Divisional Atlanta Falcons (NFC South - 11-6) at Philadelphia Eagles (NFC East - 13-3) Saturday, January 13, 2018 4:35 PM ET Lincoln Financial Field LEADER: Eagles lead all-time series, 18-14-1 STREAKS: Falcons have won 3 of past 4 LEADER: Eagles lead all-time series, 2-1 STREAKS: Eagles have won past 2 SERIES HISTORY (INCL. PLAYOFFS) PLAYOFF SERIES HISTORY LAST GAME: 11/13/16: Falcons 15 at Eagles 24 LAST GAME AT SITE: 11/13/16 LAST PLAYOFF: 1/23/05: Falcons 10 at Eagles 27 LAST PLAYOFF AT SITE: 1/23/05 ATLANTA FALCONS PLAYOFF RECORD 10-13 W 26-13 at Los Angeles Rams VS. COMMON OPP. 5-1 (Car 1-1; Chi 1-0; Dal 1-0; LAR 1-0; Sea 1-0) PTS. FOR/AGAINST 22.1/19.7 OFFENSE 364.8 PASSING Matt Ryan: 342-529-4095-20-12-91.4 RUSHING Devonta Freeman: 196-865-4.4-7 RECEIVING Julio Jones: 88-1444 (2L)-16.4-3 DEFENSE 318.4 SACKS Adrian Clayborn: 9.5 INTs Deion Jones: 3 TAKE/GIVE -2 (16/18) PR Andre Roberts: 7.4 KR Andre Roberts: 22.6 PUNTING (NET) Matt Bosher: 44.9 (40.8) Matt Bryant: 137 (35/35 PAT; 34/39 FG) HEAD COACH: DAN QUINN VS. OPP. 1-1 PLAYOFF RECORD 3-1 FALCONS TEAM NOTES FALCONS won 3 of past 4 playoff games. ATLANTA ranked 3rd in NFC averaging 364.8 yards per game. FALCONS were 1 of 2 NFC teams (SEATTLE) with 2 players with 100+ tackles each: LB DEION JONES (138) & S KEANU NEAL (113). DAN QUINN has led team to playoffs in 2 of his 1st 3 seasons with Atl. FALCONS had 2 players selected to 2018 Pro Bowl: WR JULIO JONES (5th) & C ALEX MACK (5th). PHILADELPHIA EAGLES PLAYOFF RECORD 19-21 HEAD COACH: DOUG PEDERSON VS. OPP. 1-0 PLAYOFF RECORD 0-0 Bye (Wk. 17: L 6-0 vs. Dallas) VS. COMMON OPP. 4-2 (Car 1-0; Chi 1-0; Dal 1-1; LAR 1-0; Sea 0-1) PTS. FOR/AGAINST 28.6 (T2L)/18.4 OFFENSE 365.8 PASSING Nick Foles: 57-101-537-5-2-79.5 RUSHING LeGarrette Blount: 173-766-4.4-2 RECEIVING Zach Ertz (TE): 74-824-11.1-8 DEFENSE 306.5 SACKS Brandon Graham: 9.5 INTs Patrick Robinson: 4 TAKE/GIVE +11 (31/20) PR Kenjon Barner: 8.9 KR Kenjon Barner: 19.4 PUNTING (NET) Donnie Jones: 45.3 (40.6) Jake Elliott (R): 117 (39/42 PAT; 26/31 FG) EAGLES TEAM NOTES EAGLES won NFC East for 1st time since 2013. PHILADELPHIA tied franchise record with 13 wins (2004). EAGLES tied for 1st in NFL with +162 point differential, led league in rush defense (79.2 yards per game) & ranked 1st in NFC in turnover differential (+11). DOUG PEDERSON makes postseason head coaching debut. EAGLES had 6 players selected to 2018 Pro Bowl: G BRANDON BROOKS (1st), DT FLETCHER COX (3rd), TE ZACH ERTZ (1st), S MALCOLM JENKINS (2nd), T LANE JOHNSON (1st) & QB CARSON WENTZ (1st). ON THE AIRWAVES TV: NBC (4:35 PM ET): Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya (Field reporter) WESTWOOD ONE: John Sadak, Tony Boselli, Ross Tucker SIRIUS: 88 (WW1), 83 (Atl), 82 (Phi) XM: 88 (WW1), 83 (Atl), 82 (Phi)
Divisional Atlanta Falcons (NFC South - 11-6) at Philadelphia Eagles (NFC East - 13-3) FALCONS NOTES QB MATT RYAN has 41,796 career pass yards & surpassed PEYTON MANNING (41,626) for most pass yards by player in his 1st 10 seasons in NFL history. Has 1,628 pass yards (325.6 per game), 13 TDs & 1 INT for 124.3 rating in his past 5 playoff games. Aims for his 6th in row in postseason with 100+ rating. Has 70+ comp. pct. in 5 consec. playoff games, 2nd-longest streak all-time. In his past 4 games vs. Phi., has 10 TDs vs. 5 INTs for 100.3 rating. RB DEVONTA FREEMAN had rush TD last week. In 4 career playoff games, has 399 scrimmage yards (99.8 per game) & 4 TDs (3 rush, 1 rec.). Aims for 5th playoff game in row with TD. RB TEVIN COLEMAN has TD in 3 of 4 career postseason games. WR JULIO JONES led NFC with 1,444 rec. yards. Had 9 catches for 94 yards & TD last week. In his past 5 postseason games, has 39 receptions for 610 yards (122 per game) & 6 TDs. Has 24 catches for 399 yards (133 per game) & 3 TDs in his past 3 vs. Phi. LB DEION JONES led team with 10 tackles last week. Has FF, INT & 4 PD in 4 career playoff games. Ranked 2nd in NFC with career-high 138 tackles. S KEANU NEAL led NFC safeties with 113 tackles. Had 9 tackles & FF in his last game vs. Phi. Rookie LB TAKKARIST MC KINLEY had sack last week. Was only NFL rookie with 5+ sacks (6) & 2+ FFs (2). LB VIC BEASLEY had sack last week. Had 2 sacks & FF in last game vs. Phi. CB ROBERT ALFORD ranked 4th in NFL with 20 PD. EAGLES NOTES QB NICK FOLES completed 23 of 33 (69.7 pct.) with 2 TDs & 0 INTs for 105 rating in only career playoff game (2013 NFC WC vs. NO, 1/4/14). RB JAY AJAYI rushed for 130 yards in only career game vs. Atl. (10/15/17 with Mia.). RB LE GARRETTE BLOUNT has 8 rush TDs in 8 career postseason games. Since entering NFL in 2010, ties for 3rd in league with 59 rush TDs (including playoffs). WR ALSHON JEFFERY tied for 4th in NFL with 9 TD catches. Had 136 rec. yards in only career game vs. Atl. (10/12/14 with Chi.). WR NELSON AGHOLOR set career-highs in catches (62), rec. yards (768) & rec. TDs (8). TE ZACH ERTZ tied for 2nd among NFL TEs with 8 TD catches & ranked 3rd with 824 rec. yards. Had rec. TD in only career playoff game (2013 NFC WC, 1/4/14). Jeffery (9), Agholor (8) & Ertz (8) were only trio of teammates in NFL with 8+ TD catches each. DE BRANDON GRAHAM led team with career-high 9.5 sacks. Had sack in only career postseason game (2013 NFC WC, 1/4/14). Had sack in last game vs. Atl. Since 2016, DT FLETCHER COX is 1 of 6 NFL DTs with 10+ sacks (12) & 2+ FFs (2). CB PATRICK ROBINSON led team with 4 INTs & 18 PD. S MALCOLM JENKINS has 16 tackles & sack in his past 3 playoff games. LB NIGEL BRADHAM led team with 88 tackles. DE DEREK BARNETT ranked 2nd among NFC rookies with 5 sacks. JULIO JONES is the only player in NFL history with at least 180 rec. yards & 2 TD catches in multiple playoff games. Pro Bowl DE Brandon Graham RB Jay Ajayi HIGHEST CAREER POSTSEASON PASSER RATING (min. 150 attempts) Bart Starr......104.8 rating MATT RYAN...102.4 rating Drew Brees...101.6 rating RUSH YARDS/GAME ALLOWED PHILADELPHIA... 79.2 Minnesota... 83.6 Carolina...88.1 RUSH YARDS/GAME Jacksonville... 141.4 Dallas...135.6 PHILADELPHIA...132.2
Divisional Tennessee Titans (AFC South - 10-7) at New England Patriots (AFC East - 13-3) Saturday, January 13, 2018 8:15 PM ET Gillette Stadium LEADER: Patriots lead all-time series, 24-16-1 STREAKS: Patriots have won past 6 LEADER: Series tied, 1-1 STREAKS: Patriots won last meeting SERIES HISTORY (INCL. PLAYOFFS) PLAYOFF SERIES HISTORY LAST GAME: 12/20/15: Titans 16 at Patriots 33 LAST GAME AT SITE: 12/20/15 LAST PLAYOFF: 1/10/04: Titans 14 at Patriots 17 LAST PLAYOFF AT SITE: 1/10/04 TENNESSEE TITANS PLAYOFF RECORD 15-19 W 22-21 at Kansas City VS. COMMON OPP. 2-4 (Hou 1-1; KC 1-0; Mia 0-1; Oak 0-1; Pit 0-1) PTS. FOR/AGAINST 20.9/22.3 OFFENSE 314.0 PASSING Marcus Mariota: 281-453-3232-13-15-79.3 RUSHING Derrick Henry: 176-744-4.2-5 RECEIVING Delanie Walker (TE): 74-807-10.9-3 DEFENSE 328.0 SACKS Derrick Morgan: 7.5 INTs TAKE/GIVE -4 (21/25) Kevin Byard: 8 (T1L) PR Adoree Jackson (R): 8.5 KR Adoree Jackson (R): 23.1 PUNTING (NET) Brett Kern: 49.7 (1L) (44.6) (1L) Ryan Succop: 136 (31/33 PAT; 35/42 FG) HEAD COACH: MIKE MULARKEY VS. OPP. 0-6 PLAYOFF RECORD 1-0 TITANS TEAM NOTES TITANS recorded 1st postseason win since 1/3/04 (2003 AFC Wild Card) last week. TENNESSEE overcame 18-point 2nd-half deficit last week to win at KC & joined 1957 Lions as only teams to overcome 18+ point deficit to win a road playoff game. MIKE MULARKEY won postseason debut as head coach last week. TITANS had 3 players selected to 2018 Pro Bowl: DT JURRELL CASEY (3rd), P BRETT KERN (1st) & T TAYLOR LEWAN (2nd). NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS PLAYOFF RECORD 32-19 HEAD COACH: BILL BELICHICK VS. OPP. 9-7 PLAYOFF RECORD 26-10 Bye (Wk. 17: W 26-6 vs. New York Jets) VS. COMMON OPP. 4-2 (Hou 1-0; KC 0-1; Mia 1-1; Oak 1-0; Pit 1-0) PTS. FOR/AGAINST OFFENSE PASSING 28.6 (T2L)/18.5 394.2 (1L) Tom Brady: 385-581-4577 (1L)-32 (3L)-8-102.8 (3L) RUSHING Dion Lewis: 180-896-5.0-6 RECEIVING Rob Gronkowski (TE): 69-1084-15.7-8 DEFENSE 366.0 SACKS Trey Flowers: 6.5 INTs Duron Harmon: 4 TAKE/GIVE +6 (18/12) PR Danny Amendola: 8.6 KR Dion Lewis: 24.8 PUNTING (NET) Ryan Allen: 43.4 (40.5) Stephen Gostkowski: 156 (2L) (45/47 PAT; 37/40 FG) PATRIOTS TEAM NOTES PATRIOTS won AFC East for 9th consecutive season (2009-17), longest streak in NFL history. Won 12+ games for 8th consecutive season, longest streak in league annals. NEW ENGLAND led NFL in total offense (394.2 yards per game) and ranked 1st in AFC in scoring (28.6 points per game). BILL BELICHICK has 26 career playoff victories, most by head coach in NFL history. PATRIOTS had 4 players selected to 2018 Pro Bowl: QB TOM BRADY (13th), FB JAMES DEVELIN (1st), TE ROB GRONKOWSKI (5th) & ST MATTHEW SLATER (7th). ON THE AIRWAVES TV: CBS (8:15 PM ET): Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson (Field reporter), Jay Feely (Field reporter) WESTWOOD ONE: Kevin Kugler, Jason Taylor, Hub Arkush SIRIUS: 88 (WW1), 83 (Ten), 82 (NE) XM: 88 (WW1), 83 (Ten), 82 (NE)
Divisional Tennessee Titans (AFC South - 10-7) at New England Patriots (AFC East - 13-3) TITANS NOTES QB MARCUS MARIOTA passed for 2 TDs, incl. deflected pass which he caught for TD, last week. Is 1 of 5 QBs in NFL history with 9,000+ pass yards (9,476) & 900+ rush yards (913) in 1st 3 seasons. Since entering league in 2015, has 40 TD passes vs. 0 INTs in red zone, highest TD/INT ratio in NFL over span (incl. playoffs). RB DERRICK HENRY rushed for 156 yards with TD last week & joined EDDIE GEORGE (1/16/00) as only players in team history with 150+ rush yards in postseason game. Led team with career-high 744 rush yards. Had 3 65+ yard TDs from scrimmage in 2017, most in NFL. RB DE MARCO MURRAY has 225 scrimmage yards (112.5 per game) & 2 rush TDs in 2 career postseason games. Leads NFL with 43 rush TDs & ranks 2nd in league with 5,614 rush yards since 2013. TE DELANIE WALKER led team with 74 catches & 807 rec. yards. Is 1 of 2 NFL TEs (TRAVIS KELCE) with 800+ rec. yards in each of past 4 seasons. Has 3 TD catches in his past 2 vs. NE. WR ERIC DECKER had TD catch last week. Had rec. TD in his last game vs. NE (12/27/15 with NYJ). LB WESLEY WOODYARD led team with career-high 121 tackles. Was 1 of 2 players in NFL (DEMARIO DAVIS) with 100+ tackles & 5+ sacks (5). S KEVIN BYARD tied for NFL lead with 8 INTs, 3rd most by safety in team history. Had league-leading 3 multi-int games in 2017. DT JURRELL CASEY had 6 sacks, his 5th consecutive season with 5+ sacks. Led team with 12 TFL. Had sack in last game vs. NE. LB BRIAN ORAKPO had 1.5 sacks last week. SINGLE-GAME RUSHING YARDS, FRANCHISE PLAYOFF HISTORY Eddie George (1/16/00)... 162 DERRICK HENRY (1/6/18)...156 Earl Campbell (12/31/78)...118 Eddie George (1/8/00)...106 4TH QUARTER RUSHING LEADERS, 2017 REGULAR SEASON Kareem Hunt (KC)...474 DERRICK HENRY (TEN)... 390 Le Veon Bell (Pit.)... 338 PATRIOTS NOTES QB TOM BRADY is all-time postseason leader in career att. (1,325), comp. (831), pass yards (9,094) & pass TDs (63). Has 12 career 300+ pass yard games in playoffs, most in NFL history. Is 25-9 (.735) as starter in postseason, most wins by QB in league annals. Led NFL with 4,577 pass yards & ranked 1st in AFC with 32 TD passes, both most by QB at age 40 or older. In past 6 vs. Ten. (incl. postseason), has 1,528 pass yards (254 per game) with 13 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 111.1 rating. RB DION LEWIS led team with career-high 896 rush yards. Has 366 scrimmage yards (122 per game) with 5 TDs (3 rush, 2 rec.) in past 3. In last playoff game (SB LI), RB JAMES WHITE set single-game SB record with 14 catches & scored 3 TDs (2 rush, 1 rec.), tied for most in single game in SB history. Since 2015, has 12 TD catches, most among NFL RBs. TE ROB GRONKOWSKI led all NFL TEs with 1,084 rec. yards, his 4th career 1,000+ yard season, tied with TONY GONZALEZ and JASON WITTEN for most among TEs in NFL history. In past 5 postseason games, has 431 rec. yards (86.2 per game) & 6 TDs. WR CHRIS HOGAN had 332 rec. yards (110.7 per game) & 2 TDs in 2016 playoffs. S DEVIN MC COURTY led team with career-high 94 tackles. DE TREY FLOWERS had 2.5 sacks in SB LI. CB MALCOLM BUTLER has 7 PD & INT in past 6 in postseason. LB JAMES HARRISON has 11 career sacks in postseason, tied for 5th most in NFL history. K STEPHEN GOSTKOWSKI has made 22 consecutive FGs in postseason, 2nd longest streak in NFL history. Patriots QB TOM BRADY is the all-time leader in many postseason passing categories, including yards, touchdowns and playoff wins. PASSING YARDS TOM BRADY......9,094 Peyton Manning...7,339 TOUCHDOWN PASSES TOM BRADY...... 63 Joe Montana... 45 PLAYOFF WINS TOM BRADY...... 25 Joe Montana... 16
Divisional Jacksonville Jaguars (AFC South - 11-6) at Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC North - 13-3) LEADER: Jaguars lead all-time series, 13-11 STREAKS: Steelers have won 3 of past 4 LEADER: Jaguars lead all-time series, 1-0 STREAKS: Jaguars won only meeting Sunday, January 14, 2018 1:05 PM ET Heinz Field SERIES HISTORY (INCL. PLAYOFFS) PLAYOFF SERIES HISTORY LAST GAME: 10/8/17: Jaguars 30 at Steelers 9 LAST GAME AT SITE: 10/8/17 LAST PLAYOFF: 1/5/08: Jaguars 31 at Steelers 29 LAST PLAYOFF AT SITE: 1/5/08 JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS PLAYOFF RECORD 6-6 VS. COMMON OPP. PTS. FOR/AGAINST OFFENSE 365.9 HEAD COACH: DOUG MARRONE VS. OPP. 1-1 PLAYOFF RECORD 1-0 W 10-3 vs. Buffalo 7-2 (Bal 1-0; Cin 1-0; Cle 1-0; Hou 2-0; Ind 2-0; Ten 0-2) 26.1/16.8 (2L) PASSING Blake Bortles: 315-523-3687-21-13-84.7 RUSHING Leonard Fournette (R): 268-1040-3.9-9 RECEIVING Marqise Lee: 56-702-12.5-3 DEFENSE SACKS INTs 286.1 (2L) Calais Campbell: 14.5 (T2L) A.J. Bouye: 6 (T3L) TAKE/GIVE +10 (33/23) PR Jaydon Mickens (R): 10.3 KR Corey Grant: 24.9 PUNTING (NET) Brad Nortman: 44.1 (38.9) Josh Lambo: 79 (22/24 PAT; 19/20 FG) JAGUARS TEAM NOTES JAGUARS won 1st postseason game since 1/5/08 (2007 AFC WC at Pit.) last week. JACKSONVILLE led NFL with 7 defensive TDs (5 FR, 2 INT) & ranked 2nd in league with 55 sacks & 21 INTs. Had 5 INTs, incl. 2 INT-TDs, in last meeting (Week 5). DOUG MARRONE is 3rd coach in franchise history to lead team to playoffs (TOM COUGHLIN & JACK DEL RIO). JAGUARS had 4 players selected to 2018 Pro Bowl: CB A.J BOUYE (1st), DE CALAIS CAMPBELL (3rd), DT MALIK JACKSON (1st) & CB JALEN RAMSEY (1st). PITTSBURGH STEELERS PLAYOFF RECORD 36-24 VS. COMMON OPP. PTS. FOR/AGAINST 25.4/19.3 OFFENSE HEAD COACH: MIKE TOMLIN VS. OPP. 3-2 PLAYOFF RECORD 8-6 Bye (Wk. 17: W 28-24 vs. Cleveland) 9-0 (Bal 2-0; Cin 2-0; Cle 2-0; Hou 1-0; Ind 1-0; Ten 1-0) 377.9 (3L) PASSING Ben Roethlisberger: 360-561-4251-28-14-93.4 RUSHING RECEIVING DEFENSE 306.9 Le Veon Bell: 321-1291 (3L)-4.0-9 (T3L) Antonio Brown: 101-1533 (1L)-15.2-9 SACKS Cameron Heyward: 12 INTs Sean Davis: 3 TAKE/GIVE +2 (22/20) PR Eli Rogers: 7.7 KR JuJu Smith-Schuster (R): 26.7 PUNTING (NET) Jordan Berry: 43.2 (39.8) Chris Boswell: 142 (37/39 PAT; 35/38 FG) STEELERS TEAM NOTES STEELERS have 36 playoff wins, most in NFL history. PITTSBURGH led NFL with 56 sacks. MIKE TOMLIN is 1 of 3 head coaches in 2017 playoff field with SB victory (XLIII). STEELERS had NFL-high 8 players selected to 2018 Pro Bowl: RB LE VEON BELL (3rd), K CHRIS BOSWELL (1st), WR ANTONIO BROWN (6th), G DAVID DE CASTRO (3rd), C MAURKICE POUNCEY (5th), QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER (6th), LB RYAN SHAZIER (2nd) & T ALEJANDRO VILLANUEVA (1st). ON THE AIRWAVES TV: CBS (1:05 PM ET): Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts, Evan Washburn (Field reporter) WESTWOOD ONE: Tom McCarthy, Ross Tucker, Steve Tasker SIRIUS: 88 (WW1), 83 (Jax), 82 (Pit) XM: 88 (WW1), 83 (Jax), 82 (Pit)
Divisional Jacksonville Jaguars (AFC South - 11-6) at Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC North - 13-3) JAGUARS NOTES QB BLAKE BORTLES passed for TD & had career-high 88 rush yards last week. Had 5 runs of 10+ yards last week, 2nd most by QB in postseason game since 1960. Passed for 3,687 yards & has 3,500+ pass yards in each of past 3 seasons. Has 14,928 pass yards since entering league in 2014, 4th most in NFL history by player in 1st 4 seasons. RB LEONARD FOURNETTE led all rookies with 9 rush TDs & ranked 2nd with 1,040 rush yards. Is 1 of 2 rookies in franchise history (FRED TAYLOR) with 1,000+ rush yards. Had 181 rush yards & 2 TDs, incl. 90-yard TD run, in last meeting. WR MARQISE LEE led team with 56 receptions. WR KEELAN COLE ranked 4th among NFL rookies with 748 rec. yards. Had 17.8 rec. yard avg., highest among rookies (min. 25 catches). TE BEN KOYACK had 1st career postseason TD catch last week. Rookie WR-PR JAYDON MICKENS was 1 of 3 NFL players with 10+ yard PR avg. (10.3) & PR-TD (1) in 2017 (min. 10 PR). DE CALAIS CAMPBELL led AFC with franchise-record & career-high 14.5 sacks. DE YANNICK NGAKOUE was 1 of 2 NFL players (AARON DONALD) with 10+ sacks (12) & 5+ FFs (6). CB JALEN RAMSEY had INT with 32 seconds remaining in 4th Q last week. CB A.J. BOUYE has 2 INTs, FF & 7 PD in his past 3 postseason games. LB TELVIN SMITH led team with 11 tackles & had FF last week. Had 28-yard INT-TD in last meeting. S BARRY CHURCH had 51-yard INT-TD in last game vs. Pit. S TASHAUN GIPSON had 2 INTs in last meeting. STEELERS NOTES QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER ranked 5th in NFL with 4,251 pass yards, his franchise-record 5th 4,000-yard season. Ranks 8th in NFL history with 51,065 pass yards & 9th with 329 TD passes. Has 2+ TD passes in each of past 7 games, longest streak in team history. Has 95+ rating in 3 of past 4 vs. Jax. Is franchise s all-time leader in postseason pass yards (4,787) & comp. (385). RB LE VEON BELL ranked 2nd in NFL with 1,946 scrimmage yards, 3rd most in single season in team history. Has 7,996 career scrimmage yards, most by player in his 1st 5 seasons in franchise history. Had 85 catches in 2017, most among NFL RBs. Has 160+ scrimmage yards in 2 of past 3 in postseason. In only home playoff game (2016 AFC WC, 1/8/17), had 167 rush yards & 2 TDs. Has 211 scrimmage yards (105.5 per game) in past 2 vs. Jax. WR ANTONIO BROWN led NFL with 1,533 rec. yards & became 1st player in franchise history to lead NFL in rec. yards multiple times. Ranked 5th in NFL with 101 catches & is only player in NFL history with 100+ catches in 5 consecutive seasons. Has 100+ rec. yards in 4 of past 5 in postseason. Had 10 catches for 157 rec. yards in last meeting. Rookie WR JU JU SMITH-SCHUSTER had 917 rec. yards, most by rookie in team history. DE CAMERON HEYWARD led team & tied for 3rd in AFC with career-high 12 sacks. LB VINCE WILLIAMS was only AFC player with 8+ sacks (8) & INT (1). Had sack in last meeting. LB T.J. WATT was only NFL rookie with 5+ sacks (7) & INT (1). Tied for 2nd among rookies with 7 sacks. 2017 REGULAR-SEASON SACK LEADERS Chandler Jones (Az)... 17 CALAIS CAMPBELL (JAX)...14.5 Demarcus Lawrence (Dal)... 14.5 Pro Bowl CBs JALEN RAMSEY (4 INTs, 17 PD) & A.J. BOUYE (6 INTs, 18 PD) were the only pair of NFL teammates with 4+ INTs & 15+ PD each in 2017. 2017 REGULAR-SEASON SCRIMMAGE YARD LEADERS Todd Gurley (LAR)...2,093 LE VEON BELL (PIT)......1,946 Kareem Hunt (KC)...1,782 2017 REGULAR-SEASON RECEIVING YARD LEADERS ANTONIO BROWN (PIT)... 1,533 Julio Jones (Atl)...1,444 Keenan Allen (LAC)... 1,393
LEADER: Vikings lead all-time series, 21-11 STREAKS: Saints have won 4 of past 5 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS PLAYOFF RECORD 8-9 W 31-26 vs. Carolina VS. COMMON OPP. 9-3 (Atl 1-1; Car 3-0; Chi 1-0; Det 1-0; GB 1-0; LAR 0-1; TB 1-1; Was 1-0) PTS. FOR/AGAINST 28.0/20.4 OFFENSE PASSING RUSHING RECEIVING 391.2 (2L) DEFENSE 336.5 SERIES HISTORY (INCL. PLAYOFFS) Drew Brees: 386-536-4334-23-8-103.9 (2L) Mark Ingram: 230-1124-4.9-12 (2L) Michael Thomas: 104 (3L)-1245-12.0-5 SACKS Cameron Jordan: 13 INTs Marshon Lattimore (R): 5 TAKE/GIVE +7 (25/18) PR Ted Ginn, Jr.: 5.4 KR Tommylee Lewis: 23.6 PUNTING (NET) Thomas Morstead: 47.0 (42.2) Divisional New Orleans Saints (NFC South - 12-5) at Minnesota Vikings (NFC North - 13-3) Sunday, January 14, 2018 4:40 PM ET U.S. Bank Stadium LEADER: Vikings lead all-time series, 2-1 STREAKS: Saints won last meeting Wil Lutz: 140 (47/50 PAT; 31/36 FG) PLAYOFF SERIES HISTORY LAST GAME: 9/11/17: Saints 19 at Vikings 29 LAST GAME AT SITE: 9/11/17 LAST PLAYOFF: 1/24/10: Vikings 28 at Saints 31 (OT) LAST PLAYOFF AT SITE: 1/6/01: Vikings 34, Saints 16 MINNESOTA VIKINGS PLAYOFF RECORD 19-28 Bye (Wk. 17: W 23-10 vs. Chicago) VS. COMMON OPP. 9-2 (Atl 1-0; Car 0-1; Chi 2-0; Det 1-1; GB 2-0; LAR 1-0; TB 1-0; Was 1-0) PTS. FOR/AGAINST OFFENSE 356.9 23.9/15.8 (1L) PASSING Case Keenum: 325-481-3547-22-7-98.3 RUSHING Latavius Murray: 216-842-3.9-8 RECEIVING Adam Thielen: 91-1276-14.0-4 DEFENSE 275.9 (1L) SACKS Everson Griffen: 13 INTs Harrison Smith: 5 TAKE/GIVE +5 (19/14) PR Marcus Sherels: 9.5 KR Jerick McKinnon: 26.0 PUNTING (NET) Ryan Quigley: 42.2 (39.2) Kai Forbath: 130 (34/39 PAT; 32/38 FG) HEAD COACH: SEAN PAYTON VS. OPP. 3-2 PLAYOFF RECORD 7-4 SAINTS TEAM NOTES SAINTS won NFC South for 1st time since 2011. NEW ORLEANS ranked 2nd in NFL averaging 391.2 yards per game. ALVIN KAMARA (1,554) & MARK INGRAM (1,540) became 1st pair of RB teammates in NFL history with 1,500+ scrimmage yards each. SEAN PAYTON has won franchise-record 4 division titles. SAINTS had 6 players selected to 2018 Pro Bowl: QB DREW BREES (11th), RB MARK INGRAM (2nd), DE CAMERON JORDAN (3rd), RB ALVIN KAMARA (1st), CB MARSHON LATTIMORE (1st) & WR MICHAEL THOMAS (1st). HEAD COACH: MIKE ZIMMER VS. OPP. 1-1 PLAYOFF RECORD 0-1 VIKINGS TEAM NOTES VIKINGS won NFC North for 2nd time in past 3 years. MINNESOTA ranked 1st in total defense (275.9 yards per game) & scoring defense (15.8 points per game). VIKINGS held opponents to 25.2 3rd-down conversion pct., best mark in NFL since 1991. MIKE ZIMMER has led team to playoffs in 2 of his 4 seasons with Min. VIKINGS had 4 players selected to 2018 Pro Bowl: LB ANTHONY BARR (3rd), DE EVERSON GRIFFEN (3rd), CB XAVIER RHODES (2nd) & WR ADAM THIELEN (1st). ON THE AIRWAVES TV: FOX (4:40 PM ET): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews (Field reporter), Chris Myers (Field reporter) WESTWOOD ONE: Kevin Harlan, Trent Green, Laura Okmin SIRIUS: 88 (WW1), 83 (NO), 82 (Min) XM: 88 (WW1), 83 (NO), 82 (Min)
Divisional New Orleans Saints (NFC South - 12-5) at Minnesota Vikings (NFC North - 13-3) SAINTS NOTES QB DREW BREES ranked 4th in NFL with 4,334 pass yards & extended his NFL-record streak to 12 seasons with 4,000+ yards. Had 72.0 comp. pct., highest in single season in NFL history. Passed for 376 yards, 2 TDs & 1 INT for 115.2 rating last week. Has 7 playoff games with 300+ pass yards, 3rd most all-time. In his past 5 vs. Min. (incl. postseason), is 4-1 with 1,430 pass yards (286 per game), 12 TDs & 0 INTs for 118.2 rating. RB MARK INGRAM set career-highs in rush yards (1,124) & scrimmage yards (1,540). RB ALVIN KAMARA had rush TD last week. Ranked 2nd in NFL with 14 total TDs & was 2nd among NFL rookies with 1,554 scrimmage yards. Joined HOFer GALE SAYERS (1965) as only rookies in NFL history with 5+ rush TDs (8), 5+ TD catches (5) & KR-TD (1). WR MICHAEL THOMAS led team with 8 catches for 131 yards last week. Ranked 3rd in NFL with 104 catches. Has 196 career receptions, most by player in 1st 2 seasons in NFL history. Has 3 TDs in 4 career games vs. Car. WR TED GINN, JR. had 115 rec. yards, incl. 80-yard TD catch last week. DE CAMERON JORDAN had sack last week. Aims for 3rd in row vs. Min. with sack. Tied for 4th in NFL with career-high 13 sacks. CB MARSHON LATTIMORE lead team & all NFL rookies with 5 INTs. Tied for lead among NFL rookies with 18 PD. S VONN BELL led team with 9 tackles & had sack last week. Ranked 1st among NFL safeties with career-high 4.5 sacks in 2017. DREW BREES has four career playoff games with at least 375 passing yards, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer KURT WARNER for the second-most all-time. Only PEYTON MANNING (five) has more career postseason games with 375+ passing yards. VIKINGS NOTES QB CASE KEENUM set career-highs in pass yards (3,547), pass TDs (22) & rating (98.3) in 2017. In 7 home starts this season, was 6-1 with 8 TDs vs. 2 INTs for 100.1 rating. Aims for 4th in row at home with 100+ rating. RB LATAVIUS MURRAY ties for 2nd in NFL with 20 rush TDs since 2016. Had rush TD in only career playoff game (2016 AFC WC with Oak, 1/7/17). RB JERICK MC KINNON had career-high 991 scrimmage yards & 5 TDs (3 rush, 2 rec.). WR ADAM THIELEN ranked 2nd in NFC with 1,276 rec. yards & 4th with 91 receptions. Joined ROD SMITH & WES WELKER as only undrafted players since 1967 with 90+ catches & 1,200+ rec. yards in single season. Had 9 catches for 157 yards in last game vs. NO. WR STEFON DIGGS had career-high 8 rec. TDs in 2017. Had 7 receptions for 93 yards & 2 TDs in Week 1 meeting. TE KYLE RUDOLPH tied for 2nd among NFL TEs with 8 TD catches. Has 37 career rec. TDs, most in franchise history among TEs. Had TD catch in last game vs. NO. DE EVERSON GRIFFEN tied for 4th in NFL with careerhigh 13 sacks. Had sack in Week 1 meeting. Aims for 3rd postseaon game in row with sack. S HARRISON SMITH was only player in NFC with 70+ tackles (78), 5+ INTs (5) & sack (1.5). Since 2014, leads NFL safeties with 8 sacks. LB ERIC KENDRICKS led team with 113 tackles, his 2nd consecutive 100+ tackle season. CB TRAE WAYNES had career-high 11 tackles in last game vs. NO. Pro Bowl DE Everson Griffen S Harrison Smith FEWEST PPG ALLOWED MINNESOTA... 15.8 Jacksonville...16.8 Los Angeles Chargers... 17.0 FEWEST YDS/GAME ALLOWED MINNESOTA... 275.9 Jacksonville...286.1 Denver... 290.0