MORE TEAMS, MORE GAMES, MORE WILD

Two on Saturday (January 14), three on Sunday (January 15) and, for the second consecutive season, one on Monday (January 16).

Seven of the 12 teams in action this weekend are new to the postseason in 2022, having missed the playoffs a year ago. BALTIMORE, JACKSONVILLE, the LOS ANGELES CHARGERS, MIAMI, MINNESOTA, the NEW YORK GIANTS and SEATTLE. Two of those teams – Jacksonville (AFC South) and Minnesota (NFC North) – won their divisions.

Since 1990, at least four teams every season have qualified for the playoffs after failing to make the postseason the year before. Additionally, at least two teams have won their divisions the season after missing the playoffs in 19 of the past 20 years, including 2022.

Each of the 12 teams playing this weekend hope to earn their first of four wins needed to capture the Lombardi Trophy. Winners in the Wild Card round have won the Super Bowl 11 times, including in each of the past two seasons.

The Wild Card round participants to win the Super Bowl:
SEASON TEAM SUPER BOWL RESULT
1980 Oakland Raiders Defeated Philadelphia in Super Bowl XV, 27-10
1997 Denver Broncos Defeated Green Bay in Super Bowl XXXII, 31-24
2000 Baltimore Ravens Defeated New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV, 34-7
2005 Pittsburgh Steelers Defeated Seattle in Super Bowl XL, 21-10
2006 Indianapolis Colts* Defeated Chicago in Super Bowl XLI, 29-17
2007 New York Giants Defeated New England in Super Bowl XLII, 17-14
2010 Green Bay Packers Defeated Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLV, 31-25
2011 New York Giants* Defeated New England in Super Bowl XLVI, 21-17
2012 Baltimore Ravens* Defeated San Francisco in Super Bowl XLVII, 34-31
2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defeated Kansas City in Super Bowl LV, 31-9
2021 Los Angeles Rams* Defeated Cincinnati in Super Bowl LVI, 23-20
*Won division


PASSING IN THE PLAYOFFS

A mix of established veterans and emerging stars make up the starting quarterbacks in the 2022 playoff field vying for the Super Bowl LVII title.

Tampa Bay quarterback TOM BRADY enters the 2022 postseason as the league’s all-time playoff leader in games started by a quarterback (47), wins by a starting quarterback (35), passing yards (13,049), touchdown passes (86), Super Bowl titles (seven) and Super Bowl MVPs (five). He is looking to become the first quarterback ever to win multiple Super Bowls with two different franchises.

Brady’s opposing quarterback on Monday night (8:15 PM ET, ESPN/ABC, ESPN2-Manningcast, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes) will be Dallas’ DAK PRESCOTT.

He will be making his fifth-career postseason start. In each of his past three starts in the playoffs, Prescott has recorded both a touchdown pass and a rushing touchdown. He can become the sixth quarterback ever to record both a touchdown pass and rushing touchdown in four career postseason games. Brady (five games) and Kansas City’s PATRICK MAHOMES (four), who will be in action next weekend, are among the group Prescott can join.

The players with the most postseason games with both a touchdown pass and a rushing touchdown in NFL history:
PLAYER TEAM(S) GAMES
Steve YoungHOF San Francisco 7
Tom Brady New England, Tampa Bay 5*
John ElwayHOF Denver 4
Donovan McNabb Philadelphia 4
Patrick Mahomes Kansas City 4*
Dak Prescott Dallas 3*
*Active in 2022 postseason    

Prescott can also become the first quarterback in NFL history to record a rushing touchdown in four consecutive postseason games.

In the AFC, Buffalo’s JOSH ALLEN will be making his seventh-career postseason start when the Bills host the Dolphins on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS, Paramount+). In both of his playoff games last season, Allen recorded at least 300 passing yards and four touchdown passes.

Allen can join MATT RYAN as the only players ever with at least 300 passing yards and three touchdown passes in three consecutive postseason games. He can also become the first player in NFL history with at least four touchdown passes in three consecutive playoff games.

HEY, ROOKIE

Two rookie quarterbacks have an opportunity to start this weekend: San Francisco’s BROCK PURDY and Miami’s SKYLAR THOMPSON. This would mark the first playoff round since the 2012 Wild Card round (ROBERT GRIFFIN III, ANDREW LUCK, and RUSSELL WILSON) to feature multiple rookie starting quarterbacks.

Each player would be looking to become the first starting rookie quarterback to win a postseason game since Wilson in 2012.

The most recent rookie starting quarterbacks to win a postseason game:
ROOKIE QB TEAM SEASON ROUND OPPONENT FINAL SCORE
Russell Wilson Seattle 2012 NFC Wild Card at Washington SEA 24, WAS 14
T.J. Yates Houston 2011 AFC Wild Card vs. Cincinnati HOU 31, CIN 10
Mark Sanchez N.Y. Jets 2009 AFC Divisional at San Diego Chargers NYJ 17, SD 14

Both Purdy and Thompson were selected in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. They can become the first two rookies selected in the seventh round or later or be undrafted to start a postseason game in the common-draft era. They can also become the fourth and fifth rookie quarterbacks selected outside of the first round to win a playoff game in the common-draft era.

The rookie quarterbacks selected outside of the first round to win a postseason game in the common-draft era:
ROOKIE QB TEAM SEASON ROUND DRAFT ROUND
Russell Wilson Seattle 2012 NFC Wild Card 3rd
T.J. Yates Houston 2011 AFC Wild Card 5th
Shaun King Tampa Bay 1999 NFC Divisional 2nd

SATURDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback JUSTIN HERBERT (24 years, 310 days old on Saturday) and Jacksonville quarterback TREVOR LAWRENCE (23 years, 100 days old) will each be making their first career postseason starts when the Jaguars host the Chargers on Saturday night (8:15 PM ET, NBC, Peacock, Universo).

Their combined age of 48 years and 45 days will be the sixth-youngest combined age of opposing starting quarterbacks in a playoff game in NFL history.

The youngest combined age of opposing starting quarterbacks in a postseason game in NFL history:
ROUND GAME QUARTERBACKS COMBINED AGE
1985 Divisional Cleveland at Miami Bernie Kosar & Dan MarinoHOF 46 years, 152 days
2012 Wild Card Seattle at Washington Russell Wilson & Robert Griffin III 47 years, 2 days
1983 Divisional Seattle at Miami Dave Krieg & Dan MarinoHOF 47 years, 178 days
2000 Wild Card Tampa Bay at Philadelphia Shaun King & Donovan McNabb 47 years, 252 days
2019 Wild Card Buffalo at Houston Josh Allen & Deshaun Watson 47 years, 339 days
2022 Wild Card L.A. Chargers at Jacksonville Justin Herbert & Trevor Lawrence 48 years, 45 days

Lawrence was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. With a win on Saturday would become the fifth quarterback selected No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft to win his first career postseason start since 2000.

The quarterbacks selected No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft to win their first career postseason starts since 2000:
PLAYER (DRAFT YEAR) TEAM FIRST POSTSEASON START
Joe Burrow (2020) Cincinnati 2021 AFC Wild Card vs. Las Vegas
Baker Mayfield (2018) Cleveland 2020 AFC Wild Card at Pittsburgh
Alex Smith (2005) San Francisco 2011 NFC Divisional vs. New Orleans
Michael Vick (2000) Atlanta 2002 NFC Wild Card at Green Bay


The Jaguars won their first AFC South division title since 2017 after finishing with the league’s worst record in 2021. With a win on Saturday, Jacksonville would become the first team in NFL history to win a postseason game the season after finishing with the league’s worst or tied for the worst record.

Los Angeles running back AUSTIN EKELER led the league in scrimmage touchdowns in 2022.

Totaling 18 touchdowns (13 rushing, five receiving). In 2021, Ekeler tied for the league lead with a career-best 20 touchdowns (12 rushing, eight receiving).

With two touchdowns in the postseason, Ekeler will become the seventh player in NFL history to record at least 20 touchdowns in consecutive seasons, including playoffs, and the first since Pro Football Hall of Famer LADAINIAN TOMLINSON (2005-06).

FIRST-YEAR COACHES

For the first time in NFL history, five teams that hired a new head coach prior to the season advanced to the playoffs – Jacksonville (DOUG PEDERSON), Miami (MIKE MCDANIEL), Minnesota KEVIN O’CONNELL), the New York Giants (BRIAN DABOLL) and Tampa Bay (TODD BOWLES).

All five of those coaches will be on the sidelines this weekend, with two facing each other. When Minnesota hosts the New York Giants on Sunday (4:30 PM ET, FOX/FOX Deportes), it will mark the fourth playoff game since 1970 featuring two rookie head coaches.

The playoff games featuring to rookie head coaches since 1970:
ROUND GAME COACHES RESULT
2022 NFC Wild Card N.Y. Giants at Minnesota Brian Daboll & Kevin O’Connell ???
2009 AFC Championship N.Y. Jets at Indianapolis Rex Ryan & Jim Caldwell IND 30, NYJ 17
2008 AFC Wild Card Baltimore at Miami John Harbaugh & Tony Sparano BAL 27, MIA 9
2000 NFC Wild Card St. Louis Rams at New Orleans Mike Martz & Jim Haslett NO 31, STL 28

STREAKING RECEIVERS

Several wide receivers look to extend active postseason streaks this weekend.

Tampa Bay wide receiver JULIO JONES has recorded at least 50 receiving yards in each of his nine career playoff games. Miami wide receiver TYREEK HILL has done so in each of his past eight. Jones can become the fourth player ever with at least 50 receiving yards in 10 consecutive postseason games and Hill can become the sixth player to reach the mark in nine consecutive playoff games.

The players with at least 50 receiving yards in the most consecutive postseason games in NFL history:
PLAYER TEAM(S) CONSECUTIVE GAMES
Julian Edelman New England 13 (Jan. 11, 2014 – Feb. 3, 2019)
Gary Clark Washington 10 (Jan. 10, 1988 – Jan. 9, 1993)
Jerry RiceHOF San Francisco 10 (Jan. 1, 1989 – Jan. 17, 1993)
Julio Jones Atlanta, Tennessee 9* (Jan. 8, 2012 – Jan. 11, 2022)
Wes Welker New England 9 (Jan. 12, 2008 – Jan. 20 – 2013)
     
Tyreek Hill Kansas City 8* (Jan. 19, 2020 – Jan. 30 – 2022)
*Active streak

Jones’ teammate MIKE EVANS recorded at least 100 receiving yards and a touchdown reception in both of Tampa Bay’s playoff games last season. With another such performance against Dallas on Monday night (8:15 PM ET, ESPN/ABC, ESPN2-Manningcast, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes), Evans will become the fourth player ever with at least 100 receiving yards and a touchdown reception in three consecutive playoff games. He will be joining LARRY FITZGERALD (four games) and Pro Football Hall of Famers RANDY MOSS (three) and JERRY RICE (three).

Cincinnati wide receivers JA’MARR CHASE and TEE HIGGINS were each crucial in the Bengals’ Super Bowl run last year. They look to have the same success in the 2022 postseason.

Chase’s 368 receiving yards in the 2021 playoffs were the most-ever by a rookie in the postseason. With 96 receiving yards against Baltimore on Sunday night (8:15 PM ET, NBC, Peacock, Telemundo), Chase will surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer RANDY MOSS (463 receiving yards) for the second-most postseason receiving yards ever by a player in his first two seasons. Only CHARLIE BROWN (643) has more.

The players with the most postseason receiving yards in their first two career seasons in NFL history:
PLAYER TEAM RECEIVING YARDS
Charlie Brown Washington 643
Randy MossHOF Minnesota 463
T.Y. Hilton Indianapolis 393
Ja’Marr Chase Cincinnati 368*
*In second season    

Including the playoffs, Chase has totaled 2,869 receiving yards in his career. He can become the third player ever with at least 3,000 receiving yards in his first two seasons, including playoffs. He will be joining Pro Football Hall of Famer RANDY MOSS (3,189) and JUSTIN JEFFERSON (3,016).

Higgins finished the 2021 postseason with three consecutive games with at least 95 receiving yards. With 95 receiving yards on Sunday, he will become the fourth player ever with at least 95 receiving yards in four consecutive playoff games.

The players with at least 95 receiving yards in the most consecutive postseason games in NFL history:
PLAYER TEAM CONSECUTIVE GAMES
Travis Kelce Kansas City 6* (Jan. 17, 2021 – Jan. 30, 2022)
Antonio Brown Pittsburgh 4 (Jan. 3, 2015 – Jan. 15, 2017)
Larry Fitzgerald Arizona 4 (Jan. 3, 2009 – Feb. 1, 2009)
Tee Higgins Cincinnati 3* (Jan. 22, 2022 – Feb. 13, 2022)
*Active streak

Minnesota wide receiver JUSTIN JEFFERSON led the NFL with 128 catches and 1,809 receiving yards this season. With 91 receiving yards against the New York Giants on Sunday (4:30 PM ET, FOX/FOX Deportes), Jefferson will become the sixth player in NFL history with at least 1,900 receiving yards in a single season, including playoffs.

The players with at least 1,900 receiving yards in a single season, including playoffs, in NFL history:
PLAYER TEAM SEASON RECEIVING YARDS
Cooper Kupp L.A. Rams 2021 2,425
Larry Fitzgerald Arizona 2008 1,977
Jerry RiceHOF San Francisco 1995 1,965
Calvin JohnsonHOF Detroit 2012 1,964
Antonio Brown Pittsburgh 2015 1,953
Justin Jefferson Minnesota 2022 1,809*
*Entering playoffs      

PLAYOFF LENNY

In five postseason games with Tampa Bay, running back LEONARD FOURNETTE has totaled 555 scrimmage yards (111 per game) with a touchdown in each game. Going back to the 2017 postseason with Jacksonville, Fournette has scored a touchdown in seven consecutive playoff games.

With a touchdown against Dallas on Monday night (8:15 PM ET, ESPN/ABC, ESPN2-Manningcast, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes), Fournette will become the third running back in NFL history to score a touchdown in eight consecutive postseason games. He will be joining Pro Football Hall of Famers THURMAN THOMAS (nine consecutive playoff games) and EMMITT SMITH (eight).

The running backs with the most consecutive postseason games with a touchdown in NFL history:
PLAYER TEAM(S) GAMES (DATES)
Thurman ThomasHOF Buffalo 9 (Jan. 17, 1993 – Jan. 2, 1999)
Emmitt SmithHOF Dallas 8 (Jan. 23, 1994 – Dec. 28, 1996)
Marcus AllenHOF L.A. Raiders 7 (Jan. 8, 1983 – Jan. 5, 1986)
Terrell DavisHOF Denver 7 (Jan. 4, 1997 – Jan. 17, 1999)
Leonard Fournette Jacksonville, Tampa Bay 7* (Jan. 14, 2018 – Jan. 23, 2022)
John RigginsHOF Washington 7 (Jan. 15, 1983 – Dec. 30, 1984)
*Active streak    

MINING FOR PLAYOFF GOLD

San Francisco defensive lineman NICK BOSA led the NFL with a career-high 18.5 sacks this season. He became the fourth player since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, to record a sack in 13 games within a season.

With a sack against Seattle on Saturday (4:30 PM ET, FOX, FOX Deportes), Bosa will become the fourth player to record a sack in 14 games in a season, including playoffs.

The players with the most games with a sack in a season since 1982, including the postseason:
PLAYER TEAM SEASON GAMES
Trey Hendrickson Cincinnati 2021 15
Robert Mathis Indianapolis 2013 14
DeMarcus Ware Dallas 2008 14
Nick Bosa San Francisco 2022 13*
*Entering Wild Card

In six career playoff games, Bosa has totaled eight sacks, with at least half a sack in each game. He can join LAMARR WOODLEY as the only player with at least half a sack in each of their first seven career playoff games since 1982.

With two sacks on Saturday, Bosa can become the third player since 1982 with at least 10 sacks within his first seven career playoff games. He will be joining Woodley (11 sacks) and Pro Football Hall of Famer RICHARD DENT (10.5).

The players with the most sacks in their first seven career playoff games since 1982:
PLAYER TEAM SACKS
LaMarr Woodley Pittsburgh 11
Richard DentHOF Chicago 10.5
Michael StrahanHOF N.Y. Giants 8.5
Nick Bosa San Francisco 8*
*In first six playoff games


CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY
led all running backs with 741 receiving yards this season. In his lone career playoff game in 2017 with Carolina, he recorded 101 receiving yards and a touchdown reception.

With 100 receiving yards on Saturday, McCaffrey would become the third running back ever to record at least 100 receiving yards in multiple postseason games- He will be joining TONY NATHAN (three games) and Pro Football Hall of Famer LENNY MOORE (two).

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