NFL Playoffs 2014: Complete Guide to the Entire Postseason
The field is set. The 12 teams with a chance to win Super Bowl XLIX are ready to go as they vie for the NFL's newest Lombardi Trophy and the league's 95th championship.
This postseason includes five teams (Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers) that were not in the playoffs in 2013. The Steelers and Cowboys are newly crowned division champions, while six of the eight winners a year ago repeated this season.
We'll take a look at all 12 teams' seasons, as well as their playoff history. We will analyze the starting quarterbacks and head coaches and delve into their postseason history.
Finally, we will take a look at Wild Card Weekend, where the AFC features rematches from earlier this year, and the NFC has a pair of games that evoke postseason memories.
That ought to do it. Enjoy.
2014 AFC Playoff Teams
1 of 10
No. 1 Seed: New England Patriots (12-4)
AFC East champions
With home-field advantage in the AFC set a week ago, the Patriots opted to sit some players and limit others' playing time in the season finale against the Buffalo Bills. A 17-9 home loss hardly diminishes the fact that this club is a strong favorite to reach Super Bowl XLIX.
No. 2 Seed: Denver Broncos (12-4)
AFC West champions
Peyton Manning and Co. needed a win over the Oakland Raiders to secure a first-round bye in the playoffs, and the Broncos coasted to a 47-14 victory. Denver's running game continued its recent resurgence, while the defense limited the Raiders to 199 total yards and one offensive touchdown.
No. 3 Seed: Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5)
AFC North champions
Mike Tomlin's squad brings a four-game winning streak into the playoffs as it returns to the postseason for the first time since 2011. It was quite the finish for a club that started the season 3-3 and dropped games this year to the woeful Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-14) and New York Jets (4-12).
No. 4 Seed: Indianapolis Colts (11-5)
AFC South champions
Division champions once again, Indianapolis wrapped up a second straight season in which it not only won 11 games but was also a perfect 6-0 within the division. Despite a 27-10 win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, this is a team not necessarily clicking on all cylinders these days.
No. 5 Seed: Cincinnati Bengals (10-5-1)
Wild Card
Six days after knocking off the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football, the Bengals weren't ready for prime time in the Steel City. A 27-17 loss to the Steelers relegated them to wild-card status one season after winning the AFC North. Can this franchise win a playoff game for the first time since 1990?
No. 6 Seed: Baltimore Ravens (10-6)
Wild Card
After stubbing their toes at Houston in Week 16, the Ravens rallied to beat the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. With an assist from the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore reached the playoffs for the sixth time in the last seven years. While many faces have changed, this is a team just two years removed from a Super Bowl title.
2014 NFC Playoff Teams
2 of 10
No. 1 Seed: Seattle Seahawks (12-4)
NFC West champions
The recent domination continues.
Make it six straight wins for the defending Super Bowl champions following a 20-6 conquest of the visiting St. Louis Rams on Sunday.
On their way to the playoffs for the third straight season, the Seahawks own the No. 1 seed in the NFC for the second consecutive year.
No. 2 Seed: Green Bay Packers (12-4)
NFC North champions
A hard-earned 30-20 win on Sunday against the visiting Lions gave the Packers their fourth consecutive division title and put them in the playoffs for the sixth straight year. Fortunately for Mike McCarthy, quarterback Aaron Rodgers has an extra week to get healthier.
No. 3 Seed: Dallas Cowboys (12-4)
NFC East champions
On Sunday at Washington, the Cowboys achieved a rare feat by going 8-0 on the road this season via a 44-17 win over the Redskins. A dozen wins are the most by the club since 2007, when Dallas was the No. 1 seed in the NFC with a 13-3 record.
No. 4 Seed: Carolina Panthers (7-8-1)
NFC South champions
It's been an improbable year for the Panthers, who opened the season 2-0, went 1-8-1 in their next 10 games and then capped off a perfect December with a 34-3 rout of the Falcons. Carolina becomes the second team in five years (2010 Seattle Seahawks) to win a division title with a losing record.
No. 5 Seed: Arizona Cardinals (11-5)
Wild Card
Losers of their last two games, the Cardinals are in the playoffs for the first time since 2009 but missed out on a chance for a franchise-first 12-win season. Does Arizona have enough bodies to pull off a playoff win?
No. 6 Seed: Detroit Lions (11-5)
Wild Card
Fortunately for the Lions, they don't have to go to Green Bay this week. Sunday's 30-20 loss to the Packers was Detroit's 24th straight road setback in the series (including playoffs), dating back to 1992. Now can the team win a playoff game for the first time since 1991?
AFC Teams (Postseason History)
3 of 10
New England Patriots
Postseason Record: 25-18
The Patriots continue their magnificent run that dates back more than a decade. New England is making its sixth straight postseason appearance, tied with the Green Bay Packers for the longest active streak in the NFL.
Under head coach Bill Belichick, the Patriots are 18-8 in the playoffs and have made five Super Bowl appearances, winning three titles. Prior to his arrival, New England was 7-10 in the postseason.
Denver Broncos
Postseason Record: 20-18
The Broncos are attempting to become the first team since the 1972 Miami Dolphins to win the Super Bowl one year after losing the title game. Denver has made seven appearances in the Big Game, and while there are those back-to-back titles in 1997 and '98, this is the only franchise to lose five Super Bowls.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Postseason Record: 33-21
This proud franchise is tied with the Dallas Cowboys for the most postseason wins in NFL history. That includes eight Super Bowl appearances and a record six Lombardi Trophies.
It's an amazing run for a team that has now won 21 division titles dating back to the merger, the most in the league, and played in only one playoff game from 1933 to 1971.
Indianapolis Colts
Postseason Record: 20-22
If history is any indication, the odds that the Colts reach the Super Bowl are probably pretty slim. All four of the franchise's Super Bowl appearances have come in Miami/South Florida, where the team won titles in the 1970 (Super Bowl V) and 2006 (Super Bowl XLI) seasons.
Since winning it all eight years ago, the Colts are just 3-6 in the playoffs, dating back to 2007.
Cincinnati Bengals
Postseason Record: 5-12
Whose fault is it? Marvin Lewis? Andy Dalton?
It's been a long time since this franchise celebrated in the second season. The Bengals' last playoff win came in 1990 against the then-Houston Oilers at Cincinnati. The franchise owns the longest current drought in the league in terms of a postseason victory.
As for assigning the blame, there's plenty to go around, and much of it predates Lewis' and Dalton's arrival in the Queen City.
Baltimore Ravens
Postseason Record: 14-7
While this franchise has been around since just 1996, this marks the 10th time the Ravens will make a playoff appearance. The franchise has won twice as many postseason games as it has lost and has a pair of Super Bowl wins on its resume.
NFC Teams (Postseason History)
4 of 10
Seattle Seahawks
Postseason Record: 12-12
The defending Super Bowl champions don't have the storied playoff history of some of the other franchises. Of course, this is a team that didn't join the National Football League until 1976.
The Seahawks are attempting to become the first team to reach consecutive Super Bowls since the New England Patriots in 2003 and 2004. Last year's playoff run enabled them to even their lifetime postseason record.
Green Bay Packers
Postseason Record: 30-19
No franchise in the history of the National Football League has won more league championships (13) than the Packers. That includes four Super Bowl titles, the last coming in 2010 in Super Bowl XLV, a 31-25 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dallas.
Dallas Cowboys
Postseason Record: 33-25
The Cowboys have been in the NFL since 1960, a total of 55 seasons, and are making their NFL record-tying 31st postseason appearance. Then again, this is the first time we've seen the proud franchise in the playoffs since 2009.
Dallas is also tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most playoff wins (33) in NFL history. Of course, only one of those victories has come since 1997.
Carolina Panthers
Postseason Record: 6-5
Not only are the Panthers the first team to win back-to-back NFC South titles, Carolina is also making a second straight playoff appearance for the first time in the 20-year history of the franchise.
The team is seeking its first Super Bowl appearance since 2003 and hasn't won a postseason game since 2005.
Arizona Cardinals
Postseason Record: 6-7
While the Cardinals are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2009, this franchise owns the longest current drought in terms of winning an NFL championship. The last time this team won a league title was in 1947 when the Chicago Cardinals knocked off the Philadelphia Eagles to win it all.
Detroit Lions
Postseason Record: 7-11
The Lions are the only team in this year's playoff field that has never made a Super Bowl appearance. The franchise hasn't won a league championship since 1957.
Dating back to the merger in 1970, Detroit is a dismal 1-10 in the playoffs and has dropped seven consecutive postseason games, the second-longest streak in NFL history.
AFC Quarterbacks
5 of 10
Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Postseason Record as Starter: 18-8
Career Playoff Statistics: 590-of-950 (62.1 percent), 6,424 yards, 43 TD, 22 INT
The numbers speak for themselves. Only Joe Montana (45) and Brett Favre (44) have thrown more postseason touchdown passes. And there are those five Super Bowl appearances and three titles.
But it is also worth noting that in his last 16 playoff appearances, Brady is 8-8 as a starter, throwing 29 touchdown passes and 19 interceptions. In his first 10 postseason games, the prolific signal-caller was unbeaten, connecting for 14 scores, while being picked off just three times.
Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos
Postseason Record as Starter: 11-12
Career Playoff Statistics: 572-of-889 (64.3 percent), 6,589 yards, 37 TD, 24 INT
We spend a lot of time hearing what Manning hasn't done compared to what he has accomplished.
No player has thrown for more yards in NFL postseason history. Yet that losing record in the playoffs combined with those 24 interceptions always raises an eyebrow.
Still, Manning still has a viable shot at becoming the first starting quarterback to lead two different teams to Super Bowl titles.
Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
Postseason Record as Starter: 10-4
Career Playoff Statistics: 248-of-409 (60.6 percent), 3,150 yards, 20 TD, 17 INT
A two-time NFL champion with three Super Bowl appearances under his belt, Big Ben tied for the league lead in passing yards this season (4,952) and connected for 32 scores while throwing only nine interceptions. This is a Pittsburgh offense loaded with weapons but keyed by their 11-year quarterback, who has gotten better with age.
Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts
Postseason Record as Starter: 1-2
Career Playoff Statistics: 77-of-140 (55.0 percent), 1,062 yards, 6 TD, 8 INT
He's the king of the comeback, and in last year's AFC Wild Card Round, he rallied the Colts from a 38-10 third-quarter deficit for a 45-44 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
But Luck has not had the best of seasons despite leading the NFL with 40 touchdown passes. The Pro Bowl quarterback also turned over the football 22 times in 2014 and had five of those miscues returned for scores.
Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals
Postseason Record as Starter: 0-3
Career Playoff Statistics: 70-of-123 (56.9 percent), 718 yards, 1 TD, 6 INT
The numbers listed speak for themselves. Dalton has struggled in three playoff starts and has thrown as many touchdown passes (19) this season as he has committed turnovers. Can the fourth-year pro, who has reached the playoffs every season of his career, turn things around against the Colts this week?
Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens
Postseason Record as Starter: 9-4
Career Playoff Statistics: 207-of-373 (55.5 percent), 2,672 yards, 19 TD, 8 INT
Including the postseason, Flacco has started every game the Ravens have played since 2008. You will also remember that during his magnificent 2012 playoff run, Flacco threw 11 touchdown passes and zero interceptions in four games and led Baltimore to a win in Super Bowl XLVII.
That means in his other nine playoff appearances, Flacco owns a 5-4 record (two of those losses to the Steelers, this week's foe) and has thrown for eight scores as well as eight interceptions.
NFC Quarterbacks
6 of 10
Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
Postseason Record as Starter: 4-1
Career Playoff Statistics: 82-of-130 (63.1 percent), 1,096 yards, 6 TD, 1 INT
With the league's best defense in town, Wilson often doesn't get credit for what he truly does for this club.
After the Seahawks' Week 17 win over the Rams, Wilson said (via Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times), "I never really worry about tasking risks or anything like that....I just try to play the game the way it's told. I know our defense is going to make some plays for us."
Despite an interception in Sunday's division-clinching win over the St. Louis Rams, the third-year quarterback does a great job of taking care of the football. Wilson threw for only 20 scores this season but committed just seven turnovers (all interceptions) and added 849 yards rushing and six touchdowns.
Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
Postseason Record as Starter: 5-4
Career Playoff Statistics: 210-of-318 (66.0 percent), 2,489 yards, 19 TD, 5 INT
The numbers are worth a look and perhaps more than one.
This season, Rodgers threw 38 touchdown passes and only five interceptions. Dating back to the start of 2011, the electrifying quarterback has thrown for 139 scores, while being picked off only 25 times in his last 56 regular-season contests. Rodgers has thrown for at least three scores in 29 of those games.
Even hampered by a leg injury Sunday, he still led his team to a 30-20 win over the Detroit Lions. ESPN's Adam Schefter hinted that Rodgers' performance may have won him the MVP as well.
Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys
Postseason Record as Starter: 1-3
Career Playoff Statistics: 80-of-135 (59.3 percent), 832 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT
Much has been made of Romo's failures in the playoffs, and the image of him dropping a snap at Seattle in the 2006 postseason (with Dallas setting up for a go-ahead field goal) is burned in many NFL fans' minds.
But you have to like what you've seen from the veteran quarterback down the stretch. In Dallas' final four games, all wins, Romo has thrown for 12 touchdowns while committing just two turnovers.
Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
Postseason Record as Starter: 0-1
Career Playoff Statistics: 16-of-25 (64.0 percent), 267 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
There's not a lot to go on in terms of the playoffs for Newton. But he becomes the first Panthers quarterback to go to the postseason two years in a row.
Despite a season that had its ups and downs, as well as its bumps and bruises, the first overall pick in 2011 was solid during his team's strong stretch run. While he missed the Week 15 tilt vs. the Buccaneers, Newton threw five touchdown passes and just one interception in his last three appearances and ran for a score in each of those games.
Ryan Lindley, Arizona Cardinals
Postseason Record as Starter: 0-0
On Sunday at San Francisco, Lindley finally threw his first NFL regular-season touchdown pass in his ninth career game. He would add another score and finish with 316 yards through the air, but he also threw three interceptions in a 20-17 loss to the 49ers. He will have to deal with a hot Carolina team that has allowed a combined 43 points in its last four games.
Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions
Postseason Record as Starter: 0-1
Career Playoff Statistics: 28-of-43 (65.1 percent), 380 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
The first overall pick in 2009 has made only one previous playoff appearance; his Lions lost to the New Orleans Saints, 45-28, in the 2011 NFC Wild Card Round. This season, Stafford has done his best considering he's played without Calvin Johnson and Reggie Bush for stints. He's thrown 22 touchdown passes this season, but he has also committed 15 of the team's 20 turnovers.
AFC Head Coaches
7 of 10
Bill Belichick, New England Patriots
Postseason Record: 19-9 (1-1 with Browns; 18-8 with Patriots)
Belichick once again has a chance to become the second head coach in NFL history to take a team to six Super Bowls (joining Don Shula) and can also become the second head coach to win four Super Bowls (along with Chuck Noll).
Including the postseason, only Shula (347), George Halas (324) and Tom Landry (270) have totaled more victories than Belichick (230), who is taking the Patriots to the playoffs for the 12th time in 15 seasons with the club.
John Fox, Denver Broncos
Postseason Record: 8-6 (5-3 with Panthers; 3-3 with Broncos)
He's been at the helm of the Broncos for four years and has led the team to the AFC West title each season. But Denver has been very ordinary in the postseason under Fox, who is one of only six head coaches to take two different teams (Panthers and Broncos) to a Super Bowl.
Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers
Postseason Record: 5-3
In eight seasons with the franchise, Tomlin has never suffered through a losing season and is taking the Steelers to the playoffs for the fifth time. In two of his first four years in the Steel City, the 42-year-old sideline leader took Pittsburgh to Super Bowls XLIII (win over the Arizona Cardinals) and XLV (loss to the Green Bay Packers).
Chuck Pagano, Indianapolis Colts
Postseason Record: 1-2
He's 3-of-3 when it comes to getting to the playoffs, and his club has posted an 11-5 record each year. Pagano has one of the league's best offensive units, and it's somehow strange that, while his forte is defense, the Colts haven't caught on to that so far.
Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals
Postseason Record: 0-5
Never mind that the Bengals have been to the playoffs a franchise-record four straight years. Lewis has yet to win a postseason game, and three of his losses have come at home. Can Cincinnati end its long current playoff drought and win a road playoff game for the first time ever (0-6)?
John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens
Postseason Record: 9-4
Like Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh, Harbaugh has never endured a sub-.500 campaign since taking over the Ravens in 2008. Baltimore will be making its sixth playoff appearance in seven years under this Harbaugh, who led the team to a win over the San Francisco 49ers (and brother Jim) in Super Bowl XLVII at the Superdome in New Orleans.
NFC Head Coaches
8 of 10
Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks
Postseason Record: 6-4 (1-2 with Patriots; 5-2 with Seahawks)
A mere 20 years ago, Carroll was the head coach of the New York Jets for one season. He eventually had a three-year stint with the Patriots before going on to have success as the leader of the USC Trojans.
Now he’s a Super Bowl champion with the Seahawks and looks to become the first head coach since Bill Belichick (who replaced Carroll in New England) to win two straight NFL titles.
Mike McCarthy, Green Bay Packers
Postseason Record: 6-5
In his ninth season with the Pack, McCarthy has his team in the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year and the seventh time. But it is also worth noting that since winning Super Bowl XLV in 2010, McCarthy's club is just 1-3 in the playoffs—with two of those losses coming at Lambeau Field.
Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys
Postseason Record: 0-0
The last time the Cowboys reached the playoffs was 2009, when head coach Wade Phillips was in charge (sort of) of Jerry Jones' squad.
Garrett makes his playoff debut and hopes to get his club deep into the postseason. Dallas has won only two playoff games since 1996 and has not reached the NFC title game since 1995.
Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers
Postseason Record: 0-1
He's the fourth head coach in the Panthers' 20-year history but the first to take the team to the playoffs two straight years. It's quite an amazing feat considering Carolina has lost twice as many games this season as it did in 2013.
Bruce Arians, Arizona Cardinals
Postseason Record: 0-0
The NFL Coach of the Year in 2012 as an assistant with the Indianapolis Colts appears to be the odds-on-favorite to win it once again in his second season with the Cardinals.
Despite an impressive career resume, Arians will be making his playoff debut as a head coach next week against the Panthers.
Jim Caldwell, Detroit Lions
Postseason Record: 2-2 (2-2 with Colts; 0-0 with Lions)
The Lions are making their second appearance in the playoffs in four years but the first under Caldwell, who took over for Jim Schwartz this season and led the club to 11 wins, the most by the team since it went 12-4 in 1991.
Of course, Detroit is not only looking to make its first-ever appearance in the Super Bowl. Caldwell would also become the seventh head coach to take two different franchises to the Super Bowl (2009 Colts to Super Bowl XLIV).
2014 AFC Wild Card Games
9 of 10
Baltimore Ravens (10-6) at Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5)
Saturday, Jan. 3
8:15 p.m. ET (NBC)
Talk about a rivalry? For the fourth time dating back to 2001, the Ravens and Steelers will meet in the playoffs. The teams split their regular-season series in 2014, with each club winning at home by exactly 20 points.
How's this for an interesting statistic? Dating back to 1970, this marks the 10th time the Steelers will face a divisional rival in the playoffs. Pittsburgh is 9-0 in those games, including 3-0 vs. the Ravens.
Cincinnati Bengals (10-5-1) at Indianapolis Colts (11-5)
Sunday, Jan. 4
1:05 p.m. ET (CBS)
Earlier this season (Week 7), the Colts blanked the visiting Bengals, 27-0, and outgained Cincinnati in total yards, 506-135. There's not a lot of playoff history between these clubs, their only previous postseason meeting coming in 1970 when the Colts were still in Baltimore.
2014 NFC Wild Card Games
10 of 10
Arizona Cardinals (11-5) at Carolina Panthers (7-8-1)
Saturday, Jan. 3
4:35 p.m. ET (ESPN)
For the second straight year, the Panthers will host a playoff game. While there's hardly a long history between these clubs, the Cardinals traveled to Carolina and came away with a 33-13 upset win in the 2008 NFC Divisional Playoffs.
Including that postseason meeting, this marks the eighth game between these teams dating back to 2007.
Detroit Lions (11-5) at Dallas Cowboys (12-4)
Sunday, Jan. 4
4:40 p.m. ET (Fox)
The last time the Lions won a playoff game was 1991, when they handed the visiting Cowboys a 38-6 loss in the NFC divisional playoffs at the Pontiac Silverdome.
As for recent history, Detroit rallied for a 31-30 victory over Dallas in 2013 at Ford Field.
This should be a fascinating matchup between NFL rushing leader DeMarco Murray and one of the league's best run defenses.
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