The NFL filter that separates pretenders from contenders is working quite well. The eight teams remaining in the playoffs boasted the eight best records in football this year.
So some may say they’re the best of the best. The teams themselves may just say …
Hello … again.
Each of the four divisional battles is a re-match of sorts with all of the teams meeting for at least the third time in as many years. Jacksonville-New England met in the 2005 playoffs and at the end of last season. Seattle-Green Bay, New York-Dallas and San Diego-Indianapolis will take their frequent regular-season battles to the next level.
The Giants and Cowboys meet in the postseason for the first time in history. It's a remarkable first, considering the two marquee organizations have combined for 81 playoff games since the Cowboys joined the NFL in 1960. The Chargers and Colts meet in the postseason for just the second time, and first since Jim Harbaugh’s Colts bested Stan Humphries’ Chargers in 1995. The Seahawks and Packers battled in a famous overtime playoff game, but that was back in 2003.
Before we can look ahead to this weekend’s slate of action we decided to take a look back at the recent history of each familiar battle.
Jacksonville at New England
Last three years:
New England 28, Jacksonville 3 (2005 wild-card)
New England 24, Jacksonville 21 (2006 regular season)
Vs. 2007 common opponents: Jacksonville, 4-2 (152 PF-139 PA); New England, 5-0 (190-64)
Recent history says: Jags couldn’t even keep pace with the Branch & Caldwell Patriots.
In 2005, Jacksonville traveled to Foxboro for the wildcard playoffs. Three hours later the 12-4 Jaguars left bruised, battered and outclassed, victims of a 28-3 beat down at the hands of New England. And to think, that Patriots team was 10-6 during the regular season.
Last year the Jaguars played the Patriots to the wire, losing narrowly 24-21 in Jacksonville. That game featured a heavy dose of the human bowling ball of running backs, Maurice Jones-Drew, who totaled 200 yards from scrimmage on just 23 touches and accounted for all three Jaguars touchdowns. We also got a preview of things to come from David Garrard: he completed 17 of 23 passes for 195 yards, 1 TD and 0 picks that day, a performance looks quite familiar to anyone who followed Jacksonville here in 2007.
If the Jaguars have a chance this time around they'll need the best they can get from Garrard, along with a huge effort from their two-headed running attack: newly minted Pro Bowl selection Fred Taylor (5.4 YPA) and Jones-Drew (4.6 YPA), who combined for 1,970 yards on the ground this season.
So let's just say that, while this is a rematch, Jacksonville might find that the New England attack does not look very familiar.
Seattle at Green Bay
Last three years:
Green Bay 23, Seattle 17 (2005)
Seattle 34, Green Bay 24 (2006)
Vs. 2007 common opponents: Green Bay, 4-2 (124-120); Seattle, 5-1 (160-99)
Recent history says: The gunslinger needs to check his holster at the door before the family reunion.
Green Bay and Seattle are incredibly familiar with each other for teams that play in different divisions. Mike Holmgren, of course, won a Super Bowl coaching the Packers and even has a street named after him (Holmgren Way) outside Lambeau Field.
Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was originally drafted by the Packers, while Green Bay general manager Ted Thompson was hired away from the Seahawks.
Brett Favre, meanwhile, developed into a three-time MVP under Holmgren. But the coach certainly feasted on the gunslinger Favre of the past few years. Favre threw just a single TD in each of those two games, against four picks. His combined performance has looked like this: 43 for 73 (58.9%), 525 yards, 7.2 YPA, 2 TD, 4 INT, 67.4 passer rating
Of course, the 2007 version of Favre has been much more productive than the 2005 and 2006 versions, playing ball much like he did back in his MVP glory days under Holmgren.
