SATURDAY, JANUARY 4

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS–AFC SOUTH (10-6)

AT NEW YORK JETS–AFC EAST (9-7)

STAT LEADERS

NOTES

FIRST PLAYOFF MEETING since Super Bowl III (Jets 16, Baltimore Colts 7)…… Teams played in AFC East from 1970-2001……Colts head coach TONY DUNGY & Jets head coach HERMAN EDWARDS overlapped tenures at Kansas City from 1990-91, Dungy as defensive coordinator & Edwards as scout before promotion to defensive backs coach in 1994.  When named head coach of Tampa Bay (1996), Dungy hired Edwards to become Buccaneers assistant head coach/defensive backs coach (1996-2000).  Edwards was hired by Jets after 2000 season.

COLTS: Team’s 38 victories over NYJ is most against any club……Dungy is 3rd head coach in club history to reach double-digit wins in 1st year with team (DON MC CAFFERTY, 1970; TED MARCHIBRODA, 1975).  McCafferty won SB V in 1970.  Dungy has taken teams to playoffs in 5 of past 7 years & is NFL’s 3rd winningest coach since 1999 at 40-24 (.625), trailing only JEFF FISHER (44-20, .688) & JON GRUDEN (42-22, .656)……Pro Bowl QB PEYTON MANNING is 5-3 (.625) in career vs. Jets.  Became 1st QB in NFL history to pass for 4,000 yards in 4 consecutive years.  Took every offensive snap in 2002 & has missed only 43 of 5,060 snaps in his career.  Has thrown 25+ TDs in 5 consecutive seasons, tied with BRETT FAVRE & DAN MARINO for longest streak in NFL history.  Surpassed club record for highest comp. pct. in season set by JIM HARBAUGH (63.7) in 1995 with 66.3 comp. pct……Pro Bowl WR MARVIN HARRISON surpassed NFL record for most catches in season set by HERMAN MOORE (123) in 1995 with 143 & posted 1,722 yards for 4th-most in league history with 11 TDs.  In last meeting vs. NYJ (12/23/01 at Indy), Harrison caught 12 passes for 127 yards & 1 TD.  Posted 10 100-yard receiving games in ’02.  Among AFC’s top 50 in receptions, WR REGGIE WAYNE ranked 5th in yards per catch (14.6)……In 5 career games vs. NYJ, RB EDGERRIN JAMES has 120 attempts for 500 yards (4.2 avg.) & 3 TDs.  Ranked 2nd on club in receptions (61) & has scored 41 TDs in 52 career games.  Despite playing only 9 games, rookie RB JAMES MUNGRO scored 8 rushing TDs in ’02……Rookie DE DWIGHT FREENEY (No. 11) finished 2nd in AFC & led NFL rookies with 13.0 sacks in 8 starts.  Came within 1.5 sacks of NFL’s rookie sack record (JEVON KEARSE, Tenn., 14.5, 1999).  Freeney also forced 9 fumbles……Defense (306.8) ranked 4th in AFC & 8th in NFL after finishing 2001 ranked 16th & 31st, respectively.  Defense allowed NFL-high 486 points last season & gave up league’s 7th fewest (313) in 2002.  Club outscored opponents 157-72 in 4th quarter……K MIKE VANDERJAGT (103 points) has scored 100+ points in club-record 5 consecutive seasons……Club ranked No. 5 in NFL in punt coverage (5.8 avg.) & No. 7 in kickoff coverage (20.5 avg.).

JETS:  Won 2nd AFC East title & became 1st team since 1970 merger to win division after 2-5 start.  Edwards is 1st head coach in team history to lead Jets to playoffs in each of 1st 2 seasons.  Have won 7 of past 9, outscoring opponents 77-16 in 4th quarter.  Offense averaging 25.8 points & 336.3 yards per game in past 12 vs. 12.5 points & 250.0 yards in 1st 4.  In past 3 playoff games, Jets averaging 403.0 yards per game……QB CHAD PENNINGTON had NFL-best & club-record 104.2 passer rating & 68.9 comp. pct., 6th-best pct. in NFL history.  Led league with 7 100.0+ passer rating games.  As starter, is 8-4 (.667) with 109.9 rating, including 22 TDs vs. 4 INTs.  Jets rank 4th in NFL in red zone with 59.3 TD pct. (32 TDs, 54 possessions).  Pennington has 18 TDs vs. 0 INTs in red zone……RB CURTIS MARTIN rushed for 1,094 yards to become 2nd player in NFL history (BARRY SANDERS) to rush for 1,000 yards in each of 1st 8 seasons.  In 14 career games vs. Colts, has rushed for 1,540 yards (110.0 yards per game) & 7 TDs.  Has 8 rushing TDs in 6 career playoff games, including TD in 5 of past 6……WR LAVERANUES COLES tied for 2nd in Jets’ history with 89 receptions (KEYSHAWN JOHNSON).  Is 2nd Jet (HOF DON MAYNARD) with 1,200 receiving yards in season (1,264).  WR WAYNE CHREBET led team with career-high 9 TD receptions.  In past 4 vs. Colts, Chrebet has 25 catches for 355 yards (88.8 per game) & 1 TD.  WR-PR SANTANA MOSS led AFC with 16.5 PR avg., highest in conference since 1974 (LEMAR PARRISH).  Jets led NFL with 31.7 avg. start after KO.  KR CHAD MORTON ranked 2nd in AFC with 26.0 avg.  Team had 5 players (Chrebet, Martin, Moss, TE ANTHONY BECHT, Coles) with 5+ TDs, tying franchise record (1985, 1988)……Club is 9-0 in 2002 when +1 or better in turnover ratio……In past 9, defense allowing 15.9 points & 293.7 yards per game vs. 27.6 points & 402.9 yards in 1st 7.  DE JOHN ABRAHAM (team-high 10.0 sacks) became 1st Jet since MARK GASTINEAU to post consecutive seasons with 10.0+ sacks.  Team is 14-6 (.700) when Abraham has 1.0 sack or more.  CB DONNIE ABRAHAM (1996-2001), S DAMIEN ROBINSON (1997-2000) & DE STEVE WHITE (1996-2001) played for Colts’ Dungy at TB.  CB Abraham led Jets with 4 INTs & is also Bucs’ all-time leader in INTs (31)……Jets have 2 AFC All Stars this season: DE Abraham & C KEVIN MAWAE.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 5

CLEVELAND BROWNS–AFC NORTH (9-7)

AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS–AFC NORTH (10-5-1)

STAT LEADERS

NOTES

GAME FEATURES AFC’s oldest rivals, meeting for 102nd time & 2nd time in playoffs (1/7/95: Pitt. 29, Cle. 9, at Pitt.) ……Browns-Steelers series has produced 31 Pro Football Hall of Famers in 124 combined seasons.  Only divisional rivalry to produce more is Bears-Packers (45).  Bears-Packers have played 41 more combined seasons than Browns-Steelers…… Cities are separated by 132 miles.…..Clubs serve as each team’s most-played rival……In Week 4, Browns-Steelers series became AFC’s 1st to reach 100 games……From 1970 to present, have combined to win 24 of 33 division titles (Steelers 17, Browns 7)……Only AFC teams with 400 victories: Pittsburgh 485; Cleveland 406……Game is Wild Card Weekend’s only divisional meeting.

BROWNS:  Club advances to playoffs for 24th time, 4th most in NFL history behind Dallas (26), NY Giants (26) & St. Louis (25).  Game signals team’s 1st playoff berth since returning to NFL as expansion franchise in 1999……Tied with Tampa Bay for NFL’s best road record (6-2)……Under head coach BUTCH DAVIS, club is 14-5 (.737) when scoring 20 points-or-more……QB KELLY HOLCOMB makes 1st career playoff start.  Holcomb is 1-1 on year as starter (Weeks 1 & 2).  In those starts, Holcomb completed 44 of 69 passes (63.8 pct.) for 528 yards & 5 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 111.0 rating.  Club recorded 27 TD passes, most since 1987 when club also posted 27 & advanced to AFC Championship Game……Rookie RB WILLIAM GREEN (No. 16) had 243 carries in ’02, surpassing club rookie record of 222 set by KEVIN MACK in 1985.  In past 7 games, Green has 172 carries for 726 yards (4.2 avg.) & 5 TDs.  Club was 5-2 (.714) in those 7 games.  Green rushed for 3rd-most yards by Cleveland rookie with 887, trailing only HOF JIM BROWN (942) & Mack (1,104).  Since 1985, only Brown to outrush Green was LEROY HOARD (890) in 1994……WR KEVIN JOHNSON is only Brown to play in all 64 of club’s games since returning to NFL in 1999.  Has multiple catches in all but 2 career games. Among Browns in 1st 4 NFL seasons, Johnson’s TD catch total (21) is 3rd-most in club history, trailing GARY COLLINS (33) & HOF PAUL WARFIELD (22)……Among AFC’s top 50 players in receptions, WR QUINCY MORGAN leads in yards per catch with 17.2 on 56 receptions……WR-PR DENNIS NORTHCUTT is 5th player in club history to score TD via reception, rush & kick return in same season.  Last Brown to accomplish feat was ERIC METCALF in 1994 & was last year Cleveland won in playoffs (1/1/95: Cle 20, NE 13).  Northcutt had NFL’s 3rd best PR avg. (14.7) & recorded club’s best PR avg. since HOF LEROY KELLY (15.6) in 1965……LB EARL HOLMES played for Steelers (1996-2001) & led Pitt. in tackles from 1999-2001.  Started all 16 games for Browns & made game-saving tackle on 4th down during goal-line stand vs. Atl last week with 0:23 remaining……2nd year DE MARK WORD leads club in sacks (8.0).  In 2001, Word posted 5.0 sacks & forced 3 fumbles in NFL Europe with Rhein Fire……Defense is AFC's best inside red zone, allowing 19 TDs on 55 trips (34.5 pct.).  Defense has denied points on 16 of 55 possessions (29.0 pct.) inside its 20 & has allowed only 1 300-yard passer in past 24 games……Special teams blocked 5 kicks in ’02 (4 FGs, 1 punt)……Club has 10 players from 1999 roster that went 2-14 & lost to Steelers 43-0 in Week 1 of '99 before beating Steelers later that season in Pittsburgh.

STEELERS:  Club won 5 of past 6 in 2002 & has defeated Cleveland in Pittsburgh 9 of past 10 games.  Club has scored TD on 9 of 16 opening drives (none vs. Cle.)……Head coach BILL COWHER has career 13-4 (.765) record vs. Cleveland.  Played 3 seasons as Browns LB (1980-82) & spent 4 years (1985-1988) with Cleveland as coach (sp. teams & secondary).  Steelers have 7 division titles & 8 playoff berths in Cowher Era (1992-present).  Pittsburgh has never won more than 7 divisional titles during any 11-year span in club history……Steelers & Titans were only NFL clubs undefeated within division……QB TOMMY MADDOX is 7-3-1 (.625) as starter in 2002.   Made 1st appearance in 2002 vs. Browns in Week 4, leading Pitt. to 16-13 OT win.  Maddox entered game trailing 13-6 with 4:14 remaining.  Maddox surpassed single season club record for comp. pct. set by KORDELL STEWART (60.2 pct.) in 2001 by completing 62.1 pct.  Maddox set club single game passing record in Week 10, passing for 473 yards vs. Atl, surpassing HOF BOBBY LAYNE’s 409 yards in 1958 vs. Chi. Cardinals.  Maddox ranked 3rd in AFC in TD ratio (5.3)……Offense avg. 25.5 points with Maddox as starter; was scoring 15.7 before Maddox……In last meeting, RB AMOS ZEREOUE gained then-career high 111 yards on 29 carries (3.8 avg.) & caught 5 passes for 62 yards (12.4 avg.).  Zereoue has scored all 4 TDs vs. AFC North.  RB JEROME BETTIS is NFL’s 3rd leading rusher since 1996 with 8,451 yards, trailing Tenn’s EDDIE GEORGE (8,876) & NYJ’s CURTIS MARTIN (8,771)……Pro Bowl WR HINES WARD & WR PLAXICO BURRESS surpassed own club record for most catches by Steelers duo (190).  Ward ranked 2nd in AFC in receiving yards (1,329) & Burress ranked 3rd (1,325).  Ward posted 12 TD catches, tying club record co-owned by LOUIS LIPPS (1985) & BUDDY DIAL (1961)……Pro Bowl LB JOEY PORTER & LB CLARK HAGGANS tied for team-lead in sacks (9.0) – no other AFC LB had more than 8.0.  Porter is 1st player in NFL history to record 9.0+ sacks & as many as 4 INTs in same season.  LB KENDRELL BELL recorded 4.0 sacks in final 5 games of 2002.  Porter is tied with S BRENT ALEXANDER (4) for team INT lead.  Club led AFC with 50 sacks, marking 5th time team has registered 50 sacks since 1982……Joining WR Ward & LB Porter as Pittsburgh AFC All Star is G ALAN FANECA.

FALCONS

PACKERS

LEADER

12-10 (Includes playoffs)

STREAKS

3 of past 4 (Includes playoffs)

COACHES VS. OPP.

Reeves: 3-2-1

Sherman: 1-1

VS. COMMON OPP.

Atl: 6-3 (Chi 0-1, TB 0-2, Car 2-0, NO 2-0, Minn 1-0, Det 1-0)
GB: 6-3 (NO 0-1, Det 2-0, Car 1-0, Chi 2-0, Minn 1-1, TB 0-1)

PLAYOFF RECORD

4-6

23-11

LAST WEEK

L 24-16 at Browns

L 42-17 at Jets

LAST GAME

9/8/02: Falcons 34 at Packers 37 (OT).  Green Bay’s Ryan Longwell kicks a 34-yard winning FG.  RB Ahman Green rushes for 155 yards; QB Brett Favre throws for 284 yards & 2 TDs.

LAST GAME AT SITE

9/8/02

LAST PLAYOFF

12/31/95: Falcons 20 at Packers 37.  Green Bay RB Edgar Bennett rushes for a club postseason record 108 yards (since broken) & 1 TD.  QB Brett Favre throws 3 TD passes.

BROADCAST

ABC (7:00 PM CT): Al Michaels, John Madden, Melissa Stark (Field reporter); CBS Radio: Joel Myers, Bob Trumpy, Allen Pinkett (Field reporter).

QBs

Vick: 231-421-2,936-16-8-81.6

Favre: 341-551-3,658 (3C)-27(T1C)-16-85.6

RBs

Dunn: 230-927-4.0-7

Green: 286-1,240-4.3-7

WRs

Finneran: 56-838-15.0-6

Driver: 70-1,064-15.2-9

OFFENSE

345.9

347.5

TAKE/GIVE

+12

+17 (T1L)

DEFENSE

333.4

311.6

SACKS

Kerney: 10.5

Gbaja-Biamila: 12.0

INTs

Bolden, Carpenter: 4

Sharper: 7 (T2C)

PR

Rossum: 12.0

Metcalf: -.3

KOR

Rossum: 22.0

J. Walker (R): 22.0

PUNTING

Mohr: 41.9

Bidwell: 41.7

KICKING

Feely: 138 (1L) (42/43 PAT; 32/40 FG)

Longwell: 128 (44/44 PAT; 28/34 FG)

NOTES

REMATCH of 1995 Wild Card game, won 37-20 by GB……GB tied for NFL best (TB) with +17 turnover ratio while Atl tied for fifth with +12……Clubs tied for third in NFL with 24 INTs. 

FALCONS: Club makes first playoff appearance since 1998 season, advancing to SB XXXIII……Head coach DAN REEVES has more playoff wins (10) than any active coach.  Threw 50-yard TD pass off halfback option as member of Dallas Cowboys in famed “Ice Bowl” at Lambeau on 12/31/67……QB MICHAEL VICK tied ranks fourth in NFC with 1.9 INT pct (421 attempts, 8 INTs). Leads NFL with 6.9 yards per carry avg. & his 777 yards rushing are third most in NFL history among QBs (BOBBY DOUGLASS)……Club ranked fourth in NFL avg. 148.0 rushing yards per game.  Set franchise record with 23 rushing TDs.  RB WARRICK DUNN rushed for 2 TDs in last game at Lambeau.  Avgs. 4.2 yards per carry (314 yards, 75 carries) in 6 career games at Lambeau.  RB TJ DUCKETT (No. 18) led NFC rookies with 507 yards rushing……WR BRIAN FINNERAN posted career highs with 56 receptions, 838 yards receiving in 2002.  Posted first downs on 41 of 56 catches……TE ALGE CRUMPLER had career-high 36 catches, most by Falcons’ TE since JUNIOR MILLER (46) in 1980……Defense totaled 47 sacks, tied for fourth most in NFL, & second-most in team history (55).  Club posted 2 shutouts in same season for first time since 1977……DE PATRICK KERNEY finished with 10.5 sacks & is first Falcon since sack stat was instituted in 1982 with consecutive 10-sack seasons (12.0 in 2001)……Club holds opponents to avg. drive start at 26.1 yard-line, third-best in NFL.  K JAY FEELY finished with club record 32 FGs.  Led NFL kickers with 138 points & tied for second with 16 touchbacks.

PACKERS: Club 13-0 all-time in home playoff games, including 11-0 at Lambeau & advances to postseason for eighth time in past 10 seasons……QB BRETT FAVRE has TD pass in 12 consecutive playoff games & needs 1 vs. Falcons to tie DAN MARINO for NFL record.  Has 29 career TD passes in playoffs & needs 2 to pass TERRY BRADSHAW (30) for third & 4 to pass Marino (32) for second-most all-time.  Passed for 3 TDs, 0 INTs & 111.5 passer rating in only career playoff game vs. Atl.  Favre has 6-0 record in playoffs when temperature is below 34 degrees.  Was drafted by Falcons in second round of 1991 NFL Draft……RB AHMAN GREEN avgs. 90 rushing yards, 4.9 yards per carry in 2 career playoff games. Has 14 100-yard rushing games with GB & club is 14-0 in those contests.  GB is 17-2 (.895), (7-1 in 2002), when Green has 25-or-more touches.  Avgs. 108.5 rushing yards in 2 career games vs. Atl, including 155 yards in Week 1……WR DONALD DRIVER posted first career 1,000-yard receiving season (1,064).  WR TERRY GLENN avgs. 15.1 yards per catch in 5 career playoff games (with NE)……TE BUBBA FRANKS had 7 TD catches in 2002, tied for tops among NFL TEs……Club had NFL high 45 takeaways in 2002……DE KABEER GBAJA-BIAMILA led club with 12.0 sacks & became third player in franchise history with consecutive seasons of at least 12.0 sacks (TIM HARRIS, TONY BENNETT)……S DARREN SHARPER has led club in INT for past 3 seasons after posting 7 in 2002.  Has 2 INTs in 6 career playoff games.
 

SUNDAY, JANUARY 5
NEW YORK GIANTS (10-6)–NFC EAST
AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (10-6)–NFC WEST

STAT LEADERS

NOTES

CLUBS SPLIT 6 PLAYOFF GAMES all-time, with point differential of 122-118 (SF).  49ers won 3 of 4 playoff games at home in series, with Giants lone win in SF in 1990 NFC Championship Game (15-13).  Giants captured only Wild Card meeting between clubs (17-3 at NY, 1985). 

GIANTS:  Club advances to playoffs for third time in 6 seasons under head coach JIM FASSEL……QB KERRY COLLINS set team single-season passing records with 335 completions & 4,073 yards passing.  Had career-highs with 61.5 completion pct., third highest in team history, & 85.5 passer rating in 2002.  Passed for 342 yards vs. SF in Week 1, & has 3 career 300-yard passing games vs. 49ers, his most vs. any club……RB TIKI BARBER rushed for career-high 203 yards last week, second-highest single-game total in team history (218, GENE “CHOO-CHOO” ROBERTS).  Finished second in NFC with 1,387 yards rushing & led conference with 1,984 yards from scrimmage……WR AMANI TOOMER set franchise record with 82 receptions & 1,343 yards receiving.  Had 9 receptions for 134 yards in last meeting vs. SF……TE JEREMY SHOCKEY led NFL TEs & rookies with 74 receptions & 894 yards receiving.  Ranked second among rookie TEs in league history in catches (81, KEITH JACKSON) & receiving yards (1,076, MIKE DITKA).  Eclipsed MARK BAVARO (66) for club single-season record for receptions by TE.  Was only rookie selected to Pro Bowl & first rookie TE since Jackson in 1988……Club has surrendered 1 TD in first quarter in 2002 & 279 points overall, third-fewest in NFL……DE MICHAEL STRAHAN seeks sack in fifth consecutive playoff game & has 5.5 sacks in past 4 postseason contests.  DE KENNY HOLMES tied career-high with 8.0 sacks in 2002……K MATT BRYANT finished with 108 points, second-highest in club history among kickers (127, ALI HAJI-SHEIKH).    

49ERS: Club seeks third consecutive Wild Card win at home & advances to playoffs for fourth time in 6 seasons under head coach STEVE MARIUCCI……QB JEFF GARCIA led NFL with 107.6 third down passer rating, including 13 TDs, 1 INT.  Joined JOE MONTANA & STEVE YOUNG as only QBs in franchise history to pass for 3,000 yards in 3 consecutive seasons……Club 14-1 all-time & 1-0 in playoffs when RB GARRISON HEARST rushes for 100 yards.  RB KEVAN BARLOW finished second on club with 675 yards rushing……WR TERRELL OWENS had career-high 100 receptions in 2002 & led NFL with 13 TD catches.  Ranked second in NFL with 30 third-down receptions (433) & first with 7 third-down TD receptions.  Had 3 150-yard receiving games in 2002 & avgs. 92.9 receiving yards per game, second-most in NFL (MARVIN HARRISON).  WR TAI STREETS had career highs with 72 catches for 756 yards & 5 TDs……G RON STONE joined club in offseason after 6 years as starter with Giants & is 1 of 6 49ers headed to Pro Bowl, tied with Miami for second-most in NFL (7, Phil)……Club’s 17 giveaways are third-fewest in NFL……DE ANDRE CARTER had career-high 12.5 sacks & led club for second consecutive season.  DT BRYANT YOUNG earned fourth Pro Bowl selection……LB JAMIE WINBORN earned NFC Defensive Player of Week honors following his 16 tackle, 1.0 sack performance in Week 1 win vs. NYG……S TONY PARRISH led team with career-high 7 INTs in first season with club.