TODAY’S WILD-CARD PLAYOFF GAMES COLTS (11-5) AT BILLS (13-3), 10:05 A.M., CBS RAMS (10-6) AT SEAHAWKS (12-4), 1:40 P.M., FOX
It’s the first playoff meeting between former AFC East rivals, with the Colts holding a 4-3edge since the NFL realigned its divisions in 2002. ... Colts coach Frank Reich spent nine years playing for the Bills, the final eight backing up Hall of Fame QB Jim Kelly. ... Reich most memorably led Buffalo to a 41-38overtime win against Houston in 1993wild-card playoff, in which the Bills overcame a 35-3third-quarter deficit. It still stands as the largest comeback in NFL history. ... The Colts are making their second playoff appearance in three seasons under Reich. Indy won four of its last five regularseason games and needed Buffalo to beat Miami just to earn the AFC’s first No. 7seed. ... The Colts have won their first playoff game in each of their last three postseason trips. ... Colts QB Philip Rivers has started 251consecutive games including the playoffs, but is 5-6in the postseason. The 17-year veteran has never reached the Super Bowl. ... Indy allowed only 21sacks, tied for second fewest in the NFL. ... RB Jonathan Taylor set a franchise record with 253yards rushing in last week’s wn over Jacksonville. He’s the first Colts rookie to hit the 1,000yard mark since Joseph Addai in 2006when Indy won the Super Bowl. Taylor led NFL rookies with 1,169yards rushing and 1,468 yards from scrimmage.
The Seahawks and Rams will meet in the playoffs for just the second time. The previous meeting came in the 2004 wild-card round when the Rams beat the Seahawks 27-20 in Seattle. It was the final postseason victory together for Marshall Faulk, Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, rookie Steven Jackson and Marc Bulger. In fact, the Rams didn’t win another playoff game for 14 years. ... It’s the second meeting in three weeks for the division foes. Seattle beat the Rams 20-9 in Week 16. The game was tied 6-6 at halftime before a pair of secondhalf touchdowns from Russell Wilson, one passing, one rushing. ... The Rams are making their third playoff appearance in four years under coach Sean McVay. They’re 2-2 in that postseason stretch, winning the NFC title two years ago and missing the playoffs last year. ... McVay doesn’t plan to announce his starting quarterback before the opening series. Jared Goff missed last week’s game after thumb surgery, but he is hoping to play. ... Smaller, speedier backup John Wolford had a solid all-around game while leading the Rams to a win over Arizona. Although the Rams didn’t score an offensive TD, he became the first quarterback in NFL history to rush for 50 yards and pass for 200 yards in his NFL debut. ... The Rams are 35-0 when leading at halftime under McVay. ... The Rams’ defense finished No. 1 in the NFL in total yards allowed, yards passing allowed, passing touchdowns allowed, first downs allowed and points allowed. ... DT Aaron Donald finished tied for second in the NFL with 13 ½ sacks. He has sacked Wilson 13 times, more than any other quarterback. ... Seahawks are 17-17 all-time in the postseason but are 12-2 at home and have won 10 straight home playoff games. ... This will be Seattle’s first home playoff game since January 2017 when it beat Detroit in the wild-card round.
BUCCANEERS (11-5) AT WASHINGTON (7-9), 5:15 P.M., NBC
The franchises split two previous postseason meetings, with Washington winning the most recent matchup 15 years ago. ... Tampa Bay is in the playoffs for the first time since the 2007 season; Washington hasn’t been to the playoffs since the 2014 season. ... The Bucs earned a wild- card berth, finishing second in the NFC South behind the New Orleans Saints, in QB Tom Brady’s first season in Tampa Bay after playing for the New England Patriots for 20 years. ... The Bucs went a franchisebest 6-2 on the road this season. ... Firstyear coach Ron Rivera led Washington to the NFC East title despite a 7-9 record, making it the third division champion in NFL history with a losing record. One of the others, the 2014 Carolina Panthers, also was coached by Rivera. ... Brady has appeared in a league-record 41 playoff games, leading the Patriots to six Super Bowl championships. He also ranks first on the career playoff list in wins (30), yards passing (11,388), TD passes ( 73) and seasons with playoff appearances (18).
... Brady threw for a franchise-record 40 TDs this season and was third in the NFL with 4,633 yards passing. ... The Buccaneers have played 15 playoff games in the franchise’s 45-season history. They haven’t won a postseason game since the team’s 2002 Super Bowl championship run. ... Washington failed to score a single point on any of its initial possessions through the season’s first 15 games before finally managing an opening TD on a 15play, 91-yard drive in a Week 17 victory at Philadelphia. ... Washington QB Alex Smith returned to action this season after nearly two full years away because he fractured his right leg in two places during a game, then needed 17 operations. Washington went 0-3 in his first three starts this season, then 5-0 in his last five.