FOR USE AS DESIRED
January 8, 2004

NFL PRESS BOX NOTES – DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS

BEST OF THE RECENT BEST:  The teams with the best won-loss records over the past five years will be playing in this weekend’s Divisional Playoffs, led by the St. Louis Rams and Tennessee Titans.  The two clubs have a 56-24 (.700) record from 1999-2003, the best mark in the NFL in that time. 

Green Bay, Indianapolis and Philadelphia fill out the top five of the past five years.

The teams with the best regular-season records from 1999-2003:

TEAM

W

L

Pct.

St. Louis

56

24

.700

Tennessee

56

24

.700

Green Bay

51

29

.638

Indianapolis

51

29

.638

Philadelphia

51

29

.638

The eight remaining playoff clubs have a combined 100-32 (.758) record, the best mark in the Divisional Playoffs in six years (1998: 101-31, .765). 

-- NFL DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS --

STINGY AT HOME:  The NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS allowed only 68 points in eight home games this season – the fewest points surrendered at home since 1978 when the NFL went to a 16-game schedule.

The Patriots host the Tennessee Titans on Saturday night.  New England surrendered 44 percent of its points at home this year in a 38-30 victory over Tennessee on October 5.

The fewest points-against totals at home since 1978:

TEAM

SEASON

POINTS

New England

2003

68

Dallas

1978

70

Philadelphia

1992

73

Chicago

1985

74

Denver

1979

77

Philadelphia

1980

77

WALKING THE WALK:  Green Bay Packers wide receiver JAVON WALKER last week became the fourth player in NFL history to post 100 yards receiving in each of his first two playoff games.

He registered 111 yards on five catches against Seattle last Sunday in an NFC Wild Card game.  Walker, in his second year out of Florida State, had 104 yards on five catches in a 2002 Wild Card against Atlanta.  With a 100-yard game on Sunday against Philadelphia, Walker can become the first player in history with three 100-yard receiving performances in his first three playoff games.

Players who posted 100 yards receiving in their first two career playoff games:

PLAYER

TEAM

SEASONS

100-YARD GAMES

Lenny Moore

Baltimore Colts

1958-59

2 – at NY Giants, 101 yards (’58), vs. NY Giants, 128 yards (’59)

Dwight Clark

San Francisco

1981

2 – vs. NY Giants, 104 yards, vs. Dallas, 120 yards

Sterling Sharpe

Green Bay

1993

2 – at Detroit, 101 yards, at Dallas 128 yards

Javon Walker

Green Bay

2002-03

2 – vs. Atlanta, 104 yards (’02), vs. Seattle, 111 yards ('03)

 -- NFL DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS --

JOINING THE RANKSNew England quarterback TOM BRADY has won his first three career playoff games.  With a win on Saturday against Tennessee, he will become the sixth quarterback since 1970 to win his first four playoff starts. 

Brady can tie JEFF HOSTETLER and JOE MONTANA for fourth place in most wins to start a playoff career.  Former Dallas quarterback TROY AIKMAN ranks first in the category with seven victories.

Quarterbacks with the longest winning streaks to start a playoff career:

QUARTERBACK

TEAM

WINS

Troy Aikman

Dallas

7

Joe Theismann

Washington

6

Jim Plunkett

Oak/L.A. Raiders

5

Jeff Hostetler

N.Y. Giants-Oakland

4

Joe Montana

San Francisco

4

 

 

 

Tom Brady

New England

3

-- NFL DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS --

STREAKING AT HOME:  The ST. LOUIS RAMS, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS and NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS hold three of the four longest active home winning streaks in the NFL, and can add to those totals this weekend

St. Louis hosts Carolina on Saturday, Kansas City welcomes Indianapolis on Sunday, and New England hosts Tennessee on Saturday night.

Teams with the longest active home winning streaks:

TEAM

WINNING STREAK

St. Louis

14*

Kansas City

13*

New England

9*

Seattle

9

                                                            *Host playoff games this weekend

-- NFL DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS -- 

GRAND OPENING:  A modern NFL stadium revival began in 1992, and since then, 17 new stadiums have been built. 

Three of those stadiums have hosted playoff games in the year in which they opened, with all three home teams winning their first postseason game in their new stadium.

The PHILADELPHIA EAGLES will seek to extend that streak Sunday afternoon when they host the Green Bay Packers at new Lincoln Financial Field.   

New NFL stadiums that have hosted playoff games in their first season since 1992:

STADIUM (YEAR OPENED)

DATE OF FIRST PLAYOFF GAME

RESULT

Ericsson Stadium (1996)

January 5, 1997

CAROLINA 26, Dallas 17

The Coliseum (1999)

January 8, 2000

TENNESSEE 22, Buffalo 16

Heinz Field (2001)

January 20, 2002

PITTSBURGH 21, Baltimore 10

 

 

 

Lincoln Financial Field (2003)

January 11, 2004

PHILADELPHIA hosts Green Bay