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Home , 2016 Pro Bowl, Aqib Talib, Carolina Panthers, Chris Harris (safety), Eric Berry, James Starks

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1/12/16 http://twitter.com/nfl345

NFL’S FINAL EIGHT TAKE CENTER STAGE IN DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS

And then there were eight. The NFL heads into the Divisional Playoffs after a weekend that saw all four road teams win – the first time in NFL postseason history in which all four road teams won in the same weekend.

On Saturday, January 16, the (12-4), the AFC East champions, will host the (12-5) at to kick off the weekend (CBS, 4:35 PM ET). That night in primetime (NBC, 8:15 PM ET), the (13-3), who won the NFC West, will face the (11-6) at University of Phoenix Stadium.

On Sunday, January 17, the (15-1), the NFC South champions and the conference’s No. 1 seed, will welcome the Seahawks (11-6), the two-time defending NFC champions, to Stadium (FOX, 1:05 PM ET) and the AFC West-champion (12-4), who have -field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs, will host the (11-6) (CBS, 4:40 PM ET).

“In the postseason, every team is a good team,” says New England . “You’re not in the postseason if you’re not a good team. These are the best teams in playing with everything at stake. There’s nothing to hold back for. There is no game next week for the loser. This is competition at the highest level right here.”

Three of the four games this weekend will be rematches from the regular season. A look at this weekend’s Divisional Playoffs:

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (12-5) at NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (12-4) (Saturday, CBS, 4:35 PM ET)

Kansas City and New England will meet in the postseason for the first time. The Patriots and Chiefs last played in 2014 (September 29) when Kansas City defeated New England 41-14 at . The last meeting between the two teams at Gillette Stadium was 2011 (November 21) which the Patriots won 34-3.

The Chiefs have won 11 consecutive games, including last week’s 30-0 shutout victory at Houston in the Wild Card round. That win marked the third-largest shutout victory by a road team in NFL postseason history. Kansas City started the postseason off with a 106-yard kickoff-return by , the second-longest kick-return touchdown in NFL playoff history.

“We wanted to come in and dominate,” says Chiefs safety . “Right now, we are locked in and ready for next week.”

The Patriots, the defending champions, have won seven consecutive AFC East titles and earned a first-round for the sixth season in a row. At 12-4, New England became the fifth team in NFL history to post at least 15 consecutive winning seasons and the first to do so since (1983-98, 16 seasons).

Quarterback has 21 career postseason wins, the most in NFL history. Head coach BILL BELICHICK has 22 playoff victories and last year passed Pro Football Hall of Famer (20) for the most in league history.

“You’ve got to play your biggest at the biggest moments against the best teams in the toughest conditions,” says Brady. “You’ve got to see what you’re made of. That’s what this tournament is all about.”

GREEN BAY PACKERS (11-6) at ARIZONA CARDINALS (13-3) (Saturday, NBC, 8:15 PM ET)

The Packers and Cardinals will meet for the third time in the postseason. The clubs split the first two meetings as Green Bay defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 41-16 in the 1982 playoffs (January 8, 1983) and Arizona knocked off Green Bay 51-45 in during the Wild Card round of the 2009 postseason (January 10, 2010). The Cardinals were victorious earlier this season in Week 16, beating the Packers 38-8 at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Green Bay advanced to the Divisional round after a 35-18 win over last week. Packers , who has a 100.3 postseason passer rating in his career, threw touchdown passes to RANDALL COBB and DAVANTE ADAMS while running backs and each rushed for a score.

“The playoffs bring it out of all of us,” says Rodgers. “It’s a one-and-done mentality. We know how to win these games.”

The Cardinals won a franchise-record 13 games and captured the team’s first NFC West division title since 2009. Arizona has won at least 10 games in all three seasons under head coach .

The Cardinals’ offense scored a team-record 489 points (30.6 per game) led by Pro Bowl quarterback and . Palmer set club records with 4,671 passing yards, 35 touchdown passes and a 104.6 passer rating. Fitzgerald, who holds NFL records for the most catches (30), receiving yards (546) and touchdown receptions (seven) in a single postseason (2008), had a team-record 109 catches and his seventh 1,000-yard season (1,215 yards).

“The regular season is over,” says Palmer. “Now the fun begins.”

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (11-6) at CAROLINA PANTHERS (15-1) (Sunday, FOX, 1:05 PM ET)

Carolina and Seattle will meet in the postseason for the third time. The Seahawks have won both meetings, including last year’s Divisional Playoff 31-17 in Seattle. The teams met earlier this season in Week 6 and the Panthers scored two late to pull out a 27-23 come-from-behind victory.

The Seahawks improved to 6-1 in the postseason over the past three seasons under head coach with a 10-9 win at Minnesota last week. Seattle, which is the second team in NFL history to lead the league in fewest points allowed in four consecutive seasons (, 1953-57), has won six consecutive road games and allowed just one offensive touchdown.

“We realize we’ve got to do this on the road and if we want to do something really special, it’s going to take an incredible run here,” says Carroll. “So we’re just getting ready for Carolina and we’re going to do everything we can to see if we can slow them down and find a way to move the football against a great football team. We’re going to have to play great football.”

The Panthers had a franchise-record 15 wins and posted the best record in the NFL (15-1). Carolina won the NFC South division title for the third consecutive season under head coach . The Panthers had an NFL-best 10 players selected to the Pro Bowl: THOMAS DAVIS (first), center (fifth), linebacker (third), quarterback (third), (first), GREG OLSEN (second), defensive (first), (first), fullback (second) & guard (first).

Newton is the only player in NFL history with at least 30 passing touchdowns (35) and 10 rushing touchdowns (10) in a season. He passed for 3,837 yards and rushed for 636 yards, becoming the first player in league history to have at least 3,000 passing yards and 500 rushing yards in five seasons.

“Our guys feel that we have a lot to prove,” says Rivera, “and I agree. It’s exciting to see us playing well and it’s great to see the guys enjoying it. It’s great to see the guys with their confidence.”

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (11-6) at DENVER BRONCOS (12-4) (Sunday, CBS, 4:40 PM ET)

The Steelers and Broncos will meet in the postseason for the eighth time (Denver leads the series, 4-3). Denver won the team’s last playoff meeting during the 2011 postseason, a 29-23 overtime victory in the Wild Card round (January 8, 2012). The Steelers knocked off the Broncos in Week 15, scoring 24 unanswered points in the second half in a 34-27 comeback win.

Pittsburgh defeated 18-16 last week in the Wild Card round, the Steelers’ 34th postseason victory, tied with for the most in NFL history.

“This is January football,” says Pittsburgh head coach . “We’re not a perfect group but we did enough to move on. We hope to say that again next week.”

The Broncos clinched the AFC West and the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs with a 27-20 victory in Week 17 over San Diego. Quarterback , who missed time with a foot injury, came off the bench to spark the Broncos and has been named the starter for the Divisional Playoffs.

“I just do what I think is best for our football team,” says Denver head coach about naming Manning the starter. “I feel really good about this and how far Peyton has come.”

The Broncos, who led the NFL in total defense (283.1 yards per game) and passing defense (199.6 yards per game), had four players selected to the Pro Bowl and all four are on the defensive side of the ball: cornerback , JR. (second), linebacker (fourth), cornerback (third) and linebacker DE MARCUS WARE (ninth). FINAL 2015 NFL STANDINGS Conference East Division Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Away Conf Div Streak y-New England Patriots 12 4 0 .750 465 315 7-1 5-3 9-3-0 4-2-0 Lost 2 10 6 0 .625 387 314 6-2 4-4 7-5-0 3-3-0 Lost 1 8 8 0 .500 379 359 5-3 3-5 7-5-0 4-2-0 Won 2 6 10 0 .375 310 389 3-5 3-5 4-8-0 1-5-0 Won 1

North Division

Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Away Conf Div Streak y- 12 4 0 .750 419 279 6-2 6-2 9-3-0 5-1-0 Won 1 x-Pittsburgh Steelers 10 6 0 .625 423 319 6-2 4-4 7-5-0 3-3-0 Won 1 5 11 0 .312 328 401 3-5 2-6 4-8-0 3-3-0 Lost 1 3 13 0 .188 278 432 2-6 1-7 2-10-0 1-5-0 Lost 3

South Division Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Away Conf Div Streak y- 9 7 0 .562 339 313 5-3 4-4 7-5-0 5-1-0 Won 3 Colts 8 8 0 .500 333 408 4-4 4-4 6-6-0 4-2-0 Won 2 5 11 0 .312 376 448 4-4 1-7 5-7-0 2-4-0 Lost 3 Titans 3 13 0 .188 299 423 1-7 2-6 1-11-0 1-5-0 Lost 4

West Division Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Away Conf Div Streak z-Denver Broncos 12 4 0 .750 355 296 6-2 6-2 8-4-0 4-2-0 Won 2 x-Kansas City Chiefs 11 5 0 .688 405 287 6-2 5-3 10-2-0 5-1-0 Won 10 Oakland Raiders 7 9 0 .438 359 399 3-5 4-4 7-5-0 3-3-0 Lost 1 San Diego Chargers 4 12 0 .250 320 398 3-5 1-7 3-9-0 0-6-0 Lost 2

National Football Conference East Division Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Away Conf Div Streak y-Washington Redskins 9 7 0 .562 388 379 6-2 3-5 8-4-0 4-2-0 Won 4 7 9 0 .438 377 430 3-5 4-4 4-8-0 3-3-0 Won 1 6 10 0 .375 420 442 3-5 3-5 4-8-0 2-4-0 Lost 3 4 12 0 .250 275 374 1-7 3-5 3-9-0 3-3-0 Lost 4

North Division Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Away Conf Div Streak y- 11 5 0 .688 365 302 6-2 5-3 8-4-0 5-1-0 Won 3 x-Green Bay Packers 10 6 0 .625 368 323 5-3 5-3 7-5-0 3-3-0 Lost 2 Lions 7 9 0 .438 358 400 4-4 3-5 5-6-0 3-3-0 Won 3 Bears 6 10 0 .375 335 397 1-7 5-3 3-8-0 1-5-0 Lost 1

South Division Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Away Conf Div Streak z-Carolina Panthers 15 1 0 .938 500 308 8-0 7-1 11-1-0 5-1-0 Won 1 Falcons 8 8 0 .500 339 345 4-4 4-4 5-7-0 1-5-0 Lost 1 7 9 0 .438 408 476 4-4 3-5 5-7-0 3-3-0 Won 2 6 10 0 .375 342 417 3-5 3-5 5-7-0 3-3-0 Lost 4

West Division Team W L T Pct PF PA Home Away Conf Div Streak y-Arizona Cardinals 13 3 0 .812 489 313 6-2 7-1 10-2-0 4-2-0 Lost 1 x- 10 6 0 .625 423 277 5-3 5-3 7-5-0 3-3-0 Won 1 St. Louis Rams 7 9 0 .438 280 330 5-3 2-6 6-6-0 4-2-0 Lost 1 5 11 0 .312 238 387 4-4 1-7 4-8-0 1-5-0 Won 1 x - Clinched Playoffs; y - Clinched Division; z - Clinched Conference LAST WEEK’S RESULTS (JANUARY 9-10) (Home Team in Caps)

Saturday, January 9 Sunday, January 10 Kansas City 30, HOUSTON 0 Seattle10, MINNESOTA 9 Pittsburgh 18, CINCINNATI 16 Green Bay 35, WASHINGTON 18

2015 DIVISIONAL WEEKEND SCHEDULE (JANUARY 16-17) (All times local)

Saturday, January 16 Sunday, January 17 Kansas City at New England 4:35 PM (CBS) Seattle at Carolina 1:05 PM (FOX) Green Bay at Arizona 6:15 PM (NBC) Pittsburgh at Denver 2:40 PM (CBS)

2015 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME WEEKEND (JANUARY 24)

Sunday, January 24 AFC Championship Game 3:00 PM ET (CBS) NFC Championship Game 6:30 PM ET (FOX)

2016 PRO BOWL (JANUARY 31)

Sunday, January 31 , , , 7:00 PM ET (ESPN)

SUPER BOWL 50 (FEBRUARY 7)

Sunday, February 7 , Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, 6:30 PM ET (CBS)