Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Facts and figures for wild-card weekend:

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TV’S TEAM: Yes, TV ratings are down. But imagine where they’d be if not for the resurgence of the Dallas Cowboys aka “America’s team.” Five of the six most popular games the second half of the season featured the Cowboys. Their games averaged 23.7 million viewers, or — according to Fox — more than the 2016 World Series (23.4 million) and 2016 NBA Finals (20.2 million).

NFL RUNDOWN: Figures released this week showed that teams ran the ball an average of just 26 times a game this season, the fewest in league history. But before you throw another shovel of dirt on something so 20th century as a good running back, consider: Six playoff teams boasted a 1,000-yard rusher. JUST SAYIN’: Something for Steelers Nation to fret over all week Andy Reid if the Steelers take care of business today and set up a trip to Arrowhead Stadium and a date with the Chiefs Sunday. Chiefs coach Andy Reid is 19-2 all time after a bye week, including 3-0 in the postseason.

FATE: The Dak Prescott Story is one of the top story lines of the season. But it could’ve been so different. The Cowboys were eying Connor Cook in that fateful fourth round, only to see the Raiders take him and leaving them to, ahem, settle for Prescott.

COLD AS ICE: At least the kickers will be prepared. Dolphins special teams coordinato­r Darren Rizzi put balls used by the kicker and punter in a freezer before practice this week to get them ready for Heinz Field.

JUST SUPER: Giants coach Ben McAdoo, when asked if having been Aaron Rodgers’ position coach in Green Bay might help the Giants cool off Rodgers today in their wildcard meeting: “I don’t have any Kryptonite.”

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