WHAT TO LOOK FOR – DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS

STANDING IN THE NO. 1 SPOT: Since the NFL moved to a 12-team playoff format in 1990, No.1 seeds in the NFC are 17-2 (.895) in the Divisional Playoffs. However, the NFC top seed has lost in the Divisional round in each of the past two seasons.

In the AFC, the No. 1 seed has compiled an 11-8 (.579) record in the Divisional round.

Both the No. 1 seeds are in action on Saturday when the top-seeded New Orleans Saints host the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC and the No. 1-seed Indianapolis Colts face the Baltimore Ravens 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	New York 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	New York Giants	Lost to Philadelphia 23-11
2009	Indianapolis	???	New Orleans	???

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BIG GAME SUCCESS: The Dallas Cowboys have won 33 postseason games, the most in NFL history. With a victory against Minnesota in the Divisional Playoffs on Sunday, Dallas would advance to its 15th NFC Championship Game, surpassing the Pittsburgh Steelers (14) for the most appearances in a Conference Championship Game since 1970.

The teams with the most appearances in a Conference Championship Game since 1970:

TEAM	MOST APPEARANCES IN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
Dallas Cowboys	14
Pittsburgh Steelers	14
San Francisco 49ers	12
L.A./Oakland Raiders	11
L.A./St. Louis Rams	9

-- NFL --

ROAD TESTED: This Saturday marks the 13th playoff game in Ravens’ history and the club’s ninth on the road. Baltimore holds a 6-2 playoff record away from home, which stands as the top road winning percentage (.750) in NFL playoff history (minimum five games). Baltimore looks to improve the mark against Indianapolis in the Divisional round.

The best road winning percentage in playoff history (minimum five games):

TEAM	W-L	PCT.
Baltimore	6-2	.750
Carolina	4-2	.667
New England	7-9	.438
Pittsburgh	7-9	.438
Dallas	9-13	.409

-- NFL --

SIMPLY FAVRE-ULOUS: Minnesota quarterback BRETT FAVRE ranks second in NFL playoff history in completions, attempts, passing yards and touchdown passes. Favre needs 23 completions, 14 passing attempts, 462 passing yards and seven touchdowns to set postseason records in each passing category.

The top five quarterbacks in playoff completions, attempts, passing yards and touchdown passes:

PLAYER	COMPLETIONS		PLAYER	ATTEMPTS
Joe Montana	460		Joe Montana	734
Brett Favre*	438		Brett Favre*	721
Tom Brady*	395		Dan Marino	687
Dan Marino	385		John Elway	651
John Elway	355		Tom Brady*	637

*Active *Active

PLAYER	PASS YARDS		PLAYER	PASSES
Joe Montana	5,772		Joe Montana	45
Brett Favre*	5,311		Brett Favre*	39
John Elway	4,964		Dan Marino	32
Dan Marino	4,510		Kurt Warner*	31
Peyton Manning*	4,208		Terry Bradshaw	30

*Active *Active

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WARNER IN RANGE OF 4,000: Arizona Cardinals quarterback KURT WARNER has 3,747 passing yards in 12 career postseason games. With 253 passing yards against the New Orleans Saints on Saturday, Warner will reach 4,000 passing yards in 13 career playoff games, making him the fastest player in NFL history to reach the milestone.

The quarterbacks to reach 4,000 postseason passing yards in the fewest games:

QUARTERBACKS	NUMBER OF GAMES TO REACH 4,000 PASSING YARDS
Peyton Manning	15
Dan Marino	16
Brett Favre	17
Joe Montana	17
Tom Brady	18
John Elway	18
Kurt Warner	12*

*Warner currently has 3,747 postseason passing yards in 12 games.

With a 100+ passer rating against New Orleans on Saturday, Warner (3) can tie Pro Football Hall of Famers BART STARR and TROY AIKMAN (4) for the second-most consecutive playoff games with a 100+ passer rating in NFL history. Pro Football Hall of Famer JOE MONTANA holds the record with eight straight playoff games with a 100+ passer rating.

The most consecutive postseason games with 100+ passer rating (minimum 20 attempts each game):

PLAYER	TEAM	YEARS	STREAK
Joe Montana	San Francisco 49ers	1/1/89 – 1/20/91	8
Bart Starr	Green Bay Packers	1/1/67 – 12/31/67	4
Troy Aikman	Dallas Cowboys	1/10/93 – 1/16/94	4
Kurt Warner	Arizona Cardinals	1/18/09 – present	3*

*Active

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FROM EAST TO WEST: New York Jets rookie head coach REX RYAN and his rookie quarterback MARK SANCHEZ can reach two milestones when they play at San Diego on Sunday.

With a victory, Sanchez will join Ravens quarterback JOE FLACCO as only the second rookie quarterback all-time to win his first two playoff games. Ryan can become only the sixth rookie head coach to win his first two postseason games in the Super Bowl era.

The rookie head coaches to win at least their first two playoff games:

YEAR	COACH	TEAM	WINS
1970	Don McCafferty	Baltimore Colts	3
1989	George Seifert	San Francisco 49ers	3
1977	Red Miller	Denver Broncos	2
2002	Bill Callahan	Oakland Raiders	2
2008	John Harbaugh	Baltimore Ravens	2
2009	Rex Ryan	New York Jets	1

-- NFL --

THE RACE TO 300: Indianapolis Colts MVP quarterback PEYTON MANNING and Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner have six career 300-yard postseason passing games, tied for the most in NFL playoff history with Pro Football Hall of Famer JOE MONTANA.

The players with the most career 300-yard passing games in the playoffs:

PLAYER	TEAM(S)	GAMES	300-YARD GAMES
Peyton Manning*	Colts	15	6
Kurt Warner*	Rams, Cardinals	12	6
Joe Montana	49ers, Chiefs	23	6
Dan Fouts	Chargers	7	5
Four Tied	--	--	4

*Active

-- NFL --

MR. POSTSEASON: Arizona Cardinals wide receiver LARRY FITZGERALD has nine touchdown catches in five career playoff games. With a touchdown reception against the Saints on Saturday, Fitzgerald would become the sixth player in playoff history to reach 10 touchdown catches. Fitzgerald (9) can also tie Pro Football Hall of Famer FRED BILETNIKOFF and ANTONIO FREEMAN and RANDY MOSS (10) for the third-most career postseason touchdown catches in NFL history.

The players with at least 10 postseason touchdown receptions and the number of games played to reach the mark:

PLAYER	GAMES TO 10 TD RECEPTIONS
Jerry Rice	9
Randy Moss	11
Antonio Freeman	12
Fred Biletnikoff	15
John Stallworth	16

*Fitzgerald has 9 TD receptions in 5 career playoff games.

-- NFL --

VERSATILE CHARGER: San Diego Chargers running back-kick-returner DARREN SPROLES has 949 total yards in five career playoff games. With 51 all-purpose yards against the Jets on Sunday, Sproles will reach 1,000 all-purpose yards in six career postseason games and would become the fastest to the mark in NFL playoff history.

The fewest postseason games to reach 1,000 all-purpose yards:

PLAYER	FEWEST GAMES TO REACH 1,000 ALL-PURPOSE YARDS
Marcus Allen	7
Terrell Davis	7
Thurman Thomas	8
Emmitt Smith	8
Many tied	9

*Sproles has 949 all-purpose yards in five career playoff games.