NFL DIVISION ROUND GAME NOTES

Friday, January 21, 2022 CENTRAL VIRGINIA’S ONLY LOCAL WEEKLY NFL PUBLICATION GridironGoose@msn.com
NFL DIVISION ROUND GAME NOTES (Courtesy NFL Communications)
PLAYOFF TITANS: After securing the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC playoffs for the first time since 2008, the TENNESSEE TITANS
(12-5) will be making their 2021 postseason debut when they host the CINCINNATI BENGALS (11-7) on Saturday (4:30 PM ET,
CBS/Paramount+).
Running back DERRICK HENRY is expected to return to the field for the first time since Week 8. In eight games this season, he totaled
937 rushing yards (league-best 117.1 per game) and 10 rushing touchdowns. He is the only player in the league with at least 10
rushing touchdowns in each of the past four seasons. In three of Henry’s six career postseason games, he has surpassed 150 rushing
yards. His three career postseason games with at least 150 rushing yards are the second-most in NFL history, trailing only Pro Football
Hall of Famer TERRELL DAVIS (four games). Henry is also one of three players all-time with at least 200 scrimmage yards in multiple
postseason games, along with Pro Football Hall of Famers MARCUS ALLEN (two games) and THURMAN THOMAS (two). In his
postseason career, Henry has totaled 758 scrimmage yards (670 rushing, 88 receiving) and three rushing touchdowns. His 111.7
rushing yards per game in the postseason are the second-most since 1970, minimum five games played.
Tennessee wide receiver JULIO JONES is expected to appear in his ninth-career postseason game this weekend, and first as a Titan.
In each of his previous eight playoff games, all with Atlanta, Jones surpassed 50 receiving yards. With at least 50 receiving yards on
Saturday, Jones will become the fifth player ever to record at least 50 receiving yards in nine consecutive postseason games. He can
also join WES WELKER as the only players to surpass 50 receiving yards in each of their first nine career postseason games.
BENGALS BREAKING THROUGH: Last week, the CINCINNATI BENGALS earned their first postseason victory since 1990 and on
Saturday, will be looking to advance to their first AFC Championship Game since the 1988 season.
In their Wild Card victory, quarterback JOE BURROW completed 24 of 34 attempts (70.6 percent) for 244 yards and two touchdowns
with no interceptions for a 110.4 rating in his postseason debut. Burrow’s top target was rookie wide receiver JA’MARR CHASE, who
recorded nine receptions for 116 receiving yards. It marked his sixth game this season with at least 100 receiving yards. With at least
100 receiving yards on Saturday, Chase can become the first rookie in NFL history to record at least 100 receiving yards in multiple
postseason games.
Defensive end TREY HENDRICKSON recorded a sack and forced fumble in last week’s victory. It marked his 13th game this season in
which he had a full sack. With a sack on Saturday, he can become the third player since 1982, when the individual sack became an
official statistic, to record a sack in 14 games within a season, including the postseason.
(Continued back page)
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CINCINNATI BENGALS (11-7) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (12-5)- BENGALS- QB JOE BURROW completed 24 of 34 atts. (70.6 pct.)
for 244 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 110.4 rating in postseason debut last week. Set franchise records in pass yards (4,611) & TD
passes (34) this season. Ranked 2nd in NFL with 108.3 rating. Has 1,720 pass yards (344 per game) & 13 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 130.2
rating in his past 5 starts, incl. playoffs. Passed for 249 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 106.7 rating in 2020 meeting…RB JOE MIXON
had 76 scrimmage yards (48 rush, 28 rec.) last week. Ranked 3rd in NFL with career-high 1,205 rush yards & 4th with career-high 13
rush TDs this season. Was 1 of 3 RBs (AUSTIN EKELER & JONATHAN TAYLOR) with 1,500+ scrimmage yards (1,519) & 15+ TDs
(16)…WR JA’MARR CHASE led team with 9 catches for 116 yards last week. Ranked 4th in NFL with 1,455 rec. yards this season,
most by rookie in SB era, & 3rd with 13 rec. TDs. Has 115+ rec. yards in 3 of his past 4, incl. playoffs. WR TEE HIGGGINS had career-
high 1,091 rec. yards this season. Had 78 rec. yards in 2020 meeting. WR TYLER BOYD aims for his 5th in row with TD catch, incl.
playoffs. Had rec. TD in 2020 meeting. TE C.J. UZOMAH had 6 catches for 64 yards & TD last week…DE TREY HENDRICKSON had
sack & FF last week. Has sack in 2 of his past 3 playoff games. Ranked 5th in NFL with career- high 14 sacks & is 1 of 2 in NFL (T.J.
WATT) with 13+ sacks in each of past 2 seasons. Had sack in 6 of 7 road games this season. LB LOGAN WILSON led team with 98
tackles & 4 INTs & was 1 of 2 LBs (DARIUS LEONARD) with 90+ tackles & 4+ INTs this season. LB GERMAINE PRATT had 9 tackles,
TFL & INT last week. TITANS- QB RYAN TANNEHILL passed for 3,734 yards & 21 TDs this season & ranked 2nd among QBs with 7
rush TDs. Is only QB with 7+ rush TDs in each of past 2 seasons. In last 3 starts of season, had 7 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 125.3 rating. Has
2 TD passes, 0 INTs & 105+ rating in 2 of his past 3 postseason starts. Had 2 TD passes & 92.8 rating in 2020 meeting…RB DERRICK
HENRY had 1,091 scrimmage yards (937 rush, 154 rec.) in 8 games this season (136.4 per game) with 10 rush TDs. Is only player in
NFL with 10+ rush TDs in each of past 4 seasons. Has 758 scrimmage yards (126.3 per game) in 6 career postseason games. Rushed
for 112 yards & TD in 2020 meeting. RB D’ONTA FOREMAN had career-high 689 scrimmage yards (566 rush, 123 rec.) & 3 rush TDs
this season…WR A.J. BROWN led team with 63 catches, 869 rec. yards & 5 rec. TDs this season & became 2nd player in franchise
history with 850+ rec. yards in each of 1st 3 seasons (ERNEST GIVENS). Aims for his 3rd in row in postseason with 50+ rec. yards.
Had TD catch in 2020 meeting. WR JULIO JONES has 834 rec. yards (104.3 per game) & 6 rec. TDs in 8 career playoff games. Has
261 rec. yards (130.5 per game) in 2 career games vs. Cin… LB HAROLD LANDRY led team with career-high 12 sacks in 2021. Has
sack in 2 of his past 3 postseason games. DT DENICO AUTRY tied career high with 9 sacks this season. Has sack in 4 of his past 5.
Aims for his 3rd in row in postseason with sack.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (11-7) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (13-4)- 49ERS- QB JIMMY GAROPPOLO passed for 3,810 yards & had
23 TDs (20 pass, 3 rush) vs. 12 INTs for 98.7 rating in 2021 reg. season. From Weeks 9-18, ranked 3rd in league with 103.2 rating.
Had 85+ rating in each of his 8 reg. season road starts this season. Is 3-1 in 4 career postseason starts…RB ELIJAH MITCHELL
(rookie) rushed for 96 yards & TD in NFC- WC at Dal. Had 1,100 scrimmage yards (franchise rookie record 963 rush, 137 rec.) & 6 TDs
(5 rush, 1 rec.) in reg. season. Had 5 reg. season games with 100+ rush yards, most among rookies…TE GEORGE KITTLE had 71
receptions for 910 yards & 6 rec. TDs in 2021 & has 4,489 career rec. yards, 3rd-most by TE in 1st 5 seasons in NFL history. Had 7
catches for 92 yards in Week 3 meeting. WR DEEBO SAMUEL ranked 3rd in NFL in scrimmage yards (1,770) & was 1 of 2 (AUSTIN
EKELER) with 6+ rush TDs (8 - most by WR in single season ever) & 6+ rec. TDs (6) in 2021. Is only player in NFL history with 1,400+
rec. yards (1,405) & 300+ rush yards (365) in single season. Had 110 scrimmage yards (WR playoff-record 72 rush, 38 rec.) & rush TD
in NFC-WC at Dal. WR BRANDON AIYUK led team with 5 catches & 66 rec. yards in NFC-WC at Dal…DL NICK BOSA ranked tied-1st
in TFL (career-high 21) & 4th in sacks (15.5) during 2021 season. Has 4.5 sacks in 4 career playoff games. DL ARIK ARMSTEAD has
sack in 3 of his 4 career playoff games. Had sack in Week 3 meeting. PACKERS- QB AARON RODGERS led NFL with 111.9 rating &
became 4th QB since 1970 to lead league in rating in 4+ different seasons. Passed for 4,115 yards & 37 TDs & became 5th QB ever
with 8+ seasons with 30+ TD passes. Needs 1 TD pass to surpass HOFer JOE MONTANA (45) for 2nd-most playoff TD passes ever.
Ranks 6th all-time in postseason pass yards (5,669) & 7th in playoff QB starts (20). Had 2 pass TDs & 113.3 rating in Week 3
meeting…RB AARON JONES had 1,190 scrimmage yards (799 rush, 391 rec.) & 10 TDs (6 rec., 4 rush) in 2021 reg. season & is 1 of
2 (DERRICK HENRY) with 1,000+ scrimmage yards & 10+ TDs in each of past 3 seasons. Has 5 TDs (4 rush, 1 rec.) in 4 career
playoff games. RB AJ DILLON had career-high 1,116 scrimmage yards (803 rush, 313 rec.) & 7 TDs (5 rush, 2 rec.) in 2021…WR
DAVANTE ADAMS ranked 2nd in catches (123), 3rd in rec. yards (1,553) & 5th in rec. TDs (11) in 2021 & became 4th player ever with
110+ catches & 1,300+ rec. yards in 3 different seasons. Has 8 rec. TDs in 10 career postseason games. Has 48 catches (9.6 per
game), 618 rec. yards (123.6 per game) & 5 rec. TDs in 5 career games, incl. playoffs, vs. SF…LB DE’VONDRE CAMPBELL led team
with career-high 145 tackles. Had 11 tackles in Week 3 meeting. LB PRESTON SMITH had 9 sacks in 2021. Had sack in Week 3
meeting. LB RASHAN GARY led team with career-high 9.5 sacks.

LOS ANGELES RAMS (13-5) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (14-4)- RAMS- QB MATTHEW STAFFORD ranked 2nd in NFL in TD
passes (41), 3rd in pass yards (4,886) & 6th in rating (102.9) in 2021. Is 1 of 6 QBs all-time with 2+ seasons (2) with 4,000+ pass yards
& 40+ TD passes. Had 9 games with 3+ TD passes, most in NFL this season. Had 2 TDs & 154.5 rating in NFC-WC vs. Az. Passed for
343 yards & 4 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 134 rating in Week 3 meeting…RB SONY MICHEL had 973 scrimmage yards (845 rush, 128 rec.) & 5
TDs (4 rush, 1 rec.) in 2021. Has 6 rush TDs in 5 career playoff games. RB CAM AKERS has 367 scrimmage yards (122.3 per game) &
2 rush TDs in 3 career playoff games & aims for his 4th playoff game in row with 95+ scrimmage yards…WR COOPER KUPP led NFL
with 145 receptions, 1,947 rec. yards & 16 rec. TDs in 2021, 2nd-most catches & 2nd-most rec. yards in single-season in NFL history.
Became 3rd player [HOFers MICHAEL IRVIN (1995) & CALVIN JOHNSON (2012)] with 11 100- yard games in single season all-time.
Had rec. TD in NFC-WC vs. Az. WR ODELL BECKHAM JR. has 6 rec. TDs in 8 games with LAR, incl. 1st-career playoff TD catch in
NFC-WC vs. Az. TE TYLER HIGBEE had rec. TD in Week 3 meeting…DL AARON DONALD had 12.5 sacks in 2021 & became 4th
player since 1982 with 8+ sacks in each of 1st 8 seasons. Has 6 TFL in 7 postseason games. Had sack & FF in Week 3 meeting. LB
VON MILLER has 6 sacks & 15 TFL in 9 games with LAR, incl. playoffs. Has 7.5 sacks & 9 TFL in 8 career playoff games. CB JALEN
RAMSEY was only player with 15+ PD (16) & 5+ TFL (9) in 2021. Had 8 tackles in Week 3 meeting. CB DAVID LONG had 1st- career
INT-TD in NFC-WC vs. Az. BUCCANEERS- QB TOM BRADY is postseason all-time leader in games (46), wins (35), pass yards
(12,720), pass TDs (85), SB titles (7) & SB MVPs (5). Led NFL in pass yards (career-high 5,316) & pass TDs (43), 3rd-most pass yards
in single season all-time, & had 485 completions, most in single-season all-time. Became 3rd QB since 1991 to lead NFL in attempts,
completions, pass yards & pass TDs in same season. Joined DREW BREES as only QBs with multiple 5,000-yard seasons & AARON
RODGERS as only QBs with 3 40+ TD pass seasons…RB LEONARD FOURNETTE has 734 scrimmage yards (104.9 per game) & 8
TDs (7 rush, 1 rec.) in 7 career playoff games. Can become 7th RB all-time with TD in 7 straight postseason games. RB GIOVANI
BERNAND & RB KE’SHAWN VAUGHN each had rush TD in NFC-WC vs. Phi…WR MIKE EVANS had 117 rec. yards & TD catch in
NFC-WC vs. Phi. Became 1st player in NFL history with 1,000+ rec. yards in each of 1st 8 seasons (1,035 rec. yards in 2021). Ranked
2nd in NFL with 14 rec. TDs in 2021. TE ROB GRONKOWSKI has 15 rec. TDs in 21 career playoff games, 2nd-most rec. TDs in
postseason history…LB LAVONTE DAVID has 4 PD in his past 5 playoff games. Is 1 of 2 (BOBBY WAGNER) with 85+ tackles in each
of past 10 seasons. LB DEVIN WHITE has TFL & PD in 3 of his 4 career playoff games. LB SHAQUIL BARRETT had 1st-career playoff
INT in NFC-WC vs. Phi. S MIKE EDWARDS had INT last week. Has PD in 4 of his 5 career postseason games. S ANTOINE
WINFIELD JR. had 1st-career playoff sack last week.
BUFFALO BILLS (12-6) AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (13-5)- BILLS- QB JOSH ALLEN completed 21 of 25 atts. (84 pct.) for 308 yards
& 5 TDs vs. 0 INTs & for 157.6 rating & rushed for 66 yards last week. Passed for 4,407 yards & 36 TDs this season & is 1st QB in
franchise history with 4,000+ pass yards in consecutive seasons. Ranked 3rd among QBs with 6 rush TDs in 2021 & is 1st QB ever
with 6+ rush TDs in each of 1st 4 seasons. Has 0 INTs in 4 of 5 career postseason starts. Has 2+ TD passes in each of 3 career games
vs. KC, incl. postseason…RB DEVIN SINGLETARY rushed for 81 yards & 2 TDs last week. Had career-high 1,098 scrimmage yards
(870 rush, 228 rec.) & 8 TDs (7 rush, 1 rec.) this season. Aims for his 6th in row with 75+ scrimmage yards & rush TD, incl.
postseason…WR STEFON DIGGS had 60 rec. yards last week. Led team with 103 catches, 1,225 rec. yards & career-high 10 rec. TDs
this season. Is 1 of 2 in NFL (MIKE EVANS) with 1,000+ rec. yards & 6+ rec. TDs in each of past 4 seasons. Aims for his 6th in row in
postseason with 50+ rec. yards. WR GABRIEL DAVIS is 4th Buf. player ever with 6+ rec. TD in each of 1st 2 seasons. Had TD catch
last week. TE DAWSON KNOX had 2 rec. TDs last week & aims for his 3rd in row in postseason with TD catch. Has rec. TD in each of
2 career games vs. KC., incl. postseason. Tied for lead among TEs with 9 rec. TDs, most-ever by Buf. TE…S JORDAN POYER tied
career high with 5 INTs. Had 8 tackles & PD in Week 5 meeting.. S MICAH HYDE tied career high with 5 INTs in 2021. Had INT last
week. Hyde & Poyer the only pair of teammates each with 5+ INTs this season. with 100+ tackles. CB LEVI WALLACE had 1st-career
postseason INT last week. CHIEFS- QB PATRICK MAHOMES completed 30 of 39 atts. (76.9 pct.) for 404 yards & 5 TDs vs. INT for
138.2 rating last week. Is 3rd QB ever with 5+ TD passes in multiple playoff games. Ranked 4th in NFL with 4,839 pass yards & tied-4th
with 37 TD passes in 2021 & is 1st QB ever with 35+ TD passes in 3 of 1st 5 seasons. Has 2+ TD passes, 0 INTs & 125+ rating in 2 of
3 career starts vs. Buf., incl. postseason…RB JERICK MCKINNON led team with 142 scrimmage yards (81 rec., 61 rush) & had rec.
TD last week. Aims for his 3rd in row in postseason with 125+ scrimmage yards. RB DARREL WILLIAMS had career-high 1,010
scrimmage yards (558 rush, 452 rec.) & 8 TDs (6 rush, 2 rec.) in 2021. Has rush TD in 2 of 3 career games vs. Buf., incl. playoffs…TE
TRAVIS KELCE had 5 catches for 108 yards & TD & had TD pass last week. Tied for lead among TEs with 9 rec. TDs & ranked 2nd
with 92 catches & 1,125 rec. yards. Aims for his 5th playoff game in row with 100+ rec. yards. Has 5 rec. TDs in his past 3 vs. Buf. WR
TYREEK HILL had 5 catches for 57 yards & TD last week. Aims for is 7th in row in playoffs with 50+ rec. yards. Had 172 rec. yards in
2020 AFC Champ. Game vs. Buf. WR BYRON PRINGLE had 2 rec. TDs last week…S TYRANN MATHIEU led team with 3 INTs, his
3rd straight season with 3+ INTs. DT CHRIS JONES led team with 9 sacks in 2021. DE FRANK CLARK had FR last week. Has sack in
7 of his past 9 postseason games. Has 11 sacks in 12 career playoff games. Has 2 sacks in 2020 AFC Champ. Game vs. Buf. DE

PASSING LEADERS SQUARE OFF: When the TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (14-4) host the LOS ANGELES RAMS (13-5) on Sunday
(3:00 PM ET, NBC/Peacock/Universo), it will mark a meeting of the top-two leaders in touchdown passes this season. Tampa Bay’s
TOM BRADY led the league with 43 touchdown passes, becoming the second player ever with three career seasons with at least 40
touchdown passes. Los Angeles’ MATTHEW STAFFORD tied a franchise record with a career-high 41 touchdown passes this season.
Sunday’s matchup will mark the third postseason game ever featuring two starting quarterbacks that each recorded at least 40
touchdown passes in the regular season. Both of the previous two games also featured either Brady or Stafford.
With their 31-15 victory over Philadelphia last week, Tampa Bay has now scored at least 30 points in five consecutive postseason
games, tied for the second-longest such streak in NFL history. With at least 30 points on Sunday, the Buccaneers will become the
second team ever to score at least 30 points in six consecutive postseason games, joining the NEW ORELANS SAINTS (Jan. 16, 2010
– Jan. 14, 2012).
ALLEN, MAHOMES MEET AGAIN: The Divisional Playoffs conclude with a rematch of last season’s AFC Championship Game, as the
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (13-5) host the BUFFALO BILLS (12-6) on Sunday night (6:40 PM ET, CBS/Paramount+). Quarterbacks
PATRICK MAHOMES and JOSH ALLEN, who each recorded five touchdown passes last week, will be the fourth pair of starting
quarterbacks to have multiple playoff meetings within their first five seasons in NFL history. In nine career postseason starts, Mahomes
has totaled 2,728 passing yards (303.1 per game) and 22 touchdown passes with a 105.1 rating. With two touchdown passes on
Sunday, Mahomes will surpass DREW BREES (23 touchdown passes) and Pro Football Hall of Famer KURT WARNER (23) for the
most ever by a quarterback in his first 10 postseason starts.
POSTSEASON HEAVYWEIGHTS MEET: When the GREEN BAY PACKERS (13-4) host the SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (11-7) on
Saturday night (8:15 PM ET, FOX/FOX Deportes), two of the most successful postseason teams in league history will meet. San
Francisco has a 33-21 (.611) all-time postseason record, the second-highest postseason winning percentage in NFL history. Green Bay
ranks third with a .600 (36-24) postseason winning percentage. Additionally, both teams rank among the top-five in all-time postseason
wins. With a victory this weekend, the Packers (36 wins) will tie the NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (37) for the most postseason wins
ever.
Green Bay head coach MATT LAFLEUR can join JIM HARBAUGH as the only individuals since the league merger in 1970 to lead
teams to their conference Championship Games in each of their first three seasons as an NFL head coach. Green Bay quarterback
AARON RODGERS led the league this season with a 111.9 passer rating and ranked tied for fourth with 37 touchdown passes. In 21
career postseason games, Rodgers has posted a 100.5 rating with 45 touchdown passes, tied for the second-most in NFL history. With
a touchdown pass on Saturday night, Rodgers will surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer JOE MONTANA (45 touchdown passes) for the
second-most postseason touchdown passes in league history. Only TOM BRADY (85) has more.
Dating back to the 2015 playoffs, Rodgers has recorded at least two touchdown passes in nine consecutive postseason games, the
longest streak in NFL history. Rodgers’ top target this season has been wide receiver DAVANTE ADAMS, who ranked second in the
NFL with 123 receptions, third with 1,553 receiving yards and fifth with 11 touchdown receptions. In 10 career postseason games,
Adams has recorded 63 receptions for 820 yards (82 per game) and eight touchdown receptions. Dating back to the 2019 postseason,
Adams has recorded at least eight catches in each of his past four postseason games. With at least eight catches on Saturday night,
Adams will become the second player ever to record at least eight receptions in five consecutive postseason games, joining JULIAN
EDELMAN (five consecutive postseason games from 2013-15).
SIX SEEDS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL: A No. 6 seed in the NFL playoffs has now advanced to the Divisional round in five straight
seasons (2017-21) and seven of the past eight. The SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS joined that group with last week’s win.
Since the 2005 Steelers won Super Bowl XL, six teams have advanced to their conference Championship Games as a No. 6 seed,
including the 2008 Eagles, 2008 Ravens, 2010 Jets, 2019 Titans and Super Bowl XLV champion Packers in 2010. San Francisco looks
to become the seventh.
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? COMPLIMENTS? E-mail us at:
GridironGoose@msn.com

NFL DIVISION ROUND GAME NOTES

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