at Vikings	Bye (Wk. 17: W 38-10 vs. Buccaneers)
LAST GAME (REG. SEASON)	10/18/15: Panthers 27 at Seahawks 23. Carolina TE Greg Olsen has 7 receptions for 131 yards, including game-winning 26-yard TD with 32 seconds remaining. Panthers QB Cam Newton has TD pass & TD run.
LAST GAME AT SITE (REG. SEASON)	10/26/14: Seahawks 13, Panthers 9: Seattle QB Russell Wilson passes for 199 yards & throws game-winning 23-yard TD to TE Luke Willson with 47 seconds remaining.
LAST PLAYOFF	1/10/15: Panthers 17 at Seahawks 31. Seattle QB Wilson passes for 268 yards & 3 TDs. Seahawks WR Jermaine Kearse has 129 rec. yards & TD.
REFEREE	Tony Corrente
BROADCAST	FOX (1:05 PM ET): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews and Chris Myers (Field reporters). Westwood One: Tom McCarthy, Tim Ryan, Hub Arkush (Field reporter).  SIRIUS: 88 (WW1), 83 (Sea), 82 (Car). XM: 88 (WW1), 226 (Sea), 83 (Car).

 

 

REGULAR SEASON STAT LEADERS

PASSING	Wilson: 329-483-4024-34-8-110.0 (1L)	Newton: 296-495-3837-35 (T1C)-10-99.4
RUSHING	Wilson (QB): 103-553-5.4-1	Stewart: 242-989-4.1-6
RECEIVING	Baldwin: 78-1069-13.7-14 (T1L)	Olsen (TE): 77-1104-14.3-7
OFFENSE	378.6 (3C)	366.9
TAKE/GIVE	+7 (T3C)	+20 (1L)
DEFENSE	291.8 (1C)	322.9 (3C)
SACKS	Bennett: 10	Short: 11 (T2C)
INTs	Thomas: 5	Coleman: 7 (T1C)
PR	Lockett (R): 9.5	Ginn: 10.3 (2C)
KR	Lockett (R): 25.8	Whittaker: 23.2
PUNTING	Ryan: 45.7	Nortman: 45.4
KICKING	Hauschka: 127 (40/44 PAT; 29/31 FG)	Gano: 146 (1C) (56/59 PAT; 30/36 FG)

 

NOTES

TEAMS MEET for 3rd time in postseason. Sea has won previous 2 playoff meetings, incl. 2014 Div (31-17 on 1/10/15 at Sea). Incl. postseason, Sea has won 7 of 10 all-time meetings. Car won Week 6 meeting at Sea 27-23.

SEAHAWKS: Advanced to playoffs for 4th consecutive season. Have won 10+ games in each of past 4 seasons. Aim for 3rd consecutive Super Bowl appearance. Have won 6 of past 7 postseason games & have playoff win in each of past 4 postseasons. Head coach PETE CARROLL is 8-3 (.727) in playoffs with Sea…Seahawks had 7 players selected to Pro Bowl:DE MICHAEL BENNETT (1st), S KAM CHANCELLOR (4th), rookie KR-PR-WR TYLER LOCKETT (1st), CB RICHARD SHERMAN (3rd), S EARL THOMAS (5th), LB BOBBY WAGNER (2nd) & QB RUSSELL WILSON (4th)…Have won 7 of past 8 (incl. playoffs), outscoring opp. 234-107…QB Wilson led NFL with 110.1 rating. Is 1st QB in NFL history with 4,000+ pass yards (4,024), 30+ pass TDs (34) & 500+ rush yards (553) in season. As starter, is 53-20 (.726), incl. 7-2 (.778) in postseason. His 53 overall wins, 47 regular-season wins & 7 playoff wins are most by QB in 1st 4 seasons. Has 93.9 postseason passer rating, 7th best in NFL history. Averages 8.61 yards per att. in postseason, best in NFL history. Had 3 TDs & 149.2 rating in Div vs. Car last year…Seahawks had 3 RBs with 100-yard rush game: MARSHAWN LYNCH, rookie THOMAS RAWLS & CHRISTINE MICHAEL. Lynch is franchise postseason leader with 917 rush yards & 9 rush TDs. In 10 postseason games, has 8 games with rush TD & 6 100-yard games. Since 2011 (incl. playoffs), leads NFL with 6,558 rush yards & 59 rush TDs…WR DOUG BALDWIN leads NFL with 15 TDs (incl. playoffs). Led team with career-high 78 catches, 1,069 yards & 14 TDs. Aims for 7th playoff game in row with 100+ yards or TD. Had TD in Div vs. Car. WR JERMAINE KEARSE has TD catch in 4 of past 6 playoff games, incl. 63-yard TD vs. Car in Div. KR-PR-WR Lockett & HOFer GALE SAYERS are only rookies in NFL history with 5+ rec. TD (6), KR-TD & PR-TD…Seattle led NFL in points allowed (17.3) & rush defense (81.5). Ranked 2nd in NFL in total defense (291.8) & pass defense (210.3). Seahawks are 2nd team in NFL history to lead league in points allowed in 4 consecutive seasons. Team has won 6 consecutive road games (incl. playoffs) & defense has allowed 1 offensive TD. CB Sherman had INT vs. Car in Div & leads NFL with 28 INTs since 2011 (incl. playoffs). S Thomas led team & tied career-high with 5 INTs. Since 2010 (incl. playoffs), is only player in NFL with 550+ tackles (554) & 20+ INTs (23). S Chancellor has FF or INT in 4 of past 6 playoff games, incl. 90-yard INT-TD vs. Car in Div, longest postseason TD in Sea history & tied for 5th longest INT-TD in NFL postseason history. Needs 1 INT to tie franchise career postseason record (4). Aims for 3rd in row vs. Car (incl. playoffs) with INT. DE Bennett led team with career-high 10 sacks. LBs K.J. WRIGHT (116) & Wagner (114) led team in tackles. Wagner has 100+ tackles in all 4 seasons. DE CLIFF AVRIL has 0.5+ sack or safety in 7 of 8 postseason games. Avril & LB BRUCE IRVIN each had sack vs. Car in Div. Irvin has 7 sacks in 4 games vs. Car (incl. playoffs), incl. 3 2-sack games…K STEVEN HAUSCHKA has not missed in postseason career (14 for 14 FG, 20 for 20 PAT).

PANTHERS: Clinched home-field advantage for 1st time in franchise history. Won NFC South for 3rd consecutive season & have won division 6 times. Won franchise-record 15 games. Head coach RON RIVERA has won division in 3 of 5 seasons with Car. Panthers had NFL-best 10 players selected to Pro Bowl: LB THOMAS DAVIS (1st), C RYAN KALIL (5th), LB LUKE KUECHLY (3rd), QB CAM NEWTON (3rd), CB JOSH NORMAN (1st), TE GREG OLSEN (2nd), DT KAWANN SHORT (1st),RB JONATHAN STEWART (1st), FB MIKE TOLBERT (2nd) & G TRAI TURNER (1st)…Led NFL with franchise-record 500 points scored…QB Newton is only player in NFL history with 30+ pass TDs (35) & 10+ rush TDs (10) in season. Passed for 3,837 yards & rushed for 636 yards. Is only player in NFL history with 3,000+ pass yards & 500+ rush yards in 5 seasons. Has 31 career games (incl. Week 6 vs. Sea) with pass TD & rush TD, tied for most in NFL history (HOFer STEVE YOUNG). Had 3 games with 5 TD passes…RB Stewart had 1,088 scrimmage yards, his 3rd career season with 1,000+ scrimmage yards. Has rush TD in both career home playoff games. Rushed for 2 TDs in Week 6. TE Olsen had 77 catches for 1,104 yards & 7 TDs, his 2nd consecutive season with 75+ catches, 1,000+ yards & 6+ TDs. Is only NFL TE with 5+ rec. TDs in each of past 8 seasons. In Week 6, had 7 catches for 131 yards & GW 26-yard TD with 0:32 remaining. WR TED GINN JR. led team with career-high 10 rec. TDs. Has 6 TDs in his past 4 games, incl. 3 games with 2 TDs. Rookie WR DEVIN FUNCHESS ranked 3rd on team with 5 rec. TDs & has TD catch in 3 of past 4 at home…Club led NFL with 39 takeaways, 24 INTs & +20 turnover differential…LB Kuechly led team with 118 tackles. Since entering NFL in 2012, leads league with 591 tackles. Has 11 INTs since 2012, most by NFL LB. LB Davis was 2nd on team with 105 tackles. Is only player in NFL with 4+ sacks (5.5) & 4+ INTs (4). Had sack in Week 6 & aims for 3rd meeting in row with sack (incl. Div). DT Short had career-high 11 sacks, tied for most by NFL DT. Had 4 games with 2+ sacks, incl. 2 sacks in Week 6. Short named NFC Defensive Player of Week in Week 6. Panthers tied for NFL lead with 4 INT-TDs: CB Norman (2), S KURT COLEMAN (1) & Kuechly (1). Norman’s 2 INT-TDs were tied for most in NFL. Coleman had 7 INTs, tied for most in NFC. DE JARED ALLEN has 4 sacks & 2 FFs in past 4 postseason games. Incl. playoffs, has 140 sacks, 2nd most in NFL among active players. Since 2006, S ROMAN HARPER is only DB in NFL with 15+ sacks (18), 15+ FFs (15) & 10+ INTs (11). DE MARIO ADDISON had 6 sacks, his 2nd consecutive season with 6+ sacks…K GRAHAM GANO led NFC with franchise-record 146 points. Had 69 kickoff touchbacks, tied for most in NFL.