Am Samstag den 13. Jänner hat zum Auftakt um 22:35 Uhr der Gewinner der NFC East, die Philadelphia Eagles (13-3), die Atlanta Falcons (11-6) am Lincoln Financial Field zu Gast.Im Anschluss folgt das Nachtspiel zwischen den New England Patriots (13-3) und Tennessee Titans (10-7) im Gillette Stadion.
Sonntags gastieren um 19:05 Uhr die Jacksonville Jaguars (11-6) am Heinz Field bei den Pittsburgh Steelers. Danach geht es im U.S. Bank Stadium, dem Austragungsort der diesjährigen Super Bowl, zwischen den Minnesota Vikings (13-3) und New Orleans Saints (12-5) zur Sache.
Mit den Eagles und den Jaguars sind zwei Teams mit dem Prädikat "worst-to-first" im Playoff dabei, also Teams, die im Vorjahr letzter ihrer Division wurden und sie heuer gewinnen konnten. Wie ausgeglichen die NFL allgemein ist verdeutlicht, dass zumindest ein Team in 14 der letzten 15 Saisonen seine Division gewonnen hat, wenn es im Vorjahr Platz 3 oder 4 belegte. Die Hälfte der verbliebenen Klubs betrifft das: Eagles, Vikings, Saints and Jaguars.
ATLANTA FALCONS (11-6) at PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (13-3)
(Samstag, NBC/ PULS 4, 22:35 Uhr)
Gleich zum Auftakt der Divisional Playoff-Woche findet am Samstag der erste Kracher zwischen den Philadelphia Eagles und Atlanta Falcons statt.
Die Falcons haben am letzten Spieltag des Grunddurchgangs das Playoff-Ticket gelöst. In der Wild Card-Runde feierte der Vizemeister vom Vorjahr einen eindrucksvollen 26:13-Sieg über die favorisierten Los Angeles Rams. Es scheint so, als ob Atlanta zum richtigen Zeitpunkt wieder Fahrt aufnimmt.
Auf der anderen Seite muss Philadelphia den Ausfall ihres etatmäßigen Spielmachers Carson Wentz verzichten. Er wird von Nick Foles ersetzt, der jetzt zwei Wochen Zeit zur Vorbereitung auf dieses Spiel hatte.
Fun Fact/Philly-Jinx auf Puls 4:
Elf Mal zeigte Puls 4 bisher ein Spiel der Philadelphia Eagles. Alle elf Partien haben sie verloren.
12.09.2010 Philadelphia Eagles vs. Green Bay Packers 20:27
28.11.2010 Chicago Bears vs. Philadelphia Eagles 31:26
09.01.2011 Green Bay Packers vs. Philadelphia Eagles 21:16 (Wild Card)
27.11.2011 Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots 20:38
11.11.2012 Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys 23:38
29.09.2013 Denver Broncos vs. Philadelphia Eagles 52:20
28.09.2014 San Francisco 49ers vs. Philadelphia Eagles 26:21
16.11.2014 Green Bay Packers vs. Philadelphia Eagles 53:20
07.12.2014 Philadelphia Eagles vs. Seattle Seahawks 14:24
20.09.2015 Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys 10:20
20.11.2016 Seattle Seahawks vs. Philadelphia Eagles 26:15
NFL Facts
- This is the fourth postseason meeting between the teams and the first since 2004 when the Eagles defeated the Falcons in the NFC Championship Game 27-10 (January 23, 2005) to advance to Super Bowl XXXIX. The Eagles lead the all-time series 18-14-1, including the postseason. Philadelphia won the last meeting 24-15 in Week 10, 2016 (November 13).
- The Falcons defeated the Los Angeles Rams 26-13 last week to advance to the Divisional Playoffs. Quarterback MATT RYAN threw a touchdown pass to wide receiver JULIO JONES and posted a 101.8 passer rating. Ryan has registered a passer rating of at least 100 in five consecutive playoff games, tied for the second-longest streak in the Super Bowl era. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer JOE MONTANA (eight) owns a longer streak.
- Ryan has a 102.4 career postseason passer rating, the third-best mark in NFL history (minimum 150 attempts). Only Pro Football Hall of Famers BART STARR (104.8) and KURT WARNER (102.8) have a higher mark.
- Atlanta had two players selected to the 2018 Pro Bowl: wide receiver Jones and center ALEX MACK.
- The Eagles tied a franchise record with 13 wins (2004) and earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC for the fourth time since 2002. Philadelphia had six players selected to the 2018 Pro Bowl: guard BRANDON BROOKS, defensive tackle FLETCHER COX, tight end ZACH ERTZ, safety MALCOLM JENKINS, tackle LANE JOHNSON and quarterback CARSON WENTZ.
- Three Eagles had at least eight touchdown receptions this season: wide receivers ALSHON JEFFERY (nine) and NELSON AGHOLOR (eight) and tight end Ertz (eight).
TENNESSEE TITANS (10-7) at NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (13-3)
(Samstag, CBS/PULS 4 2:15 Uhr)
Im zweiten Samstagsspiel gibt es mit den New England Patriots einen logischen Favoriten. Der amtierende Champion trifft mit den Tennessee Titans auf die Überraschungsmannschaft der Wild Card-Runde. Nach einem 3:21-Rückstand gegen die Kansas City Chiefs zur Halbzeit, holten sich die Titans noch den Sieg. Dafür verantwortlich war nicht nur ein Kunststück von Quarterback Marcus Mariota, der einen abgewehrten Pass von sich selbst aus der Luft pflückte und zum Touchdown verwandelte, sondern auch eine ganz schwache Schiedsrichterleistung. Referee Jeff Triplette, der den Chiefs einen eroberten Ball nach einem Fumble entzog und Tennessee zu einem Fieldgoal verhalf, trat tags darauf als Schiedsrichter zurück. Zu spät für Kansas City.
In Summe kamen die Titans aber nicht gänzlich unverdient eine Runde weiter, womit New England gewarnt ist. Die Rolle des Underdogs liegt Tennessee, die Patriots werden ihr A-Game abrufen müssen, um ins Conference Final einzuziehen.
NFL Facts
- This is the third postseason meeting between the teams and the first since the 2003 AFC Divisional Playoff (January 10, 2004) which New England won 17-14. The Patriots lead the all-time series 24-16-1, including the playoffs, and have won six in a row. The teams last met in Week 15, 2015 (December 20) with the Patriots coming out on top with a 33-16 victory.
- The Titans earned their first postseason win since 2003 (January 3, 2004 at Baltimore in the Wild Card round) with last week’s 22-21 come-from-behind win at Kansas City. Tennessee erased a 21-3 halftime deficit and joined the 1957 Detroit Lions as the only teams to overcome an 18+ point deficit to win a road playoff game.
- Quarterback MARCUS MARIOTA threw two touchdown passes in the Wild Card victory, including a six-yard touchdown pass to himself. He is the only player in NFL history to throw a touchdown pass to himself in a postseason game. Running back DERRICK HENRY rushed for 156 yards, including a 35-yard TD, against the Chiefs and joined EDDIE GEORGE (162 yards on January 16, 2000) as the only players in club history to rush for at least 150 yards in a playoff game.
- Tennessee had three players selected to the 2018 Pro Bowl: defensive tackle JURRELL CASEY, punter BRETT KERN and tackle TAYLOR LEWAN.
- New England won its ninth consecutive division title, the longest streak in NFL history. The Patriots are the only team to win 14 division titles in a 15-year span. New England has won at least 12 games in eight consecutive seasons, the longest streak in league annals.
- Quarterback TOM BRADY, who led the NFL with 4,577 passing yards this season, has 25 career playoff wins, the most in NFL history. Brady is also the NFL postseason leader in career completions (831), attempts (1,325), passing yards (9,094) and touchdown passes (63).
- The Patriots had four players selected to the 2018 Pro Bowl: quarterback Brady, fullback JAMES DEVELIN, tight end ROB GRONKOWSKI and special teamer MATTHEW SLATER.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (11-6) at PITTSBURGH STEELERS (13-3)
(Sonntag, CBS/PULS 4, 19:05 Uhr)
Die dritte Begegnung der Division Round lautet Pittsburgh Steelers gegen Jacksonville Jaguars. Der Sieger der AFC North gegen den Sieger der AFC South.
Diese Begegnung gab es schon in Woche 5 der Regular Season am Heinz Field. Die Jaguars fügten den Steelers dabei mit 30:9 die höchste Saisonniederlage zu. Zwar zeugte Quarterback Blake Bortles eine schlechte Performance mit nur 95 passing Yards, keinem TD und einer Interception, dafür liefen die Jags die Steelers aber mit 231 Yards Rushing in Grund und Boden. Die megastarke Defense der Jaguars ließ den routinierten Spielmacher der Steelers, "Big" Ben Roethlisberger dafür wie einen blutigen Anfänger aussehen: Fünf Interceptions wovon zwei gar als Pick Six für Punkte des Gegners endeten. Während Bortles Passing Performance im Wildcard Game gegen Buffalo ähnlich schlecht war (er erlief mehr Yards als er passte), machen Big Ben’s Steelers seit dem Ausrutscher gegen die Jaguars keine Späßchen mehr. Die Steelers – die auch in Österreich zahlreiche Fans haben – gehen nunmehr als klarer Favorit ins Rennen.
NFL Facts
- This is the second postseason meeting between the teams. The Jaguars defeated the Steelers 31-29 in the 2007 AFC Wild Card Playoffs (January 5, 2008). Jacksonville leads the all-time series 13-11, including the postseason, and defeated Pittsburgh earlier this season, knocking off the Steelers 30-9 in Week 5 (October 8) at Heinz Field.
- The Jaguars defeated Buffalo 10-3 last week as the team earned its first home playoff win since 1999 (January 15, 2000 vs. Miami in the Divisional round). Quarterback BLAKE BORTLES connected with tight end BEN KOYACK for the game’s only touchdown.
- In Jacksonville’s Week 5 win at Pittsburgh, the Jaguars recorded five interceptions – returning two for touchdowns – and rookie running back LEONARD FOURNETTE rushed for 181 yards and two touchdowns.
- The Jaguars had four players selected to the 2018 Pro Bowl: cornerbacks A.J. BOUYE and JALEN RAMSEY, defensive end CALAIS CAMPBELLand defensive tackle MALIK JACKSON.
- Pittsburgh won the AFC North for the second consecutive year, the team’s eighth division title since realignment in 2002. The Steelers have 36 postseason victories, the most in NFL history.
- Steelers wide receiver ANTONIO BROWN led the league with 1,533 receiving yards and is the only player in franchise history to lead the NFL in receiving yards multiple times. Brown has 582 receptions and 7,848 receiving yards over the past five seasons, the most in NFL history over any five-year span for both categories.
- The Steelers had an NFL-best eight players selected to the 2018 Pro Bowl: running back LE’VEON BELL, kicker CHRIS BOSWELL, wide receiver Brown, guard DAVID DE CASTRO, center MAURKICE POUNCEY, quarterback BEN ROETHLISBERGER, linebacker RYAN SHAZIER and tackle ALEJANDRO VILLANUEVA.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (12-5) at MINNESOTA VIKINGS (13-3)
(Sonntag, FOX/PULS 4, 22:40 Uhr)
Abgeschlossen wird die Divisional Round mit dem (zufällig) selben setting – nur in der NFC. Minnesota Vikings – Sieger der NFC North gegen die New Orleans Saints – Sieger der NFC South.
Auch diese beiden Teams trafen in regulär season schon aufeinander – und zwar gleich in Woche 1. Die Vikings siegten daheim mit 29:19. Beide Teams sind seit damals aber völlig verändert. Case Keanum ersetzte den verletzten starting QB Sam Bradford – mit eindrucksvollen Leistungen. Und die Saint haben mit RB Kamara einen heißen Kandidaten für den offensive rookie if the year entdeckt. Zudem – was Saints QB Drew Brees im Wildcard Game gegen die Carolina Panthers an passing skills zeigte, ließ Footballbegeisterte mit der Zunge schnalzen. Schnell, präzise, weit, nicht zu stoppen. Die Vikings sind eines der ausgewogensten Teams der gesamten Liga und wollen sich die historische Chance als erstes Team in einem einem Super Bowl "dahoam" zu stehen auch von den Heiligen aus Louisiana nicht nehmen lassen.
NFL Facts
- The teams will meet in the playoffs for the fourth time with Minnesota holding a 2-1 advantage. In their last postseason meeting, the Saints defeated the Vikings 31-28 in overtime in the 2009 NFC Championship Game (January 24, 2010) en route to winning Super Bowl XLIV. Minnesota, which leads the all-time series 21-11 (including the playoffs), defeated New Orleans earlier this season, knocking off the Saints 29-19 on Kickoff Weekend (September 11).
- The Saints recorded a 31-26 victory over Carolina in last week’s Wild Card showdown, the team’s first playoff win since 2013 (January 4, 2014 at Philadelphia in the Wild Card round). Quarterback DREW BREES passed for 376 yards and two touchdowns and wide receivers MICHAEL THOMAS (131 yards) and TED GINN, JR. (115) each recorded 100 yards.
- Brees has seven career 300-yard passing games in the postseason, the third-most in NFL history. He has passed for at least 300 yards in seven of his 12 career playoff games.
- New Orleans had six players selected to the 2018 Pro Bowl: quarterback Brees, running backs MARK INGRAM and ALVIN KAMARA, defensive end CAMERON JORDAN, cornerback MARSHON LATTIMORE and wide receiver Thomas.
- Minnesota captured the NFC North for the second time in the past three seasons and earned a first-round bye for the first time since 2009. The team’s 13 regular-season wins are the most since 1998 when the club went 15-1.
- Quarterback CASE KEENUM, who played in 15 games and made 14 starts, set career-highs in attempts (481), completions (325), completion percentage (67.6), yards (3,547), touchdowns (22) and passer rating (98.3). Keenum posted a passer rating of at least 100 in eight games this season and the Vikings were a perfect 8-0 in those contests.
- The Vikings had four players selected to the 2018 Pro Bowl: linebacker ANTHONY BARR, defensive end EVERSON GRIFFEN, cornerback XAVIER RHODES and wide receiver ADAM THIELEN.