What To Look For - Wild Card Weekend
The National Football League is about to put the “wild” in its Super Wild Card Weekend.
With two additional teams in the playoffs and only one team in each conference receiving a postseason bye this season, the opening round will feature six games – three each on Saturday and Sunday. If history is any guide, some of the lower-seeded wild card teams will pull an upset over a division winner. But who?
Several players will be making their postseason debuts, while others have amassed a typical season’s worth of statistics and experience, or more, in playoff appearances alone.
Tom Brady will be looking to add to his record 11,388 playoff passing yards and 30 postseason wins as he leads his new team, Tampa Bay, which made it into the playoffs for the first time in 13 seasons. Meanwhile, Baker Mayfield and the Browns will play their first meaningful January game in a generation.
For a look at many things to watch for this weekend, read on …
MORE TEAMS, MORE GAMES, MORE WILD: The addition of a third Wild Card team in each conference and the subsequent expansion of the playoffs has resulted in a Super Wild Card Weekend of NFL action. For the first time ever, there will be three games on Saturday, January 9, and three games on Sunday, January 10, to be played at 1:05 PM, 4:40 PM, and 8:15 PM ET on each day.
Seven of the 12 teams in action this weekend are new to the postseason in 2020, having missed the playoffs a year ago: the CHICAGO BEARS, CLEVELAND BROWNS, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS, LOS ANGELES RAMS, PITTSBURGH STEELERS, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS and WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM. Two of those teams – Pittsburgh (AFC North) and Washington (NFC East) – won their division.
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 17 of the past 18 years, including the 2020 season.
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 nine times.
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 |
Defeated Green Bay in Super Bowl XXXII, 31-24 |
|
2000 |
Baltimore |
Defeated New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV, 34-7 |
|
2005 |
Pittsburgh |
Defeated Seattle in Super Bowl XL, 21-10 |
|
2006 |
Indianapolis |
Defeated Chicago in Super Bowl XLI, 29-17 |
|
2007 |
New York Giants |
Defeated New England in Super Bowl XLII, 17-14 |
|
2010 |
Green Bay |
Defeated Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLV, 31-25 |
|
2011 |
New York Giants |
Defeated New England in Super Bowl XLVI, 21-17 |
|
2012 |
Baltimore |
Defeated San Francisco in Super Bowl XLVII, 34-31 |
HIGHEST SCORING TEAMS IN ACTION: Five teams averaged at least 30 points per game in 2020 - the GREEN BAY PACKERS (31.8), BUFFALO BILLS (31.3), TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (30.8), TENNESSEE TITANS (30.7) and NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (30.1) – the most such teams in a single season in NFL history.
Four of these teams will be in action on Super Wild Card Weekend, with Green Bay earning the first-round bye in the NFC. Each of the past four Super Bowl matchups have featured two teams that each ranked in the top five in points per game during the regular-season.
|
SUPER BOWL |
TEAM |
PPG (RANK) |
TEAM |
PPG (RANK) |
RESULT |
|
LIV |
Kansas City |
28.2 (5th) |
San Francisco |
29.9 (2nd) |
KC 31, SF 20 |
|
LIII |
New England |
27.3 (4th) |
L.A. Rams |
32.9 (2nd) |
NE 13, LAR 3 |
|
LII |
Philadelphia |
28.6 (t-2nd) |
New England |
28.6 (t-2nd) |
PHI 41, NE 33 |
|
LI |
New England |
27.6 (3rd) |
Atlanta |
33.8 (1st) |
NE 34, ATL 28 (OT) |
PLAYOFF VETERANS: Four of the seven all-time postseason leaders in passing yards are active in the 2020 postseason, including three appearing on Super Wild Card Weekend: Tampa Bay’s TOM BRADY (11,388 postseason passing yards), Pittsburgh’s BEN ROETHLISBERGER (5,256) and New Orleans’ DREW BREES (4,967). Green Bay’s AARON RODGERS (5,027 passing yards) will make his first 2020 postseason appearance in the Divisional round.
The quarterbacks with the most career postseason passing yards in NFL history:
|
PLAYER |
TEAM(S) |
PASSING YARDS |
|
|
Tom Brady |
New England |
11,388* |
|
|
Peyton Manning |
Indianapolis, Denver |
7,339 |
|
|
Brett FavreHOF |
Green Bay, Minnesota |
5,855 |
|
|
Joe MontanaHOF |
San Francisco, Kansas City |
5,772 |
|
|
Ben Roethlisberger |
Pittsburgh |
5,256* |
|
|
Aaron Rodgers |
Green Bay |
5,027* |
|
|
Drew Brees |
San Diego Chargers, New Orleans |
4,967* |
|
|
*Active in 2020 postseason |
|||
With a Pittsburgh victory against Cleveland on Sunday night (8:15 PM ET, NBC, Telemundo, Peacock), Roethlisberger would tie Pro Football Hall of Famers TERRY BRADSHAW (14 wins) and JOHN ELWAY(14) as well as PEYTON MANNING (14) for the third-most playoff wins by a starting quarterback in NFL history. Tampa Bay quarterback TOM BRADY is the all-time postseason leader in wins with 30 and makes his playoff debut in a Buccaneers’ uniform on Saturday night at Washington.
The starting quarterbacks with the most career postseason wins in NFL history:
|
PLAYER |
TEAM(S) |
POSTSEASON WINS |
|
Tom Brady |
New England |
30* |
|
Joe MontanaHOF |
San Francisco, Kansas City |
16 |
|
Terry BradshawHOF |
Pittsburgh |
14 |
|
John ElwayHOF |
Denver |
14 |
|
Peyton Manning |
Indianapolis, Denver |
14 |
|
Brett FavreHOF |
Green Bay, Minnesota |
13 |
|
Ben Roethlisberger |
Pittsburgh |
13* |
|
*Active in 2020 postseason |
||
Seattle quarterback RUSSELL WILSON – who has led the Seahawks to the postseason in eight of his first nine seasons in the league – tied for second in the NFL with a career-high 40 touchdown passes in 2020 and recorded at least four touchdown passes in five games, the second-most in the league this season.
With at least four touchdown passes against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday (4:40 PM ET, FOX, FOX Deportes), Wilson can surpass TOM BRADY (26 touchdown passes) for the most career postseason touchdown passes by a player in his first nine seasons in NFL history.
The players with the most career postseason touchdown passes in their first nine seasons in NFL history:
|
PLAYER |
TEAM |
TOUCHDOWN PASSES |
|
Tom Brady |
New England |
26 |
|
Brett FavreHOF |
Green Bay |
25 |
|
Joe Flacco |
Baltimore |
25 |
|
Russell Wilson |
Seattle |
23* |
|
*In ninth season |
RUSHING INTO THE POSTSEASON: For the second consecutive season, the BALTIMORE RAVENS and TENNESSEE TITANS will meet in the postseason (Sunday, 1:05 PM ET, ESPN/ABC, ESPN2, ESPN , ESPN Deportes, Freeform), after Tennessee defeated Baltimore in the Divisional round last year. It will mark the first time that two teams will meet in consecutive postseasons since Carolina played both Arizona and Seattle in 2014 and 2015.
Baltimore (191.9 rushing yards per game) and Tennessee (168.1) were the top-two ranked rushing teams in 2020 and their meeting on Sunday will be the fourth postseason game featuring the top-two ranked rushing offenses in the regular season since 1970. The top-ranked rushing team won two of the previous three meetings.
The postseason games featuring the top-two ranked rushing offenses in the regular season since 1970:
|
PLAYOFF ROUND |
NO.1 RUSHING OFFENSE |
NO. 2 RUSHING OFFENSE |
RESULT |
|
2020 Wild Card |
Baltimore Ravens |
Tennessee Titans |
??? |
|
Super Bowl XXIII |
Cincinnati Bengals |
San Francisco 49ers |
SF 20, CIN 16 |
|
1972 AFC Championship |
Miami Dolphins |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
MIA, 21, PIT 17 |
|
1970 Divisional |
Dallas Cowboys |
Detroit Lions |
DAL 5, DET 0 |
Tennessee running back DERRICK HENRY led the NFL with 2,027 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns this season, the fifth-most rushing yards by a player in a single season in league history. In last year’s postseason meeting against Baltimore, Henry rushed for 195 yards, his third-career postseason game with at least 150 rushing yards.
With at least 150 rushing yards on Sunday, Henry would tie Pro Football Hall of Famer TERRELL DAVIS(four games) for the most games with at least 150 rushing yards in postseason history.
Baltimore running back J.K. DOBBINS ranked third among rookies in rushing yards (805) and rushing touchdowns (nine) this season and has recorded a rushing touchdown in six consecutive games (Week 11, 13-17).
With a rushing touchdown on Sunday, Dobbins would tie CURTIS DICKEY (seven games in 1980) and STAN FRITTS (seven games in 1975) for the second-most consecutive games with a rushing touchdown by a rookie in NFL history, including postseason. Only MAURICE JONES-DREW (eight games in 2006) had a longer streak.
The rookies with a rushing touchdown in the most consecutive games, including the postseason, in NFL history:
|
PLAYER |
TEAM |
SEASON |
GAMES |
|
Maurice Jones-Drew |
Jacksonville |
2006 |
8 |
|
Curtis Dickey |
Baltimore Colts |
1980 |
7 |
|
Stan Fritts |
Cincinnati |
1975 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
J.K Dobbins |
Baltimore |
2020 |
6* |
|
*Active streak |
|||
SEARCHING FOR PLAYOFF TREASURES: Tampa Bay quarterback TOM BRADY is the league’s all-time postseason leader in starts (41), completions (1,025), passing yards (11,388) and touchdown passes (73), with 12 of his 73 postseason touchdowns to tight end ROB GRONKOWSKI.
With a touchdown pass from Brady to Gronkowski at Washington on Saturday night (8:15 PM ET, NBC, Universo), the pair will surpass the Pro Football Hall of Fame combination of JOE MONTANA and JERRY RICE (12 touchdowns) for the most postseason touchdowns by a quarterback-receiver pairing in NFL history.
The quarterback-receiver pairings with the most postseason touchdowns in NFL history:
|
QUARTERBACK |
RECEIVER |
TOUCHDOWNS |
|
|
Tom Brady |
Rob Gronkowski |
12* |
|
|
Joe MontanaHOF |
Jerry RiceHOF |
12 |
|
|
Brett FavreHOF |
Antonio Freeman |
10 |
|
|
*Active in 2020 postseason |
|||
Additionally, with a touchdown reception on Saturday night, Gronkowski will surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer JOHN STALLWORTH (12 touchdown receptions) for the second-most touchdown catches in postseason history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer JERRY RICE (22) has more.
The players with the most career postseason receiving touchdowns in NFL history:
|
PLAYER |
TEAM(S) |
RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS |
|
|
Jerry RiceHOF |
San Francisco, Oakland Raiders |
22 |
|
|
Rob Gronkowski |
New England |
12* |
|
|
John StallworthHOF |
Pittsburgh |
12 |
|
|
*Active in 2020 postseason |
|||
Tampa Bay wide receiver ANTONIO BROWN enters the postseason after recording season highs in catches (11), receiving yards (138) and receiving touchdowns (two) in Week 17. Dating back to the 2014 postseason, Brown has recorded at least 75 receiving yards in six consecutive playoff games.
With at least 75 receiving yards on Saturday night, Brown will have recorded at least 75 receiving yards in seven consecutive postseason games, the longest streak in NFL history.
Brown has eclipsed the 100 receiving yard mark five times in his postseason career. With at least 100 receiving yards on Saturday night, he will tie JULIAN EDELMAN (six games) and Pro Football Hall of Famer MICHAEL IRVIN (six games) for the second-most postseason games with at least 100 receiving yards in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer JERRY RICE (eight games) has more.
The players with the most career postseason games with at least 100 receiving yards in NFL history:
|
PLAYER |
TEAM(S) |
GAMES |
|
|
Jerry RiceHOF |
San Francisco, Oakland Raiders |
8 |
|
|
Julian Edelman |
New England |
6 |
|
|
Michael IrvinHOF |
Dallas |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Antonio Brown |
Pittsburgh |
5* |
|
|
*Active in 2020 postseason |
|||
BAKER’S DEBUT: Cleveland quarterback BAKER MAYFIELD, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft, will be making his postseason debut against Pittsburgh on Sunday night (8:15 PM ET, NBC, Telemundo, Peacock). Mayfield recorded a career-high 95.9 passer rating in 2020 and joined ANDREW LUCK and PEYTON MANNING as the only players with at least 3,500 passing yards and 20 touchdown passes in each of their first three seasons in NFL history.
With a victory on Sunday, Mayfield would become the first quarterback that was selected No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft to win his first career postseason start since ALEX SMITH in 2011.
The quarterbacks selected No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft to win their first career postseason start in the Super Bowl era:
|
PLAYER (DRAFT YEAR) |
FIRST POSTSEASON START |
|
Alex Smith (2005) |
2011 Divisional vs. New Orleans |
|
Michael Vick (2000) |
2002 Wild Card at Green Bay |
|
Vinny Testaverde (1987) |
1994 Wild Card vs. New England |
|
Troy AikmanHOF (1989) |
1992 Divisional vs. Philadelphia |
|
Steve YoungHOF (1984) |
1992 Divisional vs. Washington |
|
Jim PlunkettHOF (1971) |
1980 Wild Card vs. Houston Oilers |
|
Steve Bartkowski (1975) |
1978 Wild Card vs. Philadelphia |
|
Terry BradshawHOF (1970) |
1972 Divisional vs. Oakland Raiders |
TOP DEFENSE: The LOS ANGELES RAMS allowed the fewest points per game (18.5) in the NFL this season. Since 2002, seven teams with the top regular-season scoring defense have advanced to the Super Bowl.
The teams with the top scoring defense in the regular season to advance to the Super Bowl since 2002:
|
SEASON |
TEAM |
SUPER BOWL RESULT |
|
2002 |
Tampa Bay |
Defeated Oakland in Super Bowl XXXVII, 48-21 |
|
2003 |
New England |
Defeated Carolina in Super Bowl XXXVIII, 32-29 |
|
2008 |
Pittsburgh |
Defeated Arizona in Super Bowl XLIII, 27-23 |
|
2010 |
Pittsburgh |
Lost to Green Bay in Super Bowl XLV, 31-25 |
|
2013 |
Seattle |
Defeated Denver in Super Bowl XLVIII, 43-8 |
|
2014 |
Seattle |
Lost to New England in Super Bowl XLIX, 28-24 |
|
2016 |
New England |
Defeated Atlanta in Super Bowl LI, 34-28 |
|
|
|
|
|
2020 |
Los Angeles Rams |
??? |
Los Angeles linebacker LEONARD FLOYD had five sacks and a fumble recovery in two games against Seattle this season, recording at least two sacks in each game.
With at least two sacks against Seattle on Saturday (4:40 PM ET, FOX, FOX Deportes), Floyd would become the first player in NFL history to record at least two sacks against one team three times in a single season.
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