FOR USE AS DESIRED 1/5/18 http://twitter.com/NFL345 2017 NFL PLAYOFFS GET UNDERWAY The NFL playoffs begin on Saturday and Sunday, January 6-7, with Wild Card Weekend. On Saturday, the Tennessee Titans play at the Kansas City Chiefs (ESPN/ABC, 4:35 PM ET) and the Atlanta Falcons visit the Los Angeles Rams (NBC, 8:15 PM ET). Wild Card Weekend continues Sunday with the Buffalo Bills at the Jacksonville Jaguars (CBS, 1:05 PM ET) and the Carolina Panthers traveling to face the division-rival New Orleans Saints (FOX, 4:40 PM ET). The following week (January 13-14), the New England Patriots (Saturday, CBS, 8:15 PM ET) and Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday, CBS, 1:05 PM ET) in the AFC and the Philadelphia Eagles (Saturday, NBC, 4:35 PM ET) and Minnesota Vikings (Sunday, FOX, 4:40 PM ET) in the NFC host the Divisional Playoffs. The Patriots and Eagles own home-field advantage for the Conference Championship Games (January 21) if they win their Divisional contests. The 2018 Pro Bowl will be played on Sunday, January 28 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida (ESPN/ABC, 3:00 PM ET) and Super Bowl LII will take place on Sunday, February 4 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota (NBC, 6:30 PM ET). FRESH FACES & CONSISTENT WINNERS HIGHLIGHT PLAYOFF FIELD There are eight new playoff teams in 2017, tied for the most in a single season (2003) since the NFL adopted the 12-team playoff format in 1990: Buffalo, Carolina, Jacksonville, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota, New Orleans, Philadelphia and Tennessee. Since 1990, at least four teams have qualified for the playoffs in every season that were not in the postseason the year before. The teams since 1990 to make the playoffs a season after failing to qualify: SEASON PLAYOFF TEAMS NOT IN PREVIOUS SEASON’S PLAYOFFS 1990 7 (Cincinnati, Chicago, Kansas City, Los Angeles Raiders, Miami, New Orleans, Washington) 1991 5 (Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, New York Jets) 1992 6 (Miami, Minnesota, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Diego, San Francisco) 1993 5 (Denver, Detroit, Green Bay, Los Angeles Raiders, New York Giants) 1994 5 (Chicago, Cleveland, Miami, New England, San Diego) 1995 4 (Atlanta, Buffalo, Indianapolis, Philadelphia) 1996 5 (Carolina, Denver, Jacksonville, Minnesota, New England) 1997 5 (Detroit, Kansas City, Miami, New York Giants, Tampa Bay) 1998 5 (Arizona, Atlanta, Buffalo, Dallas, New York Jets) 1999 7 (Detroit, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Washington) 2000 6 (Baltimore, Denver, New Orleans, New York Giants, Oakland, Philadelphia) 2001 6 (Chicago, Green Bay, New England, New York Jets, Pittsburgh, San Francisco) 2002 5 (Atlanta, Cleveland, Indianapolis, New York Giants, Tennessee) 2003 8 (Baltimore, Carolina, Dallas, Denver, Kansas City, New England, St. Louis, Seattle) 2004 5 (Atlanta, Minnesota, New York Jets, Pittsburgh, San Diego) 2005 7 (Carolina, Chicago, Cincinnati, Jacksonville, New York Giants, Tampa Bay, Washington) 2006 7 (Baltimore, Dallas, Kansas City, New Orleans, New York Jets, Philadelphia, San Diego) 2007 6 (Green Bay, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Washington) 2008 7 (Arizona, Atlanta, Baltimore, Carolina, Miami, Minnesota, Philadelphia) 2009 6 (Cincinnati, Dallas, Green Bay, New England, New Orleans, New York Jets) 1 2010 5 (Atlanta, Chicago, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Seattle) 2011 6 (Cincinnati, Denver, Detroit, Houston, New York Giants, San Francisco) 2012 4 (Indianapolis, Minnesota, Seattle, Washington) 2013 5 (Carolina, Kansas City, New Orleans, Philadelphia, San Diego) 2014 5 (Arizona, Baltimore, Dallas, Detroit, Pittsburgh) 2015 4 (Houston, Kansas City, Minnesota, Washington) 2016 6 (Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit, Miami, New York Giants, Oakland) 2017 8 (Buffalo, Carolina, Jacksonville, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Tennessee) Five teams won division titles – Jacksonville (AFC South), the Los Angeles Rams (NFC West), Minnesota (NFC North), New Orleans (NFC South) and Philadelphia (NFC East) – after missing the playoffs last season, tied for the most in NFL history. All five of the new division winners finished in third or fourth place last season. The divisions with new champions in 2017: AFC SOUTH NFC EAST NFC NORTH NFC SOUTH NFC WEST 2017 Jacksonville Philadelphia Minnesota New Orleans Los Angeles Rams 2016 Houston Dallas Green Bay Atlanta Seattle In the 16 seasons since realignment in 2002, 29 of the 32 NFL teams have won a division title at least once. How the 2017 playoff teams have fared in the 16 seasons since realignment in 2002 (2017 division winners in bold/italics): TEAM DIVISION TITLES PLAYOFF BERTHS New England Patriots 14 14 Pittsburgh Steelers 8 11 Philadelphia Eagles 7 9 Carolina Panthers 5 7 Atlanta Falcons 4 8 Kansas City Chiefs 4 7 Minnesota Vikings 4 6 New Orleans Saints 4 6 Tennessee Titans 2 5 Los Angeles Rams 2 3 Jacksonville Jaguars 1 3 Buffalo Bills 0 1 Both the Philadelphia Eagles (NFC East) and Jacksonville Jaguars (AFC South) completed “worst-to-first” turnarounds and at least one team has won its division the season after finishing in or tied for last place in 14 of the past 15 seasons. The teams to go from “worst-to-first” in their divisions since 2003: SEASON TEAM RECORD PRIOR SEASON RECORD ADVANCED TO 2003 Carolina Panthers 11-5 7-9 Super Bowl XXXVIII 2003 Kansas City Chiefs 13-3 8-8* Divisional Playoffs 2004 Atlanta Falcons 11-5 5-11 NFC Championship 2004 San Diego Chargers 12-4 4-12* Wild Card Playoffs 2005 Chicago Bears 11-5 5-11 Divisional Playoffs 2005 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 11-5 5-11 Wild Card Playoffs 2006 Baltimore Ravens 13-3 6-10* Divisional Playoffs 2006 New Orleans Saints 10-6 3-13 NFC Championship 2006 Philadelphia Eagles 10-6 6-10 Divisional Playoffs 2007 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-7 4-12 Wild Card Playoffs 2008 Miami Dolphins 11-5 1-15 Wild Card Playoffs 2009 New Orleans Saints 13-3 8-8 Won Super Bowl XLIV 2010 Kansas City Chiefs 10-6 4-12 Wild Card Playoffs 2011 Denver Broncos 8-8 4-12 Divisional Playoffs 2011 Houston Texans 10-6 6-10* Divisional Playoffs 2012 Washington Redskins 10-6 5-11 Wild Card Playoffs 2013 Carolina Panthers 12-4 7-9* Divisional Playoffs 2 2013 Philadelphia Eagles 10-6 4-12 Wild Card Playoffs 2015 Washington Redskins 9-7 4-12 Wild Card Playoffs 2016 Dallas Cowboys 13-3 4-12 Divisional Playoffs 2017 Jacksonville Jaguars 10-6 3-13 ??? 2017 Philadelphia Eagles 13-3 7-9 ??? *Tied for last place The 2017 field also showcases teams that have enjoyed recent postseason success. Since realignment in 2002, the New England Patriots have been to the playoffs 14 times, which is the most in the NFL. The 2017 playoff teams with the most postseason appearances since 2002 (includes 2017): TEAM POSTSEASON APPEARANCES New England Patriots 14 Pittsburgh Steelers 11 Philadelphia Eagles 9 Atlanta Falcons 8 Carolina Panthers 7 Kansas City Chiefs 7 Four of this season’s 12 playoff teams have won at least one Super Bowl since 1999, capturing nine of the past 18 Vince Lombardi Trophies. Those teams are the Patriots (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLIX, LI), Steelers (XL, XLIII), Rams (XXXIV) and Saints (XLIV). SUPER BOWL SEASON WINNER XXXIV 1999 St. Louis Rams* XXXV 2000 Baltimore Ravens XXXVI 2001 New England Patriots* XXXVII 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers XXXVIII 2003 New England Patriots* XXXIX 2004 New England Patriots* XL 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers* XLI 2006 Indianapolis Colts XLII 2007 New York Giants XLIII 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers* XLIV 2009 New Orleans Saints* XLV 2010 Green Bay Packers XLVI 2011 New York Giants XLVII 2012 Baltimore Ravens XLVIII 2013 Seattle Seahawks XLIX 2014 New England Patriots* 50 2015 Denver Broncos LI 2016 New England Patriots* *In 2017 postseason 3 ALL-TIME PLAYOFFS The Pittsburgh Steelers are participating in their 31st postseason, one shy of the NFL record for the most playoff berths by a franchise (32, held by Dallas, Green Bay and the New York Giants). The Minnesota Vikings are making their 29th postseason appearance, the fifth-most in NFL history. The teams with the most seasons participating in the playoffs (includes 2017): TEAM PLAYOFF BERTHS Dallas Cowboys 32 Green Bay Packers 32 New York Giants 32 Pittsburgh Steelers* 31 Minnesota Vikings* 29 *In 2017 playoffs The 12 playoff teams and their postseason records: TEAM WINS LOSSES PCT. New England Patriots 32 19 .627 Pittsburgh Steelers 36 24 .600 Carolina Panthers 9 7 .563 Buffalo Bills 14 15 .483 Philadelphia Eagles 19 21 .475 Jacksonville Jaguars 5 6 .455 Los Angeles Rams 19 24 .442 New Orleans Saints 7 9 .438 Tennessee Titans 14 19 .424 Atlanta Falcons 9 13 .409 Minnesota Vikings 19 28 .404 Kansas City Chiefs 9 17 .346 WILD CARD RECORDS TEAM WINS LOSSES PCT. Carolina Panthers 3 0 1.000 Jacksonville Jaguars 3 2 .600 Tennessee Titans 7 5 .583 Buffalo Bills 3 3 .500 Atlanta Falcons 3 4 .429 Los Angeles Rams 3 5 .375 New Orleans Saints 3 5 .375 Kansas City Chiefs 3 7 .300 DIVISIONAL RECORDS TEAM WINS LOSSES PCT. New England Patriots 13 6 .684 Pittsburgh Steelers 16 8 .667 Philadelphia Eagles 6 6 .500 Minnesota Vikings 8 11 .421 4 THE TEAMS WINNING FEELING: The Pittsburgh Steelers have won six NFL championships, the fourth-most in league history and the most among 2017 playoff teams. Of the 12 playoff teams this season, six have won at least one championship. NFL championships won by the 2017 playoff teams: TEAM NFL CHAMPIONSHIP(S) SEASON(S) Pittsburgh Steelers 6 1974-75, 1978-79, 2005, 2008 New England Patriots 5 2001, 2003-04, 2014, 2016 Los Angeles Rams 3 1945, 1951, 1999 Philadelphia Eagles 3 1948-49, 1960 Kansas City Chiefs 1 1969 New Orleans Saints 1 2009 Atlanta Falcons 0 -- Buffalo Bills 0 -- Carolina Panthers 0 -- Jacksonville Jaguars 0 -- Minnesota Vikings 0 -- Tennessee Titans 0 -- The Steelers have won six Super Bowls, the most in NFL history.