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NFC NEWS ‘N’ NOTES
PHILADELPHIA AT ST. LOUIS SUNDAYIN NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMESUNDAY, JANUARY 27
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES–NFC EAST (13-5) AT ST. LOUIS RAMS–NFC WEST (15-2)
SERIES
2001 STAT LEADERS
NOTES EAGLES: Are 4-1 (.800) all-time in championship games (1947-49, 1960, 1980)……Have won 6 of past 8 (including playoffs) vs. Rams……Have won 7 of past 8, including 2 playoff wins……Have outscored opponents 64-28 in 2 playoff victories…...Are 8-1 on road, including 1-0 in postseason……QB DONOVAN MC NABB has 3-1 (.750) career playoff record. Has 90.3 passer rating in 2001 postseason. Has 7 career playoff TD passes & needs 2 to tie RON JAWORSKI (9) for first place in team history. McNabb averages 5.7 yards per carry in 4 career playoff games (25 carries for 143 yards & 1 TD). Accounts for 79.0 percent of Eagles’ offense in postseason (529 of 670 total net yards)……RBDUCE STALEY finished fourth among NFC RBs with career-high 63 catches for career-best 626 receiving yards. CORRELL BUCKHALTER ranked third among NFC rookie RBs with 586 rushing yards on 129 carries for 4.5 average……WR JAMES TRASH’s 63 catches, 833 receiving yards & 8 receiving TDs were all career highs……Club’s 10 fumble gives tied for third-fewest in NFC (Tampa Bay). Eagles’ 19 fumble takes tied for most in NFL (Green Bay & NY Jets)…...Opponents’ 208 points allowed were second-fewest in NFL & club record……Led NFL inside 20 with opponents’ 30.4 TD percentage (14 of 46)……In past 4 playoff games, defense has allowed only 1 opponents’ TD. In postseason, team is permitting 221.0 yards per game & 134.0 passing yards……Defense has gone 34 consecutive games (including playoffs) allowing 24 points or fewer, the longest streak since Minnesota’s 41 (1968-71)……DE HUGH DOUGLAS has 4.0 sacks in 4 career playoff games. Team is 3-0 in playoff games when Douglas posts at least 1.0 sack……S DAMON MOORE has 3 INTs in 2001 playoffs, including 59-yard TD-return vs. Bucs in Wild Card game. Return was longest in club playoff history. Had INT vs. Rams in Week 1……KR-PR BRIAN MITCHELL has longest kick return in playoff history, 100 yards for TD vs. Tampa Bay in 1999 Divisional game (with Washington). Ranks second all-time with 26 career postseason punt returns & 281 punt-return yards, & needs 9 returns & 32 yards to pass DAVID MEGGETT (34 returns & 312 yards) for first place……K DAVID AKERS tied team postseason record with 4 FGs (4/4 FG) vs. Bears in Divisional playoff & his 46-yard FG was longest in team playoff history……P SEAN LANDETA finished tied for second in NFC with 43.5 average, his highest since 44.8 in 1996 with Rams. His 26 punts inside 20 were career second-best (30 in 1998)……Eagles’ Pro Bowl All-Stars: Akers, S BRIAN DAWKINS, Douglas, LB JEREMIAH TROTTER & CB TROY VINCENT. RAMS: Will make 14th championship game (NFL, 1933-69 & NFC, 1970-present) appearance, third-most all-time. Are participating in third consecutive postseason & 25th overall, tying NY Giants for second-most all-time (Dallas, 26) ……Rams defeated Eagles 20-17 in OT in Week 1……First team in NFL history to score 500 points in 3 consecutive years. Rams’ 1,569 points in 3-year span is most ever. First club with 20,000 total yards in three-year span (20,177) & had NFL-record 14,248 passing yards over that time……Set franchise record with 14 regular-season wins. Have won 7 in a row (1-0 in postseason)……Had NFL’s top offense (418.1) & passing offense (291.4) ……QB KURT WARNER became sixth player in NFL history to win A.P. NFL MVP more than once (1999 & 2001). Led NFL in passing yards (4,830, second all-time behind DAN MARINO’s 5,084 in 1984), TDs (36) & passer rating (101.4). Has 95.1 career playoff passer rating, third all-time (BART STARR, 104.8 & JOE MONTANA, 95.6). Playoff career average gain (8.61 yards per attempt) is best all-time……Rams are 23-0 since 1995 when they have 100-yard rusher……RB MARSHALL FAULK became first player in NFL history with 4 consecutive 2,000-scrimmage yard seasons. Had NFC-best 2,147 yards from scrimmage, including NFC third-best 1,382 rushing yards. Led NFL in total TDs for second year in row (21) & had NFC-high 12 rushing TDs. Faulk’s 83 receptions led team & was most among NFL RBs ……WR TORRY HOLT had team-best 1,363 receiving yards (81 receptions). Has 2,998 receiving yards in past 2 seasons. Finished second in NFL with 26 catches of 20+ yards & tied for third with 6 receptions of 40+ yards. Was third in NFC with 16.8 average. Averaged 106.0 yards per game at home. WR ISAAC BRUCE tied for NFC-lead with 17.3 average. Had fifth 1,000-yard season of career (1,106 yards). Tied for third in NFL with 23 catches of 20+ yards. Averaging 111.0 yards per game in 4 career playoff games……Defense ranked first in NFC (279.4) & rush defense was second (85.9). Allowed 273 points this season, fourth-fewest in conference ……Have not allowed 100-yard rusher in past 17 games……Have +7 turnover margin in postseason. Forced 8 turnovers versus Green Bay in Divisional playoff. Had 3 INT-TDs. CB AENEAS WILLIAMS became first player in NFL postseason history with 2 INT-TDs in game. Williams has 5 INTs in 3 career playoff games. Has INT in 3 consecutive playoff games, tied for NFL record. Rookie LB TOMMY POLLEY had 2 INTs, including 34-yard INT-TD vs. Pack……DE LEONARD LITTLE finished second in NFC with career-best 14.5 sacks. Entering 2001, had 5.5 total sacks in 3-year career……K JEFF WILKINS led NFL with 127 points……Rams tie 49ers & Eagles for NFC second-best with five players selected to Pro Bowl: Bruce, Faulk, T ORLANDO PACE, Warner & Williams. |
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