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January 15, 2004

PRESS BOX NOTES – NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

QUARTERBACK CLUB:  The Philadelphia Eagles’ DONOVAN MC NABB has become the seventh NFL quarterback in the past 25 seasons to lead his team to three or more consecutive conference championship games.  Of the five other quarterbacks who have taken their team to three title games in a row, all reached the Super Bowl at least once.

Quarterbacks who have led their team to three consecutive AFC or NFC Championship Games since 1979:

ARMS WITH LEGS:  Philadelphia’s McNabb is now the NFL quarterback leader in career rushing yards per attempt in the playoffs with a 6.7-yard average (minimum 25 attempts).  McNabb averaged 9.7 yards per carry in last Sunday’s Divisional Playoff game against Green Bay when he rushed for an NFL quarterback playoff-record 107 yards on 11 carries.  Quarterbacks with the highest career rushing yards per attempt in the playoffs (minimum 25 attempts):

COMEBACK KIDS:  Carolina Panthers quarterback JAKE DELHOMME has posted an NFL-leading eight victories this season when his team has been trailing or tied in the fourth quarter (including the playoffs).  The starting quarterbacks for all four AFC and NFC Championship Game teams rank among the top five in the category.

Quarterbacks with the most victories when trailing or tied in the fourth quarter in 2003:

RARE REMATCHES:  This Sunday’s AFC and NFC Championship Games are rematches of meetings of this past November 30 – only the second time that both championship games have been rematches of regular-season games played on the same day.  On October 1, 1989, the Cleveland Browns defeated the visiting Denver Broncos 16-13.  On the same day, the Los Angeles Rams topped the host San Francisco 49ers 13-12.  Denver and San Francisco, as home teams, won the championship game rematches. 

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED:  Since 1975, when homefield advantage in the playoffs was no longer predetermined, the road team has won nine of 29 NFC Championship Games.  The CAROLINA PANTHERS will seek to become the second consecutive team to accomplish the feat after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002.

Road teams that have won NFC Championship Games since 1975:

HOST WITH THE MOST:  On Sunday, the PHILADELPHIA EAGLES will become the seventh team in NFL history to host two consecutive conference championship games.  Of the previous six teams to host consecutive title games, each advanced to at least one Super Bowl.

Teams that have hosted consecutive conference championship games:

SMITH REACHING NEW HEIGHTS:  Last week, Carolina Panthers wide receiver STEVE SMITH became the fifth player to post 100 yards receiving in each of his first two career playoff games.

Smith registered 163 yards on six receptions against St. Louis in last week’s NFC Divisional Playoff game, following 135 yards on five catches in a Wild Card victory over Dallas.  With a 100-yard receiving performance on Sunday against Philadelphia, Smith can become the first player in NFL history with three 100-yard receiving perfomances in his first three playoff games:

IT’S A TEAM SPORT:  The PHILADELPHIA EAGLES and NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS each have reached their conference championship games without a 1,000-yard rusher or 1,000-yard receiver.  They are attempting to become the first such teams to advance to the Super Bowl since the 1996 Green Bay Packers. 

The last five teams to reach a conference championship game without a 1,000-yard rusher or receiver:

GEORGE HALAS TROPHY:  Former Minnesota Vikings defensive end JIM MARSHALL, the NFL’s record holder with 282 consecutive games played, will present the winner of the NFC Championship Game with the GEORGE HALAS TROPHY.  The presentation will take place on the field after the game.  Marshall played in Super Bowl VIII in Houston in 1974.

Halas, the late owner of the Chicago Bears and a founder of the NFL, is the second-winningest coach in NFL history (324-151-31) behind DON SHULA (347-173-6).  He won six NFL championships with the Bears and is a charter enshrinee of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.