NFL Playoff matchups

A look at the matchups for the wild card weekend in the National Football League (All times Pacific):

Saturday, Jan. 8

BUFFALO (11-5) at TENNESSEE (13-3)

9:30 a.m., ABC

OPENING LINE - Titans by 4.

RECORD VS. SPREAD - Bills 8-7; Titans 10-5.

SERIES RECORD - Titans lead 22-15.

LAST TIME MET - Titans (then Oilers) beat Bills 31-14 on Nov. 23, 1997 at Tennessee.

POSTSEASON RECORDS - Bills 14-14. Titans 9-13.

RECORD VS. COMMON OPPONENTS - Bills 4-1. Titans 4-2.

LAST WEEK - Bills beat Colts 31-6. Titans beat Steelers 47-36.

BILLS OFFENSE - RUSH (8), PASS (20T), OVERALL (11)

Gained season-high 419 total yards. Had been averaging 327.6 per game. QB Rob Johnson made first start of season for starter Doug Flutie, going 24-for-32 for 287 yards with 2 TDs, adding 36 yards rushing. Johnson will start. WR Eric Moulds had 8 catches for 110 yards. FB Jonathan Linton had 60 yards rushing and 1 TD on 18 carries.

TITANS OFFENSE - RUSH (13), PASS (13T), OVERALL (13)

Scored season-high 47 points. QB Steve McNair was 9-for-11 for 107 yards with 1 TD and was replaced by Neil O'Donnell in second quarter (6-for-12, 109 yards, 2 TDs). TE Frank Wycheck had 5 catches for 80 yards and 2 TDs. RB Rodney Thomas had 21 carries for 95 yards and 1 TD. WR Yancey Thigpen had 4 catches for 50 yards.

BILLS DEFENSE - RUSH (4), PASS (1), OVERALL (1)

Held team averaging AFC-best 366.7 total yards per game to just 226, including 44 rushing. Allowing NFL-best 252.8 total yards per game. CB Antoine Winfield had 11 tackles. CB Thomas Smith had 3 tackles and 1 INT. LB Sam Cowart had 4 tackles and 3 assists. Allowed 17 red zone TDs, second fewest in AFC.

TITANS DEFENSE - RUSH (10), PASS (25), OVERALL (17)

Recorded 54 sacks, third best in NFL, and forced NFL-best 24 fumbles on season. DE Jevon Kearse had 1 sack, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery for an 18-yard TD vs. Pittsburgh. CB Denard Walker had 4 tackles and retuned a fumble 83 yards for TD. DT John Thornton had 3 tackles and 1 sack. LB Joe Bowden had 1 INT. CB Samari Rolle had 6 tackles. S Perry Phenix had 5 tackles and 2 assists.

SPECIAL TEAMS - Bills K Steve Christie had a 19-yard FG. He needs 2 FGs for second most ever in postseason. Titans P Craig Hentrich averaged 44.2 yards on 6 punts, including a 78-yarder, and dropped 3 inside the 20.

KEY MATCHUP - QB McNair and RB Eddie George vs. Bills run defense (No. 4).

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - Teams have met twice in postseason, both Buffalo wins. ... Bills make eighth playoff appearance of '90s, tied for most in NFL. ... Johnson is 4-1 with 123.8 QB rating with 9 TDs vs. 1 INT in last 5 starts. ... Bills RB Thurman Thomas has most career TDs (21) and points (126) in postseason. ... Moulds has single-game postseason record with 240 yards receiving. ... Bills DE Bruce Smith is tied for most career postseason sacks. ... Kearse set NFL rookie record of 14 1/2 sacks. ... Titans play first playoff game since '94. ... Titans are 8-0 at home this season. ... Titans carry 4-game win streak into playoffs, best among playoff teams. ... Thigpen has 9 catches for 146 yards in his past 2 playoff games. ... Titans have scored TD in 62 percent of red zone attempts.

Saturday, Jan. 8

DETROIT (8-8) at WASHINGTON (10-6)

1:05 p.m., ABC

OPENING LINE - Redskins by 5.5.

RECORD VS. SPREAD - Lions 7-8; Redskins 8-8.

SERIES RECORD - Redskins lead 26-9.

LAST TIME MET - Lions beat Redskins 33-17 on Dec. 5 at Detroit.

POSTSEASON RECORDS - Lions 7-9. Redskins 21-14.

RECORD VS. COMMON OPPONENTS - Lions 2-2. Redskins 4-0.

LAST WEEK - Lions lost to Vikings 24-17. Redskins beat Dolphins 21-10.

LIONS OFFENSE - RUSH (28), PASS (9), OVERALL (21)

Gained just 16 yards rushing. Averaging 77.8 per game, third worst in NFC. QB Charlie Batch was 17-for-24 for 161 yards with 1 TD, but reinjured thumb and is out. Gus Frerotte (14-for-22, 180 yards, 1 TD) will start. WR Johnnie Morton had 10 catches for 128 yards and 2 TDs. WR Germane Crowell had 8 catches for 120 yards. C Eric Beverly is doubtful (foot).

REDSKINS OFFENSE - RUSH (9), PASS (6), OVERALL (2)

Gained just 270 total yards. Still averaging 372.8 total yards per game, second best in NFL. NFC rushing leader RB Stephen Davis (1,405 yards) missed last week, practiced this week and is probable, although not 100 percent. Starting QB Brad Johnson played just a half, going 7-for-11 for 75 yards. FB Larry Centers had 4 catches for 36 yards with 1 TD.

LIONS DEFENSE - RUSH (9), PASS (27), OVERALL (18)

DE Tracy Scroggins had 2 sacks and 1 fumble recovery. S Ron Rice had 6 tackles, 1 INT and 1 forced fumble. DE Robert Porcher had 5 tackles, 1 sack and 1 forced fumble. LB Stephen Boyd and CB Bryant Westbrook each had 6 tackles. DTs Travis Kirschke and Kelvin Pritchett each had 1 sack. Allowing 235 yards passing per game, fourth worst in NFC.

REDSKINS DEFENSE - RUSH (27), PASS (26), OVERALL (30)

Allowed 389 total yards. Allowing NFC-worst 356.6 per game. LB Shawn Barber had 11 tackles. DB Mark McMillian had 2 INTs. DB Leomont Evans, LB Derek Smith and CB Champ Bailey each had 5 tackles. DEs Ndukwe Kalu, Kenard Lang and DT Marc Boutte each had 1 sack. CB Darryl Pounds had 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery.

SPECIAL TEAMS - Lions P John Jett averaged 43.8 yards on 4 punts. K Jason Hanson had a 39-yard FG. His 26 FGs were second in NFC. Redskins P Matt Turk averaged 43.8 yards on 6 punts, dropping 2 inside the 20.

KEY MATCHUP - Lions WRs Crowell and Morton vs. Redskins CBs Bailey and Darrell Green.

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - Lions gained just 31 yards rushing in last meeting with Redskins. ... Lions' 22 total giveaways are fewest in NFC. ... Crowell led club with career bests in catches (81), yards (1,338) and TDs (7). ... Lions WR Herman Moore needs 2 catches to become club's career playoff leader. ... Porcher had career-high 15 sacks, third in NFC. ... Rice had career-high 5 INTs this season. ... Redskins making first playoff appearance since '92 and won first NFC East title since '91. ... Redskins have not lost Lions at home since '35. ... Johnson is second Redskins player with 4,000 yards passing (4,005) in a season. .. WRs Albert Connell (1,132) and Michael Westbrook (1,191) are second Redskins duo with 1,000 yards receiving each in same season. ... Green has 5 playoff INTs. ... Bailey is tied for second among rookies with 5 INTs.

Sunday, Jan. 9

DALLAS (8-8) at MINNESOTA

9:35 a.m., FOX

OPENING LINE - Vikings by 7.

RECORD VS. SPREAD - Cowboys 8-8; Vikings 3-10.

SERIES RECORD - Cowboys lead 13-9.

LAST TIME MET - Vikings beat Cowboys 27-17 on Nov. 8 at Minnesota.

POSTSEASON RECORDS - Cowboys 32-20. Vikings 15-21.

RECORD VS. COMMON OPPONENTS - Cowboys 3-1. Vikings 3-1.

LAST WEEK - Cowboys beat Giants 26-18. Vikings beat Lions 24-17.

COWBOYS OFFENSE - RUSH (6T), PASS (24), OVERALL (16)

Rolled up 437 total yards, 188 rushing. Averaging 128.2 per game, third in NFC. QB Troy Aikman was 23-for-32 for 288 yards and 2 TDs. RB Emmitt Smith had 22 carries for 122 yards. WR Jason Tucker had 4 catches for 122 yards, including 90-yard TD. WR Raghib Ismail had 7 catches for 62 yards and 1 TD.

VIKINGS OFFENSE - RUSH (14), PASS (5), OVERALL (3)

Gained 379 total yards. Averaging 362.1 per game, third in NFL. QB Jeff George was 14-for-24 for 275 yards with 1 TD. WR Randy Moss, NFC leader with 1,413 yards receiving, had 5 catches for 155 yards with 67-yard TD. RB Robert Smith had 22 carries for 97 yards with 1 TD. WR Cris Carter had 3 catches for 52 yards. RB Leroy Hoard had 41 yards and 1 TD on 7 carries.

COWBOYS DEFENSE - RUSH (6T), PASS (13), OVERALL (9)

Yielded 380 total yards. Had been allowing 297.3 per game. S George Teague had 3 tackles, 1 INT and 2 passes defensed. LB Dexter Coakley and S Charlie Williams each had 5 tackles. DT Leon Lett had 3 tackles and 1 sack. LB Dat Nguyen, CB Duane Hawthorne and CB Deion Sanders each had 4 tackles. CBs Kevin Mathis and Kevin Smith, out last week, practiced and may play.

VIKINGS DEFENSE - RUSH (14), PASS (30), OVERALL (27)

Allowed just 16 yards rushing. Had been allowing 106.7 per game. DE Duane Clemons had 4 tackles, 2 1/2 sacks and 1 fumble recovery. DT John Randle had 2 sacks and 1 forced fumble. DE Chris Doleman had 5 tackles and 1 1/2 sacks. DB Robert Tate had 6 tackles and 1 INT. S Robert Griffith had 4 tackles and 1 sack. Allowed 16 TDs in 26 red zone attempts (34.8 percent), second in NFC.

SPECIAL TEAMS - Cowboys K Eddie Murray had 4 FGs (20, 21, 27, 40 yards). KR Tucker returned 2 kicks for 93 yards. Vikings K Gary Anderson had a 44-yard FG, but missed a 52-yarder. He missed 11 FGs this season after missing none last year.

KEY MATCHUP - CBs Sanders and Smith vs. WR Carter and Moss.

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - Cowboys lead Vikings 4-1 in playoff games. ... Cowboys lead NFL with most playoff games (52) and wins (32). ... Aikman has 4 career 300-yard postseason passing games, tied for third most. ... RB Emmitt Smith is career NFL playoff leader with 18 TDs rushing and is tied for most 100-yard games (7). ... Teague ranks third with 160 career playoff INT return yards. ... Moss and Carter combined for 2,654 yards receiving, second highest mark in NFL history. ... Vikings have gone to playoffs 7 of 8 games under head coach Dennis Green. ... RB Robert Smith had third consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season. ... Moss has 9 catches for 254 yards and 5 TDs in 2 career games vs. Cowboys. ... Randle has 5 sacks in past 2 games.

Sunday, Jan. 9

MIAMI (9-7) at SEATTLE (9-7)

1:05 p.m., CBS

OPENING LINE - Seahawks by 3.5.

RECORD VS. SPREAD - Dolphins 6-10; Seahawks 6-10.

SERIES RECORD - Dolphins lead 5-3.

LAST TIME MET - Seahawks beat Dolphins 22-15 on Oct. 6, 1996 at Miami.

POSTSEASON RECORDS - Dolphins 18-16. Seahawks 3-4.

RECORD VS. COMMON OPPONENTS - Dolphins 3-4. Seahawks 3-5.

LAST WEEK - Dolphins lost to Redskins 21-10. Seahawks lost to Jets 19-9.

DOLPHINS OFFENSE - RUSH (22), PASS (13T), OVERALL (20)

QB Dan Marino played the first half, going 11-for-24 for 118 yards. He finished season with more INTs (17) than TDs (12) for first time in career. WR Oronde Gadsden had 9 catches for 114 yards and 1 TD. FB Rob Konrad had 10 catches for 68 yards. Rookie RB Autry Denson had 106 yards from scrimmage, 80 rushing, in first NFL start.

SEAHAWKS OFFENSE - RUSH (25), PASS (16), OVERALL (23)

Gained just 266 total yards, 33 rushing, in final regular-season game. QB Jon Kitna was 21-for-45 for 237 yards and 2 INTs with no TDs. WR Derrick Mayes had 5 catches for 64 yards. WR Sean Dawkins had 4 catches for 66 yards. RB Ricky Watters had just 30 yards rushing, is bothered by knee injury and is not expected to be 100 percent.

DOLPHINS DEFENSE - RUSH (8), PASS (5), OVERALL (5)

Allowed just 270 total yards to team averaging 379.7 per game. CB Patrick Surtain had 5 tackles and 2 sacks. LB Zach Thomas and S Shawn Wooden each had 6 tackles. LB Robert Jones had 5 tackles. S Brock Marion had 3 tackles. Lead NFL in red zone TD percentage, allowing 12 in 38 attempts (31.6 percent).

SEAHAWKS DEFENSE - RUSH (25), PASS (17), OVERALL (23)

Yielded 379 total yards. Giving up 339.1 per game, third worst in AFC. DB Jay Bellamy had 6 tackles, 2 assists and 2 INTs. LB Chad Brown had 7 tackles, 3 assists and 1 sack. DT Sam Adams and DB Shawn Springs and DT Cortez Kennedy each had 6 tackles. DB Darryl Williams had 5 tackles and 2 assists. Allowed just 1 TD in 5 red zone trips.

SPECIAL TEAMS - Dolphins K Olindo Mare had a 39-yard FG, his NFL-record 39th of season. Seahawks K Todd Peterson had 3 FGs (25, 41, 45), accounting for all scoring.

KEY MATCHUPS - Dolphins CBs Terrell Buckley and Sam Madison vs. WRs Dawkins and Mayes.

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - Dolphins coach Jimmy Johnson is second among active coaches with .727 postseason winning percentage (8-3). ... Marino (30) needs 1 TD to move into second place on career postseason list. He has 4,219 postseason yards passing, ranking third. In 2 playoff games vs. Seahawks, Marino has 455 yards passing with 5 TDs. ... Madison tied for NFL-high with 7 INTs. ... Mare set club record with 144 points. ... Dolphins WR Tony Martin had career-high 13 catches (163 yards) vs. Seahawks in '95 (with Chargers). ... Seahawks won first division title since '88 and will play first home playoff game since '84. ... Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren never lost a home playoff game with Green Bay. ... Watters has 1,055 yards from scrimmage and 12 TDs in 10 career postseason games. ... Mayes ranks third in AFC with 10 TDs receiving. ... Seahawks WR Joey Galloway has 5 catches for 137 yards and 2 TDs in only career game vs. Dolphins. ... Seahawks lead NFL with 30 INTs.

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