97 Fun Facts About Nfl Playoff

Which NFL franchise shares the record of six Super Bowl wins with the Patriots?

The Pittsburgh Steelers' six came with four in six seasons in the 1970s; the Cowboys and 49ers sit next with five each.

Which is the only NFL team to go unbeaten from opening day through the Super Bowl?

The 1972 Miami Dolphins went 17-0 through Super Bowl VII, and surviving members famously toast with champagne each year the last unbeaten team loses.

What is the record number of Super Bowl MVP awards held by one player?

The record is five, four earned with New England and a fifth with Tampa Bay in Super Bowl LV, making the holder the only player to win the award with two franchises.

How many postseason wins did Bill Belichick record as an NFL head coach?

Belichick collected 31 postseason wins, 30 of them with New England, along with a record nine Super Bowl appearances as a head coach.

Which team was the first Wild Card entry to win a Super Bowl?

The 1980 Raiders beat the Eagles 27-10 in Super Bowl XV.

What player holds the record for the most sacks in a single NFL playoff game?

Willie McGinest set the single-game playoff record with 4.5 sacks against Jacksonville in January 2006, a game in which he also passed Bruce Smith for the most career postseason sacks (16).

Which game set the NFL playoff record for combined points?

The 2009 NFC Wild Card game between the Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers combined for 96 points (Cardinals 51, Packers 45), making it the highest-scoring playoff game in NFL history.

Which game has the lowest combined score in an NFL playoff game of the Super Bowl era?

The 1970 NFC Divisional Playoff game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Detroit Lions ended with a score of 5-0, totaling just five points, the lowest in the Super Bowl era.

What is the record for the longest successful field goal in NFL playoff history?

Pete Stoyanovich hit the record 58-yarder for Miami in a January 1991 wild-card game, and Graham Gano matched it for Carolina in January 2018.

Which NFL team made 11 straight playoff appearances from 2009 through 2019?

The New England Patriots made it 11 straight from 2009 to 2019, the Brady-Belichick years, ending only after Brady left for Tampa Bay.

How many teams made the NFL playoffs each season from 2020 through 2025?

The format expanded in 2020 to 14 teams, seven from each conference (AFC and NFC).

Through Super Bowl LIX, which conference had won more Super Bowls?

The NFC led the AFC 30-29 through Super Bowl LIX, counting the pre-merger NFL champion Packers of Super Bowls I and II on the NFC side, even though the AFC dominated the 2000s.

Under 2022 NFL playoff overtime rules, what happens if the receiving team scores a touchdown first?

The opponent is still guaranteed a series since March 2022, a change prompted by the Chiefs' walk-off overtime win over the Bills in the 2021 divisional round.

Who is the only player to win a Super Bowl MVP award while playing for the losing team?

Chuck Howley, a linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys, is the only player in Super Bowl history to win the Super Bowl MVP award despite his team losing the game (Super Bowl V).

What is the NFL record for most consecutive playoff games won by one team?

The streak of ten ran across the 2001, 2003 and 2004 postseasons and ended in the 2005 divisional round in Denver, covering three Super Bowl titles.

Which coach has won the most Super Bowls as a head coach?

Bill Belichick holds the record for the most Super Bowl victories as a head coach, with six titles during his time with the New England Patriots.

What is the lowest seed to ever win a Super Bowl?

The 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers were the first #6 seed to win it all, taking Super Bowl XL after three road wins; the 2010 Green Bay Packers repeated the trick.

Which quarterback holds the record for the most career playoff wins?

Tom Brady finished with 35 playoff wins as a starter, more than double the next quarterback on the list when he retired.

What is the largest margin of victory in a Super Bowl game?

The largest margin of victory in a Super Bowl was 45 points, when the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Denver Broncos 55-10 in Super Bowl XXIV.

Which team reached four straight Super Bowls and lost every one?

Buffalo's run covered Super Bowls XXV to XXVIII, the 1990 to 1993 seasons, a record four straight appearances.

Under the 14-team format adopted in 2020, how many teams got a first-round bye?

Under the 14-team format introduced in 2020, only the top seed in each conference (AFC and NFC) receives a first-round bye.

What is the record for most touchdown passes thrown by one quarterback in a single NFL playoff game?

Six is shared by Daryle Lamonica (1969), Steve Young (Super Bowl XXIX) and Tom Brady (2011 divisional round against Denver).

What is the most points scored by a single team in an NFL playoff game?

The Chicago Bears scored 73 points in the 1940 NFL Championship Game against the Washington Redskins, which remains the highest single-team scoring performance in a playoff game.

Which team won Super Bowl XXXII, ending the NFC's run of 13 straight Super Bowl wins?

The Denver Broncos beat Green Bay 31-24 in Super Bowl XXXII in January 1998, John Elway's first title, ending a run of 13 straight NFC victories that began with Super Bowl XIX.

What is the highest combined score in a Super Bowl game?

The highest combined score in a Super Bowl was 75 points, set in Super Bowl XXIX when the San Francisco 49ers defeated the San Diego Chargers 49-26.

Which NFL coach has the best playoff winning percentage among coaches with 10+ postseason games?

Vince Lombardi went 9–1 in the postseason; his only loss came to the Eagles in the 1960 title game, after which he won five NFL championships in seven years.

What is the fewest points scored by a team in a Super Bowl game?

The Miami Dolphins (Super Bowl VI) and the Los Angeles Rams (Super Bowl LIII) both scored 3 points, which is the fewest by a team in a Super Bowl.

Through the 2024 postseason, who held the record for most career playoff receiving yards?

Jerry Rice piled up 2,245 postseason receiving yards and 22 receiving touchdowns, both records through the 2024 postseason, when Travis Kelce sat second in yards.

Which team scored an NFL-record 145 points across a single postseason run in 2024?

The 2024 Eagles scored 145 points in four playoff games, capped by a 40–22 rout in Super Bowl LIX.

Who was the first quarterback to win a Super Bowl with two different franchises?

Peyton Manning won with the Colts (XLI) and Broncos (50) before anyone else had done it with two franchises; Tom Brady became the second in 2021.

Through Super Bowl LX, which two metro areas had hosted the most Super Bowls, eleven each?

Half of the first 60 Super Bowls were played in just three metro areas: Miami and New Orleans eleven times each and Los Angeles eight.

How many seasons was the longest NFL playoff drought, shared by Washington and the Cardinals?

Both droughts lasted 25 seasons; the Cardinals went even longer, 50 seasons, without winning a playoff game (1948–1997).

Who is the youngest starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl?

Ben Roethlisberger was 23 when the Steelers won Super Bowl XL in his second season, a game he won despite a passer rating of 22.6.

Which NFL playoff game is known as 'The Greatest Game Ever Played'?

The 1958 NFL Championship game between the Baltimore Colts and the New York Giants, an overtime thriller, is often referred to as 'The Greatest Game Ever Played'.

Which kicker holds the record for most career playoff field goals?

Adam Vinatieri made 56 playoff field goals and scored a record 238 postseason points, including the last-second winners in Super Bowls XXXVI and XXXVIII.

Which player holds the record for most career playoff rushing yards?

Emmitt Smith ran for 1,586 postseason yards and 19 touchdowns, records he set during Dallas's three-title run in the 1990s.

In what year did the NFL first include a wild-card team in each conference's playoffs?

In 1970, the first post-merger season, each conference's playoffs added one wild-card qualifier alongside its three division winners; a separate wild-card round with two such teams per conference began in 1978.

Which team forced a Super Bowl-record nine turnovers in Super Bowl XXVII?

The Dallas Cowboys forced nine Buffalo turnovers, a Super Bowl record, in a 52-17 rout in Super Bowl XXVII in January 1993, the first of their three titles in four seasons.

Who is the oldest starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl?

He was 43 when Tampa Bay won Super Bowl LV; Bruce Arians, 68, was the oldest head coach to win one.

What is the record for the most times a team has been sacked in a single playoff game?

Nine sacks allowed is the postseason record; Tennessee sacked Joe Burrow nine times in the January 2022 divisional round, yet Cincinnati won 19-16 anyway.

What is the longest overtime game in NFL playoff history, by actual game time?

The 1971 AFC Divisional Playoff game between the Miami Dolphins and the Kansas City Chiefs, which lasted 82 minutes and 40 seconds, is the longest game in NFL history by actual elapsed time.

Which NFL coach holds the record for most road playoff wins?

John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens holds the record for the most road playoff wins as an NFL head coach with 8.

Who holds the record for most career playoff interceptions thrown by a quarterback?

Brett Favre threw 30 postseason interceptions, the last two in the 2009 NFC Championship Game loss to New Orleans that also gave him the playoff attempts and yardage records at the time.

Through Super Bowl LIX, how many Super Bowl appearances did the record-holding franchise have?

The New England Patriots' 11 appearances, from Super Bowl XX through LIII, were the record through Super Bowl LIX; the Cowboys, Steelers, Broncos and 49ers were tied for second with eight each.

Which quarterback started for the Ravens in their Super Bowl XXXV win?

Trent Dilfer, who replaced Tony Banks as Baltimore's starter at midseason, started the Ravens' 34-7 win over the Giants in Super Bowl XXXV and was not re-signed that offseason.

Which team came closest to a Super Bowl three-peat, losing Super Bowl LIX after winning the previous two?

No team has won three straight Super Bowls; the Kansas City Chiefs, the first to reach a Super Bowl after winning the previous two, lost 40-22 to Philadelphia in New Orleans.

What is the most passing yards thrown in a single NFL playoff game?

Tom Brady holds the record for most passing yards in a single NFL playoff game with 505 yards in Super Bowl LII.

At what kickoff temperature was the 1967 'Ice Bowl' NFL Championship played?

The Ice Bowl kicked off at −13 °F, the coldest air temperature for any NFL game; the Packers beat the Cowboys 21-17 on a Bart Starr sneak in the final seconds at Lambeau Field.

Who made 'The Catch' to win the 1981 NFC Championship Game for the 49ers?

Dwight Clark's leaping grab of Joe Montana's pass in the back of the end zone capped an 89-yard drive with 58 seconds left, a 28-27 win over Dallas seen as the start of the 49ers dynasty.

Which Steelers player caught the 'Immaculate Reception' in 1972?

Franco Harris scooped Terry Bradshaw's deflected pass off his shoetops and scored on fourth down with 22 seconds left; debate persists over whether the ball touched Jack Tatum or Frenchy Fuqua, or hit the turf.

Which Titans tight end threw the lateral on the 'Music City Miracle'?

Frank Wycheck took the kickoff handoff from Lorenzo Neal and threw the cross-field lateral to Kevin Dyson, whose 75-yard return beat Buffalo 22-16 after the Bills had led 16-15 with 16 seconds left.

Who caught the 'Minneapolis Miracle' touchdown as time expired in January 2018?

Stefon Diggs scored on a 61-yard catch as time expired after Saints safety Marcus Williams missed the tackle, the first NFL playoff game to end on a walk-off touchdown in regulation.

Which Raiders cornerback forced the apparent fumble in the 2001 'Tuck Rule Game'?

Charles Woodson's corner blitz knocked the ball from Tom Brady, but replay officials ruled an incomplete pass under the tuck rule, which the league abolished in 2013.

Which Giants receiver made the 'Helmet Catch' in Super Bowl XLII?

David Tyree pinned Eli Manning's pass to his helmet for 32 yards with the Giants trailing late, setting up the winning touchdown; he had just four regular-season catches in 2007 and never caught another NFL pass.

Which backup quarterback led the Bills' record playoff comeback from 35–3 down in 1993?

Frank Reich, filling in for the injured Jim Kelly, rallied Buffalo past Houston 41-38 in overtime in January 1993; he later was head coach of the Colts and Panthers.

Which Eagles quarterback threw for 407 yards in the 1988 'Fog Bowl' loss to the Bears?

Randall Cunningham threw for 407 yards as visibility fell to 15-20 yards at Soldier Field, but Philadelphia managed only four field goals and lost 20-12.

What wind chill was reported for the 1981 'Freezer Bowl' in Cincinnati?

The wind chill was reported as −59 °F: the air temperature was −9 °F with a sustained 27 mph wind, and Cincinnati beat San Diego 27-7 to reach Super Bowl XVI.

On the 'Philly Special', who threw the touchdown pass to the Eagles' quarterback?

Trey Burton, the third-string tight end, took a pitch from undrafted rookie Corey Clement and lofted the pass to the wide-open quarterback on fourth-and-goal just before halftime of Super Bowl LII.

Which quarterback caught a touchdown on the 'Philly Special' in Super Bowl LII?

Nick Foles became the first player to both throw and catch a touchdown pass in a Super Bowl, and won MVP as a backup who had started the season behind Wentz.

Whose 67-yard touchdown run against the Saints was dubbed the 'Beast Quake'?

Marshawn Lynch shed defender after defender on the 67-yard run against New Orleans in the January 2011 wild card game, and the crowd's roar registered on a nearby seismometer.

With what losing record did the 2010 Seahawks win the NFC West and make the playoffs?

Seattle went 7-9 yet won the NFC West, the first team to reach the playoffs with a losing record in a full season, then knocked out the defending champion Saints 41-36.

How long was Scott Norwood's 'Wide Right' field-goal miss at the end of Super Bowl XXV?

47 yards was near the edge of Norwood's range on grass; the miss started Buffalo's run of four straight Super Bowl losses.

How many yards did John Elway cover on 'The Drive' in the 1986 AFC Championship Game?

The Drive covered 98 yards in 15 plays over 5 minutes and 2 seconds, tying the game with 37 seconds left; Denver won 23-20 in overtime on Rich Karlis's 33-yard field goal.

Which Browns running back lost 'The Fumble' at the goal line in the 1987 AFC title game?

Earnest Byner, who had already scored twice, was stripped by Jeremiah Castille near the goal line with Cleveland driving to tie late; it came one year after 'The Drive' in the same matchup.

The 1977 'Ghost to the Post' playoff pass went to which Raiders tight end?

Dave Casper, nicknamed 'Ghost' after Casper the Friendly Ghost, made the 42-yard catch that set up Errol Mann's tying field goal; Oakland beat Baltimore 37-31 in double overtime.

Which Ravens receiver caught the 70-yard tying touchdown in the 2012 'Mile High Miracle'?

Jacoby Jones got behind the Broncos' safeties with under a minute left to catch Joe Flacco's 70-yard bomb; Baltimore went on to win the Super Bowl that season.

Which Raiders defensive back intercepted Cleveland's 'Red Right 88' pass in January 1981?

Mike Davis, a safety with a reputation for poor hands, intercepted Brian Sipe's end-zone pass intended for Ozzie Newsome; coach Sam Rutigliano had told Sipe to throw it into Lake Erie if the play wasn't open.

Who caught Roger Staubach's 1975 playoff 'Hail Mary' pass against the Vikings?

Drew Pearson hauled in Staubach's 50-yard pass for the winning touchdown in the final half-minute at Minnesota; Staubach said he closed his eyes and said a Hail Mary, and the phrase stuck.

The first Super Bowl in January 1967 was played at which venue?

The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum hosted the game, then called the AFL-NFL World Championship Game; it did not sell out, and the Packers beat the Chiefs 35-10.

Which team did the Jets upset 16–7 in Super Bowl III?

The Baltimore Colts, 18-point favorites, fell 16-7 in the first AFL win over the NFL and the first game officially branded as the Super Bowl.

Which quarterback publicly guaranteed a win three days before Super Bowl III?

Joe Namath made the boast at the Miami Touchdown Club, then was named MVP without throwing a touchdown pass as the AFL's Jets won 16-7.

Super Bowl V in 1971 was the first played on what kind of surface?

The Orange Bowl's Poly-Turf made it the first Super Bowl on artificial turf; the sloppy game had 11 turnovers, and the Colts won 16-13 on Jim O'Brien's field goal with five seconds left.

Which Super Bowl is the only one to name two co-MVPs?

Super Bowl XII, Dallas's 27-10 win over Denver in January 1978, is the only one with co-MVPs: Cowboys linemen Harvey Martin and Randy White shared the award after voters considered honoring the whole defense.

The 1982 strike season ended with a special playoff tournament of how many teams?

A 16-team tournament, eight per conference, replaced the normal bracket after a nine-game regular season; divisions were ignored, the field was seeded by record, and Washington won it all.

Who was MVP of Super Bowl XVIII after rushing for a then-record 191 yards?

Marcus Allen reversed field on a 74-yard touchdown run and was the third Heisman winner named Super Bowl MVP as the Raiders routed Washington.

Which Bears defensive tackle scored a 1-yard touchdown run in Super Bowl XX?

William 'The Refrigerator' Perry lined up in the backfield and plunged in from the 1 in the Bears' 46-10 rout of New England; the score cost Las Vegas sportsbooks heavily on prop bets.

Who became the first Black quarterback to start a Super Bowl, winning XXII with Washington?

Doug Williams, who began 1987 as Jay Schroeder's backup, threw four touchdown passes in the second quarter of a 42-10 rout of Denver and was named the game's MVP.

Who performed the national anthem before Super Bowl XXV in 1991?

Whitney Houston sang it with the Florida Orchestra ten days into the Gulf War, and her recording was later released as a charity single.

Who became the first special-teams player named Super Bowl MVP, in Super Bowl XXXI?

Desmond Howard's 99-yard kickoff return touchdown, a Super Bowl record at the time, sealed Green Bay's 35-21 win over New England; he had won the 1991 Heisman Trophy at Michigan.

Which Rams linebacker made 'The Tackle' on the final play of Super Bowl XXXIV?

Mike Jones wrapped up Kevin Dyson one yard short of the goal line as time expired, preserving the Rams' 23-16 win over the Titans.

Which Steelers receiver threw a touchdown pass in Super Bowl XL, a Super Bowl first for a wideout?

Antwaan Randle El, a former Indiana quarterback, threw the 43-yard reverse-pass touchdown to Hines Ward in the fourth quarter to clinch the Steelers' 21-10 win over Seattle.

Who returned the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XLI 92 yards for a touchdown?

Devin Hester took the opening kickoff 92 yards just 14 seconds in, the first opening-kickoff touchdown in Super Bowl history, but the Bears lost 29-17 to the Colts in the rain.

Who returned an interception a record 100 yards for a touchdown in Super Bowl XLIII?

James Harrison picked off Kurt Warner at the goal line on the last play of the first half and rumbled 100 yards, the longest interception return in Super Bowl history.

Which Saints punter kicked the surprise onside kick to open the second half of Super Bowl XLIV?

Thomas Morstead, a rookie punter, executed the 'Ambush' onside kick that Chris Reis recovered, swinging momentum as New Orleans went on to upset the Colts 31-17.

How long was play suspended by the power outage during Super Bowl XLVII?

Play stopped for 34 minutes when half the Superdome went dark early in the third quarter; the 49ers nearly erased a 22-point deficit after the lights came back, losing 34-31.

What type of score came just 12 seconds into Super Bowl XLVIII, the fastest ever?

A safety came when the first snap sailed past Peyton Manning into the end zone, 12 seconds in; Seattle went on to win 43–8.

Which Patriots cornerback intercepted at the goal line to seal Super Bowl XLIX?

Malcolm Butler, an undrafted rookie, jumped Ricardo Lockette's slant at the 1-yard line with 20 seconds left, sealing a 28-24 win and a lasting debate over Seattle's decision not to hand off to Marshawn Lynch.

Who was named MVP of Super Bowl 50 in February 2016?

Von Miller had 2.5 sacks and two strip-sacks of Cam Newton that led to Denver touchdowns in a 24-10 win, Peyton Manning's final game.

What deficit did the Patriots overcome to win Super Bowl LI in overtime?

It was the largest comeback in Super Bowl history and the first Super Bowl to go to overtime. Atlanta still led 28–3 in the third quarter.

What was the final score of Super Bowl LIII between the Patriots and Rams?

13–3 Patriots: the only touchdown came in the fourth quarter, and the Rams never reached the end zone in the lowest-scoring Super Bowl ever.

Which team was the first to play a Super Bowl in its own home stadium?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat Kansas City 31-9 at Raymond James Stadium in Super Bowl LV; COVID-19 limits capped attendance near 25,000, the smallest ever, and the Rams repeated the home feat a year later.

Super Bowl LVIII in 2024 was the first held in which US state?

Nevada's Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, just off the Las Vegas Strip, hosted the longest Super Bowl ever, an overtime win for the Chiefs.

Who was named MVP of Super Bowl LIX in February 2025?

Jalen Hurts set a Super Bowl record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 72 and accounted for three touchdowns in the Eagles' 40-22 win over Kansas City.

Which company produces the Vince Lombardi Trophy?

Tiffany & Co. has made the sterling-silver trophy since the first Super Bowl; its designer sketched it on a cocktail napkin during a 1966 lunch with Pete Rozelle, and each winner keeps its trophy permanently.

What share of the Super Bowl MVP vote comes from fans voting electronically?

Fans' electronic votes count for 20 percent, with a 16-member media panel supplying the other 80 percent; fan voting began with Super Bowl XXXV in 2001.

Which Cowboys cornerback was MVP of Super Bowl XXX with two second-half interceptions?

Larry Brown, a 12th-round pick in 1991, was the first cornerback named Super Bowl MVP after picking off Neil O'Donnell twice, then signed a big free-agent deal with the Raiders.

Which team made its first Super Bowl appearance in XXXVIII, losing 32–29?

The Carolina Panthers, in their first Super Bowl, fell 32-29 to New England on Adam Vinatieri's 41-yard field goal with four seconds left, after a record 26:55 of scoreless play to open the game.