AFTER ONE WILD SEASON, HERE COMES WILD CARD WEEKEND!

"It’s crunch time!"

So says RONDE BARBER, cornerback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, one of eight teams that will kick off the 2007 NFL playoffs this Saturday and Sunday in Wild Card Weekend.

Here we go – on a high-speed highway to Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Arizona on February 3!

After a grueling, consistently exciting regular season, the 12 teams to qualify for the playoffs are an impressive bunch indeed:

* The cumulative winning percentage for all 12 clubs is .703 (135-57). Ten of the 12 teams won at least 10 games.

* Many of the clubs enter the playoffs on a roll. New England, of course, has won 16 in a row – the whole season! San Diego has won its last six, Indianapolis six of its last seven, Washington four in a row and Tennessee three straight.

* It is a "fresh face" playoffs, with six clubs – Green Bay, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Tennessee and Washington – making the final 12 after missing out last year. It is the 12th consecutive year that at least five clubs accomplished the feat.

* It’s a solid playoffs, led by teams that have performed consistently over the years, with winning percentages of .600 or more over the past five seasons – New England (.825), Indianapolis (.788), Seattle (.638), Pittsburgh (.625) and San Diego (.612).

So it’s a brand-new, 11-game season, and who knows what’s in store! "Once you make the playoffs, anything can happen," says Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver HINES WARD. He should know. Two years ago, his Steelers won three road playoff games to reach (and win) Super Bowl XL.

Here comes Wild Card Weekend:

WASHINGTON REDSKINS (9-7) at SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (10-6) (Saturday, 4:30 PM ET, NBC)

Can the ’Skins carry their season turnaround all the way to Seattle?

Right now, they’re the hottest team in the NFC, with four victories in a row, including their last three by double digits. And they’ve done that in their last three wins led by QB TODD COLLINS, who has started his first games in 10 years and has completed 64 percent of his passes with five touchdowns and no interceptions.

This all comes after Washington had lost five of six in the middle of the season. "To get in the playoffs was a dream of ours," says Redskins head coach JOE GIBBS. "Four weeks ago, everybody would have said, ‘It looks impossible.’"

Keeping that dream going out west will not be easy. Collins and his OL will face some of the league’s true marauders in DE PATRICK KERNEY -- second in the league in sacks this season (14.5) -- and LBs JULIAN PETERSON and LOFA TATUPU, who, says Seahawks head coach MIKE HOLMGREN, "can make plays other linebackers can’t."

The Seahawks, in their fifth playoffs in a row, can change up on offense effectively. Their running game can pound with

SHAUN ALEXANDER and MAURICE MORRIS, and QB MATT HASSELBECK has been let loose oftentimes this year by Holmgren in the shotgun to let things fly.

TEAMS MET in 2005 NFC Divisional Playoff (1/14/06), won by Seahawks 20-10 at Qwest Field. That season, Seattle advanced to 1st Super Bowl in team history.

REDSKINS: Head coach JOE GIBBS has 17 postseason victories, 3rd-most all-time. Gibbs has 17-6 (.739) career mark in playoffs. Redskins have won 4 in row & are 3rd team to advance to postseason after starting 5-7 since 16-game schedule was adopted in 1978 (1990 NO, 1995 SD, 1996 Jax.). Team plays 40th playoff game in franchise history & has 23-16 (.590) record…Club had 3 players selected to Pro Bowl: TE CHRIS COOLEY, T CHRIS SAMUELS & late S SEAN TAYLOR…QB TODD COLLINS has guided team to 4 wins (3 starts) in past 4. Posted 106.4 passer rating, completing 67 of 105 (63.8 pct.) for 888 yards with 5 TDs vs. 0 INTs. Last playoff action was in 1996 vs. Jax. (12/28/96 with Buf.)…RB CLINTON PORTIS has 348 scrimmage yards (116 per game) in 3 career meetings vs. Sea. (incl. 2005 Div.). Ranked 2nd in NFC with 1,591 scrimmage yards, incl. career-high 47 receptions & 389 rec. yards. Finished 3rd in NFC with 1,262 rush yards, his 5th season with 1,250+ rush yards in 6 career years. In final 3 games of reg. season, Portis had 381 scrimmage yards (127 per game), 4 rush TDs & 1 pass TD. When he has 100+ rush yards, his teams are 28-9 (.757)…TE Cooley had career-high 8 TDs, most among NFC TEs. Has 27 TDs since entering NFL in 2004, most in NFC among TEs. Had 4 catches for 85 yards (21.3 avg.) in 2005 Div. Playoff…WR SANTANA MOSS had 7 catches for 103 yards & 1 TD (20 yards) in 2005 Div. Playoff. Has 4 career postseason TDs (3 rec., 1 PR) & averages 36.5 yards per TD. Incl. playoffs, WR-PR ANTWAAN RANDLE EL has 23 career TDs (12 rec., 6 PR, 4 pass, 1 KR). In postseason career, Randle El has rec. TD, PR-TD & pass TD…Redskins ranked 3rd in NFC in total defense (305.3) & 2nd in rush defense (91.3). DE ANDRE CARTER has 14.5 sacks in past 21. CB SHAWN SPRINGS was 1st round pick (No. 3) by Sea. in 1997 & spent 7 years with club (1997-2003). Ties for 5th in Seahawks history with 20 INTs. Has 4 INTs in past 4 games.

SEAHAWKS: Head coach MIKE HOLMGREN has 12 postseason wins, tied for 6th-most in NFL annals. Has guided his teams to 8 division titles, including 4 in row with Seattle. Team plays 16th playoff game in franchise history…Club had 6 players selected to Pro Bowl: QB MATT HASSELBECK, T WALTER JONES, DE PATRICK KERNEY, LB JULIAN PETERSON, LB LOFA TATUPU & CB MARCUS TRUFANT…QB Hasselbeck has only 2 300-yard passing games in team’s postseason history. Is club’s all-time playoff leader in passing yards (1,788) & ties for 1st with 9 TDs (DAVE KRIEG). Had 100.6 passer rating & 2 TDs (1 pass, 1 rush) in 2005 Div. Playoff…RB SHAUN ALEXANDER has 498 rushing yards & 7 TDs in postseason career, tops in franchise history. Incl. playoffs, when Alexander has more than 25 carries, Seahawks are 23-3 (.885). Scored 100th career rush TD in Week 17…T Jones will play in 9th career playoff game with Seahawks, most in franchise history…Incl. playoffs, WR DEION BRANCH’s teams are 19-4 (.826) when he has TD reception. Branch has 4 100-yard receiving games in postseason career & can tie HOFer JOHN STALLWORTH & ANDRE REED (5) for 3rd in NFL history. WR BOBBY ENGRAM set single-season club record with 94 catches & had 1,147 yards, 1st career 1,000-yard season. Has 25 postseason receptions & needs 2 to pass DARRELL JACKSON (26) for most in team history. WR-PR NATE BURLESON has 15 TDs (12 rec., 2 PR, 1 KR) as Seahawk (incl. playoffs), averaging 33.9 yards per TD (509 yards). Had TD catch in last playoff game…DE Kerney led NFC with 14.5 sacks. Has sack in 3 of 4 career playoff games. LB Peterson has 20.5 sacks in 34 games with Sea. (incl. playoffs). Has sack in 4 of 5 career postseason games. CB Trufant ranked 2nd in NFC with career-best 7 INTs. LB Tatupu had career-best 4 INTs. Club ranked 2nd in NFL with +10 turnover differential (34 takeaways)…K JOSH BROWN is Seahawks postseason scoring leader with 52 points (12 FG, 17 PAT).

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (11-5) at PITTSBURGH STEELERS (10-6) (Saturday, 8:00 PM ET, NBC)

Cold weather? What cold weather?

It’s not often that a team from Florida can be described as a "cold-weather" club, but the Jaguars just might be it.

It was only three weeks ago that Jacksonville visited a snowy Heinz Field with game-time temperatures at 35 degrees and dropping and came away with a solid 29-22 win over the Steelers. Jaguars RB FRED TAYLOR rumbled for 147 yards and the winning TD – the first 100-yard effort Pittsburgh surrendered at home in 30 games -- and QB DAVID GARRARD threw three scoring passes.

But the Steelers have the No. 1 defense in the league, carved out by defensive coordinator DICK LE BEAU, who loves the zone blitz coming off multiple looks. Pittsburgh this year allowed the fewest yards per game in the NFL in six seasons – 219, the least since Miami’s 212 in 2002.

And, of course, the Steelers have "Big Ben" himself, QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER, who never seems to get flustered no matter what the situation. He finished only second (104.1) to New England’s TOM BRADY (117.2) in passer rating.

TEAMS MEET for 1st time in playoffs. Jacksonville and Pittsburgh met every season from 1995 to 2001 as members of AFC Central & combined for 5 division titles during that span (Jaguars, 2; Steelers, 3).

JAGUARS: Club has won 11 of past 15 & aims for 7th straight vs. AFC North…Team finished regular season ranked 1st in AFC & 2nd in NFL in rushing (149.4 yards per game) & has 100+ rushing yards in 24 of past 27 games…Jaguars have scored 24 or more points in 10 consecutive games (franchise-high)…In ’07, QB DAVID GARRARD has 9-3 record (.750) as starter & has completed 208 of 325 passes (64.0 pct.) for 2,509 yards with 18 TDs vs. 3 INTs & 102.2 passer rating. In only career meeting vs. Steelers (12/16/07), Garrard completed 17 of 33 passes (51.5 pct.) for 197 yards with 3 TDs vs. INT & 87.6 passer rating. Garrard will make 1st career playoff start…In ’07, RB FRED TAYLOR posted his 6th 1,200 yard season. Taylor finished season with 5 consecutive 100-yard rushing games & is averaging 119.6 rush yards-per-game in past 5 (598 yards, 78 att.). In 5 career playoff games, Taylor averages 5.3 yards-per-carry (517 yards, 98 att.) & has 3 100-yard rush games. In last meeting vs. Pit, Taylor posted season-high 147 rushing yards (most by opposing RB in Heinz Field history). RB MAURICE JONES-DREW ranked 4th in AFC with 2,014 all-purpose yards (768 rush, 407 receiving, 811 KR, 28 PR). Jones-Drew has 26 TDs in past 29 games…WR ERNEST WILFORD set career-high with team-best 45 receptions. WR REGGIE WILLIAMS has TD reception in 4 consecutive games & set franchise single-season record with 10 in ’07…Defense has 12 INTs in past 8 games…CB RASHEAN MATHIS has 3 INTs in 4 career meetings vs. Pit…Rookie S REGGIE NELSON posted 5 INTs & tied for 1st in NFL among rookies. Nelson set team record for most INTs by rookie. DE PAUL SPICER tied career-high with team-best 7.5 sacks. LB DARYL SMITH has 100+ tackles in 3 consecutive seasons.

STEELERS: Club has won 18 division titles since 1970…Team has 2-1 (.667) record at home for Wild Card game…Steelers aim for 5th consecutive playoff win…Team hosts 1st Wild Card game since ’02 (1/5/03 vs. Cleveland)… Rush offense ranked 2nd in AFC & 3rd in NFL (135.5 yards-per-game)...MIKE TOMLIN makes postseason debut as head coach…In past 3, QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER has completed 50 of 84 passes (59.5 pct.) for 590 yards with 7 TDs vs. 0 INTs & 108.7 passer rating. Roethlisberger has 5-1 (.833) record in postseason & has completed 89 of 147 passes (60.5 pct.) for 1,210 yards with 10 TDs vs. 8 INTs & 86.8 passer rating. Incl. postseason, team is 25-2 (.925), when Roethlisberger has 100+ passer rating. Roethlisberger aims for 3rd consecutive game with rushing TD in playoffs…RB NAJEH DAVENPORT averaged 4.7 yards-per-cary in ’07 (499 rush yards, 107 att.)…WR HINES WARD has 8 TD receptions in past 8 postseason games. In last postseason game (SB XL vs. Sea.), Ward totaled 5 receptions for 123 yards (24.6 avg.) with TD & was named SB MVP. Ward averages 76.1 receiving yards-per-game in postseason. Ward (57) needs reception to surpass JOHN STALLWORTH (57) for most career postseason receptions in franchise history. In ’07, WR SANTONIO HOLMES led team with career-high 942 receiving yards & 8 TD receptions. Holmes is averaging 115.5 receiving yards-per-game in past 2. WR NATE WASHINGTON registered career-high 5 TD receptions in ’07…TE HEATH MILLER set career-high 7 TD receptions. Miller has 7 receptions for 107 yards (15.3 avg.) with TD in 4 playoff games. Miller has 2 TD receptions in 3 career games vs. Jax…Team ranked 1st in NFL in total defense (266.4 yards-per-game)…Since ’04, team is 22-7 (.759) when defense records 3+ sacks…CB IKE TAYLOR has 2 INTs in 4 career playoff starts…LB JAMES HARRISON led team with career-best 8.5 sacks.

NEW YORK GIANTS (10-6) at TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (9-7) (Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, FOX)

Not Garcia again!

The Giants will be thinking exactly that when they look across the line and see Bucs QB JEFF GARCIA.

Five years ago with San Francisco, he directed the second-biggest playoff comeback in NFL history with a 24-point rebound in a 2002 Wild Card game in a 39-38 Niners’ victory. Then last season with Philadelphia, Garcia again beat New York in a Wild Card game (23-20), taking the Eagles on three consecutive second-quarter scoring drives.

If there is one man who knows Garcia, it is Giants defensive coordinator STEVE SPAGNUOLO, who was the linebackers coach in the quarterback’s one year with Philadelphia. Spagnuolo has created a strong, flexible Giants defense. You never know who is where, or who is coming. "They do a good job of making adjustments and overloading you," says 49ers QB TRENT DILFER.

Sunday just might be an old-time earth-cracking RB day. The Giants’ bruiser, 6-4, 264-pound BRANDON JACOBS, rushed for 1,009 yards this season and necessitates gang-tackling once he gets rolling. The Buccaneers’ featured back, EARNEST GRAHAM, was No. 4 on the depth chart in training camp, yet finished 102 yards shy of 1,000 (898).

And if Jacksonville doesn’t mind the cold, the Giants don’t seem bothered by the road. The club finished the season winning a team-record seven consecutive road games. "We like the fact that we play hard, we play for four quarters and we play well on the road," says Giants DE MICHAEL STRAHAN.

TEAMS MEET for 1st time in postseason. NY leads all-time series 10-6, yet Buccaneers have outscored Giants 252-237.

GIANTS: Team makes 29th playoff appearance, tied with Dallas for most in NFL history. Head coach TOM COUGHLIN has guided team to postseason for 3rd season in row, 1st time team has made 3 consecutive playoff appearances since 1984-86. Last playoff game NY played in TB was SB XXXV vs. Bal. Team posted 7-1 (.875) road record, best mark since 2000 when team advanced to SB. Club has won 7 in row on road, longest single-season streak in team annals… QB ELI MANNING passed for 3,336 passing yards & 23 TDs & joined PHIL SIMMS as only NYG QBs with 3,000+ yards & 20+ TDs 3 seasons in row…Rush offense ranked 2nd in NFC (134.3 yards per game). RB BRANDON JACOBS led team in rushing with 1st career 1,000-yard season (1,009) & averaged 91.7 yards per game. Had rush TD in only meeting vs. TB…WR PLAXICO BURRESS led team with 70 receptions, 1,025 yards & 12 TDs. Is 1st Giant since DEL SHOFNER (1961-62) to post back-to-back seasons with 10+ TD receptions. Has 5 TD catches in 8 career playoff games. In those 8, Burress has 28 catches & has recorded 1st down or TD on 27 (96.4 pct.). WR AMANI TOOMER is team leader in postseason rec. TDs (4) & has highest yards-per-catch avg. (14.4). Tied NFL playoff record with 3 rec. TDs in 2002 WC game vs. SF (1/5/03)…DE OSI UMENYIORA was selected to Pro Bowl for 2nd time in career. Has sack in each of 1st 2 career playoff games. Ranked 3rd in NFC with 13 sacks. In 6 career postseason games, DE MICHAEL STRAHAN has 7.5 sacks, most in team playoff history. Has 1+ sack in 5 of those 6 games. DE JUSTIN TUCK had career-high 10 sacks. Umenyiora (13), Tuck (10) & Strahan (9) are 2nd trio in team history to record 9+ sacks each in single season: 1985 (LEONARD MARSHALL, 15.5; HOFer LAWRENCE TAYLOR, 13; GEORGE MARTIN, 10). LB KAWIKA MITCHELL scored 2 defensive TDs this year on 20-yard INT-TD & 17-yard FR-TD. CB SAM MADISON & S GIBRIL WILSON tied for team lead with 4 INTs each.

BUCCANEERS: Club plays 15th playoff game in franchise history. Won NFC South after finishing last in division last year – 5th consecutive season that last place team in NFC South won division following year. TB has now won division title 6 times, incl. 3 under head coach JON GRUDEN. Under Gruden, Bucs are 16-0 since 2002 when not committing turnover…QB JEFF GARCIA is 4-1 (.800) in career vs. NYG, incl. 2-0 in playoffs. Is only QB in SB era to start vs. same opponent in playoffs with 3 different teams (SF, Phi.). In 2002 WC Playoff (1/5/03), Garcia passed for 3 TDs & led SF to 25-point 2nd-half comeback vs. NYG. Defeated NY in WC Playoff last year with Phi. (1/7/07). In career (incl. playoffs), Garcia’s teams are 32-12 (.727) when he has 95+ passer rating…RB EARNEST GRAHAM led team with career-high 898 rush yards & 10 rush TDs. Set club record with rush TD in 6 consecutive games. In his past 9, has 994 scrimmage yards (110.4 per game) & 7 TDs. WR JOEY GALLOWAY had 6 TDs this season (301 yards) & averaged 50.2 yards per TD. Led team with 1,014 rec. yards, 3rd 1,000-yard season in row. Galloway is 1st Buc with 3 1,000-yard rec. seasons. WR IKE HILLIARD led team with 62 catches (722 yards). Was 1st round draft pick (No. 7) by NYG in 1997 & spent 8 seasons with NY (1997-2004). Holds NYG playoff record with 10 catches in game (1/14/01 vs. Min.). TE JERRAMY STEVENS has 4 TDs in past 4 postseason games (with Sea.)…Bucs led NFC in total defense (278.4 yards per game). LB DERRICK BROOKS will play in 11th playoff game with team, most in TB history. CB RONDE BARBER (12) & Brooks (8) are franchise leaders in TDs by def. player (incl. playoffs). Barber had 92-yard INT-TD vs. Phi. in 2002 NFC Champ. (1/19/03) & Brooks had 44-yard INT-TD in SB XXXVII (1/26/03 vs. Oak.). When Brooks has INT-TD (incl. playoffs), TB is 7-0. DE GAINES ADAMS led NFL rookies with 6 sacks. LB BARRETT RUUD led team in tackles. In past 7, DE GREG WHITE has 5.5 sacks & 7 FFs.

TENNESSEE TITANS (10-6) at SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (11-5) (Sunday, 4:30 PM ET, CBS)

They’ve won their last nine!

Add together the clubs’ winning streaks and that’s the sizzling total of the weekend’s final Wild Card.

Ironically, the last game Tennessee lost was to these same Chargers, in Nashville in Week 14. San Diego RB LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON (the NFL rushing champ for the second year in a row) took a handoff, cut to his left and outran everyone for a 16-yard TD that gave the Chargers a 23-17 overtime victory built on a 14-point comeback.

"We went toe-to-toe with them and they’re an elite team," says Titans head coach JEFF FISHER. "There is recall as far as the gameplan, the players, the personnel. It will be a great ballgame."

If Tennessee QB VINCE YOUNG (quad) can’t make it, veteran KERRY COLLINS will step in. And he will face a daunting defense. CB ANTONIO CROMARTIE led the league this year in interceptions with 10, and the Chargers’ 22 pickoffs at home were the most for a team at that venue since Dallas’ 22 in 1985. To keep San Diego’s defense honest, Tennessee can well pound RB LEN DALE WHITE (113 yards in Week 14), who raced for 1,110 yards this season.

It is all fairly simple, believes San Diego DE IGOR OLSHANSKY, speaking, really, for all this weekend’s Wild Card clubs. "Everything we’ve done this season has been great," he says. "But we have to get that ‘W’ in the playoffs."

TITANS: Club makes 1st postseason appearance since ’03…JEFF FISHER is 2-0 in Wild Card games as head coach & owns 5-4 (.556) record overall…Team has won 4 of past 5…Ten. ranked 5th in NFL with 131.8 rush yards-per-game…On Sunday, QB VINCE YOUNG (24 years, 233 days old) can become youngest QB to ever start postseason game for Titans franchise (GIFFORD NIELSEN on 12/29/79 – 25 years, 65 days old)…Young has 17-11 (.607) record as starter. Young led NFL QBs in ’07 with 395 rush yards. Titans are 8-1 (.889) when he has 80+ passer rating. QB KERRY COLLINS is 3-3 in postseason & has completed 115 of 199 passes (57.8 pct.) for 1,275 yards with 12 TDs vs. 10 INTs & 76.1 passer rating. In last career playoff appearance (on 1/5/03 with NY Giants), Collins completed 29 of 43 passes (67.4 pct.) for 342 yards with 4 TDs vs. INT & 112.7 passer rating…In last meeting vs. Chargers (12/9/07), RB LEN DALE WHITE registered 30 att. for 113 yards (3.8 avg.) with TD. Team is 5-1 (.833) when White has 90+ rush yards. RB CHRIS BROWN averages 4.5 yards-per-carry in ’07 (462 yards, 102 att.). Brown has totaled 2 rush TDs in 2 career postseason games…WR JUSTIN GAGE posted career-high 104 receiving yards last week & tied career-high with 7 receptions. Gage led team with career-high 750 yards & tied WR ROYDELL WILLIAMS for team-high 55 receptions. Williams recorded career-high 719 receiving yards & led team with career-best 4 TD receptions.…TE BO SCAIFE totaled career-high 46 receptions for 421 yards (9.2 avg.) in ’07…14-year veteran C KEVIN MAWAE has played in 7 career playoff games…Defense ranked 5th overall in NFL allowing 291.6 yards-per game this season & 3rd in AFC with 40 sacks…LB KEITH BULLUCK posted career & team-high 5 INTs. DE KYLE VANDEN BOSCH posted his 2nd double-digit sack season of career with 12. DT ALBERT HAYNESWORTH set career-high 6 sacks & DE ANTWAN ODOM posted career-best 8 sacks in ’07…K ROB BIRONAS set career-high with league leading 35 made FGs.

CHARGERS: Club has made postseason appearance 3 of past 4 seasons…Team has won 6 consecutive games…Head coach NORV TURNER guides team to playoffs in 1st year at helm. Turner is 1-1 (.500) in postseason as head coach (’99 Redskins)…Club has won 6 in row at home & team has 15-2 record (.882) at home since ’06, incl. postseason …Incl. postseason, QB PHILIP RIVERS has completed 286 of 466 passes for 3,235 yards with 16 TDs vs. 12 INTs & 82.9 passer rating at home. Team is 8-1 (.889) when Rivers has 70+ completion pct. Rivers is 2-0 vs. Ten. & has completed 46 of 75 passes (61.3 pct.) for 463 yards with 3 TDs vs. 2 INTs & 81.8 passer rating…RB LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON averages 101.5 rush yards-per-game in postseason (203 rush yards, 49 att.) with 2 TDs. Tomlinson (1,474) led league in rushing for 2nd season in row. In 3 career meetings vs. Ten., Tomlinson averages 5.9 yards-per-carry & has 2 100-yard rush games with 4 rush TDs (364 rush yards, 62 att.). Tomlinson has 100+ rush yards in 4 of past 5…Team is 8-0 when TE ANTONIO GATES has 2 or more TD receptions. Gates averages 75 receiving yards-per-game in 2 career postseason games (150 receiving yards, 12 receptions)…WR CHRIS CHAMBERS will make postseason debut. In last meeting vs. Ten. (12/9/07), Chambers recorded 4 receptions for 90 yards (22.5 avg.). Defense led NFL with 30 INTs (most for SD since ’64) & has 2 or more INTs in 8 games in ’07...Club ranked 2nd in AFC with 42 sacks…Team is 11-1 (.916) when LB SHAWNE MERRIMAN has 2+ sacks. Merriman tied for 3rd in AFC with 12.5 sacks. Merriman registered 2 sacks in last meeting vs. Ten. CB ANTONIO CROMARTIE leads NFL with franchise-high 10 INTs & became 1st Charger to lead league in INTs. S CLINTON HART ranked 2nd on team with career-best 5 INTs.

NFL WILD CARD & DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

NFL WILD CARD WEEKEND

Saturday, January 5

NFC: 4:30 PM (ET)

Washington (9-7) at Seattle (10-6) (NBC-TV)

AFC: 8:00 PM (ET)

Jacksonville (11-5) at Pittsburgh (10-6) (NBC-TV)

Sunday, January 6

NFC: 1:00 PM (ET)

New York Giants (10-6) at Tampa Bay (9-7) (FOX-TV)

AFC: 4:30 PM (ET)

Tennessee (10-6) at San Diego (11-5) (CBS-TV)

NFL DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS

Saturday, January 12

NFC: 4:30 PM (ET)

Seattle (10-6), Tampa Bay (9-7) or New York Giants (10-6) at Green Bay (13-3) (FOX-TV)

AFC: 8:00 PM (ET)

Pittsburgh (10-6), Jacksonville (11-5) or Tennessee (10-6) at New England (16-0) (CBS-TV)

Sunday, January 13

AFC: 1:00 PM (ET)

San Diego (11-5), Pittsburgh (10-6), or Jacksonville (11-5) at Indianapolis (13-3) (CBS-TV)

NFC: 4:30 PM (ET)

Tampa Bay (9-7), New York Giants (10-6) or Washington (9-7) at Dallas (13-3) (FOX-TV)

In the Divisional Playoffs, the division champion with the best record in each conference is host to the surviving Wild Card Weekend team with the lowest playoff ranking. The division champion with the second-best record in each conference is host to the surviving Wild Card Weekend team with the highest playoff ranking. There are no restrictions on intradivision games.

Once teams are ranked for the playoffs, positions do not change:

American Football Conference

1. New England (East Division champion)

2. Indianapolis (South Division champion)

3. San Diego (West Division champion)

4. Pittsburgh (North Division champion)

5. Jacksonville

6. Tennessee

National Football Conference

1. Dallas (East Division champion)

2. Green Bay (North Division champion)

3. Seattle (West Division champion)

4. Tampa Bay (South Division champion)

5. New York Giants

6. Washington

The AFC (CBS, 3:00 PM ET) and NFC (FOX, 6:30 PM ET) Championship Games will be played on Sunday, January 20, and Super Bowl XLII at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on Sunday, February 3.

The annual AFC-NFC Pro Bowl will be played in Honolulu, Hawaii on Sunday, February 10