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Originally Posted by Unsettomati
Detroit at Dallas
These franchises have met twice in the playoffs, both of which were notable games. The first occurred in a Divisional Playoff Game in 1970, which might have been the most unpleasant postseason game to view in NFL history. Dallas won 5-0 despite having only 22 net yards passing. The other was also a Divisional Playoff Game, following the 1991 season. Detroit won. No, that's not a typo. Yes, the Lions actually won a postseason game - once, since 1957. And that pretty much sums up the Detroit Lions franchise.
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The song remains the same. After this year's Super Bowl, there will have been 479 non-exhibition NFL postseason games played since Detroit won the 1957 NFL Championship Game. The Lions have won precisely one of those games, fewer than any other team.
Also, with Detroit's loss, this year's Super Bowl will be the fifth consecutive in which no team makes its first Super Bowl appearance. This is the longest such stretch in the history of the game.
Division Round Matchups
Baltimore at New England
These teams have met three times in the playoffs, with all matchups occurring in the past five postseasons. In 2009, the #6 Ravens went into New England and defeated the #3 Patriots in the Wild Card Round. Two years later, the Patriots defeated the Ravens at home in the AFC Championship Game. The very next year saw a championship game rematch at New England - this time the Ravens won. And for what it's worth, following the 1994 season the Ravens' previous incarnation as the Cleveland Browns beat New England in a Wild Card game.
Carolina at Seattle
In their sole postseason meeting, Seattle defeated Carolina in the NFL Championship game following the 2005 season.
Dallas at Green Bay
This will be no less than the 7th postseason matchup between these two teams. The first two were the NFL Championship Games following the 1966 and 1967 seasons, the latter being the infamous Ice Bowl. Green Bay, of course, won both of those games to go to the first two Super Bowls (though at the time they were each officially called the AFL-NFL Championship Game). They have met again four times since the AFL-NFL merger: following the '83, '93, '94, and '95 seasons. Dallas won all four of those matchups, the last one being the NFL Championship Game.
Indianapolis at Denver
These teams have met twice in the postseason, with Indianapolis winning both Wild Card round matchups, following the 2003 and 2004 seasons.
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Postseason Wins
Dallas and Pittsburgh, both in this year's playoffs, are tied for the most wins in NFL postseason history at 33 apiece. Green Bay, at 30 postseason wins, would tie them if the Packers win the Super Bowl and the Cowboys and Steelers each go one and done. The San Francisco 49ers, not in the playoffs this year, also have 30 wins. No other franchise has more than 25 postseason wins (the Patriots and the Raiders).
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Dallas wins, Pittsburgh loses - Dallas now holds the outright record for most postseason wins.
Most Super Bowl Appearances, All-Time
There's still a fair amoun of potential for change to this list.
8 - Dallas Cowboys
8 - Pittsburgh Steelers
7 - Denver Broncos
7 - New England Patriots
6 - San Francisco 49ers
5 - Green Bay Packers
5 - Miami Dolphins
5 - New York Giants
5 - Oakland Raiders
5 - Washington Redskins
In addition, one of the teams tied at 4 appearances, the Indianapolis Colts, is also still alive.
Most Super Bowl Wins, All-Time
6 - Pittsburgh Steelers
5 - Dallas Cowboys
5 - San Francisco 49ers
4 - Green Bay Packers
4 - New York Giants
3 - New England Patriots
3 - Oakland Raiders
3 - Washington Redskins
2 - Baltimore Ravens
2 - Denver Broncos
2 - Indianapolis Colts
2 - Miami Dolphins
Pittsburgh won't be extending their record; if they win the Super Bowl, the Cowboys can tie the Steelers. One of the teams tied at 1 win, the Seattle Seahawks, could still move into this top ten list.
Most Super Bowl Losses, All-Time
5 - Denver Broncos
4 - Buffalo Bills
4 - Minnesota Vikings
4 - New England Patriots
3 - Dallas Cowboys
3 - Miami Dolphins
2 - Cincinnati Bengals
2 - Indianapolis Colts
2 - Oakland Raiders
2 - Philadelphia Eagles
2 - Pittsburgh Steelers
2 - St. Louis Rams
2 - Washington Redskins
Three of the teams tied at 1 loss, the Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, remain alive in this postseason and could move into this top ten list.
Possible Super Bow Rematches
Carolina v. New England
Dallas v. Denver
Dallas v. Indianapolis
Denver v. Seattle
Denver v. Green Bay
Green Bay v. New England
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Players and Coaches
If the Patriots win their Divisional Round game, Bill Belichek will tie Tom Landry for the most postseason wins by a coach with 20 - he is currently tied for second place with Don Shula. The next-highest coach in this year's postseason is the Ravens' John Harbaugh, tied for 16th all-time with several other coaches at 9 postseason wins.
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With Baltimore's win over Pittsburgh, John Harbaugh moves into a tie for 12th-place all-time for most postseason coaching victories.
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Tom Brady is in a position to extend his NFL record of most postseason wins by a starting quarterback, currently at 18 - two ahead of Joe Montana. Peyton Manning is tied for 6th at 11 postseason wins, Ben Roethlisberger is in 9th place with 10 postseason wins, and Joe Flacco is tied for 10th place with 9 postseason wins.
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Again with the Ravens' victory, Joe Flacco notches his 10th postseason game as a starting quarterback, moving into a tie for 9th place with the quarterback of the team Baltimore defeated.
One more aside - with the Colts win, kicker Adam Vinatieri remains in the hunt for his fifth Super Bowl ring, something only Charles Haley possesses. Aside from Vinatieri and Haley, I believe that all the other players with four rings are a bunch of Steelers from the 1970s, and several 49ers fro the 1980s. And beyond his four appearances for winning Super Bowl teams, Vinatieri played in Patriots loss to the Packers following the 1996 season, and was on the roster for the Colts when they lost to the Saints following the 2009 season, but did not play due to injury. I am not aware of another player who has been on the rosters of six different Super Bowl teams.
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