NFL PREVIEW | TODAY'S GAMES

Time: 3 p.m.TV/radio: (27) (19) (2), WBBW-AM (1240)Key matchup: Pittsburgh's defensive line vs. Denver QB Jake Plummer. The Steelers have beaten the NFL's top two rated quarterbacks -- Carson Palmer 101.1 and Peyton Manning 104.1 -- in the playoffs. Palmer tore up his left knee on his first throw and backup Jon Kitna eventually succumbed to the Steelers' pressure after building a 17-7 lead. Last week, the Steelers applied constant pass rush pressure on Manning, sacking him five times and upsetting his rhythm. Pittsburgh has held the AFC's top scoring teams, Cincinnati and Indianapolis, to 17 and 18 points. Plummer has the second-highest postseason completion percentage (62.3) among active players with at least 100 attempts. Throwing interceptions at inopportune moments was practically a Plummer trademark until Denver coach Mike Shanahan convinced his quarterback he was trying to do too much. He gets his biggest test against the best defense in the AFC (284.0 yards per game).Streaks, stats and notes: Last playoff meeting between these teams was the 1997 AFC championship game. Denver won 24-21 in Pittsburgh and went on to win the Super Bowl. ... Pittsburgh is the first sixth seed to make a conference championship game. ... Steelers are 5-7 in AFC title games. ... Steelers are averaging 28 points in their last seven games. ... Pittsburgh is 8-2 on the road this year and attempts to become the first team to win the Super Bowl after winning three road playoff games. Until this season, the Steelers had won only two road playoff games in 30 years, none under coach Bill Cowher. ... In eight road starts this season (including postseason), QB Ben Roethlisberger has 12 TDs vs. 4 INTs, completing 108 of 165 passes (65.5 percent) for 108.3 passer rating. ... Steelers allowed only eight TDs on road during regular season, fewest in NFL. ... Steelers have a six-game winning streak. ... Joey Porter led NFL LBs with 101/2 sacks, tying career high. ... LB James Farrior posted game-high 10 tackles and career-high 21/2 sacks vs. Colts. ... WR Hines Ward had 11 TD catches, tied for second in AFC. ... Pittsburgh is 26-18 in the postseason. ... Denver's defense has allowed only 50 points during the team's current five-game winning streak. ... Denver is 12-2 at home in the playoffs and is 6-1 in AFC title games. ... Broncos are 3-2 vs. Steelers in the playoffs. ... Denver and Seattle are tied for the longest current home winning streak, 11 straight. ... Broncos, who forced the Patriots into five turnovers, forced 36 turnovers in the regular season. ... Broncos had a plus-20 turnover margin, second-best in the league. ... Denver has the third-best offense in the AFC (360.4 yards per game). ... Plummer passed for 3,366 yards, completing 60.7 percent (277 of 456) with 18 TDs and seven INTs. ... Denver is 17-14 in the postseason. ... CB Champ Bailey, with eight INTs in the regular season, recorded second-longest postseason interception return against New England (100 yards). ... K Jason Elam is Broncos' all-time leader in postseason points (79).
Time: 6:30 p.m.TV/radio: (17/62) (8) (53) WBBW-AM (1240)Key matchup: Carolina RB Nick Goings vs. Seattle's run defense. Carolina's No. 1 back, with DeShaun Foster and Stephen Davis sidelined, is familiar with the job. When the Panthers were hit hard by injuries to their running backs last season, Goings went from sixth-stringer to starter and finished the year with five 100-yard rushing games. Carolina needs to establish the run to keep the Seahawks from stacking their defense against All-Pro wide receiver Steve Smith. Seattle, which ranked fifth (94.4 yards per game) against the run, held Clinton Portis to 41 yards and the Redskins to 59 total yards rushing last week.Streaks, stats and notes: Carolina looks to become the first team to win five straight road playoff games. ... Carolina is 8-2 away from home this season. ... John Kasay has connected on 21 of 23 FGs in the playoffs. ... Carolina coach John Fox is 5-1 lifetime in the playoffs. ... Smith's 218 yards receiving last week ranks fourth all-time in the playoffs. Smith set franchise records with an NFL-best 1,563 yards and 103 receptions, tied for most in the league. Smith also finished tied for the NFL lead with 12 TDs. ... Carolina becomes the third No. 5 seed since 1990 to advance to the championship game. ... In six career playoff games, QB Jake Delhomme has 108.4 passer rating, 10 TDs vs. two INTs and 1,446 yards passing. Delhomme passed for 3,421 yards and tied for the NFC lead with 24 TD passes. ... Panthers have a plus-16 turnover differential. ... WR Ricky Proehl averaged a career-best 17.6 yards per catch in regular season (25-441) and averages 16.6 yards per catch (19-316) in 12 career playoff games. ... DE Julius Peppers posted the third 10-sack (101/2) season of his four-year career. ... Carolina's defense ranked third, allowing a 41.0 red zone TD percentage (16 TDs, 39 trips) in regular season. ... Seattle is 23-4 at Qwest Field since the end of the 2002 season, including 9-0 this season. Seattle and Denver are tied for the longest current home winning streak, 11 straight. ... Mike Holmgren is looking to become the fifth coach in NFL history to lead two teams to the Super Bowl. ... RB Shaun Alexander set NFL single-season record with 28 TDs and led league with 1,880 yards rushing, ninth-highest total in NFL history. ... Seahawks have a plus-10 turnover differential. ... Seattle finished second in the NFL with 369.7 yards per game on offense. ... QB Matt Hasselbeck has won 21 of past 25 home starts, with 64.6 completion rate (498 of 771), 40 TDs, 16 INTs and 96.3 passer rating in that span. ... WR Joe Jurevicius had career-best 10 TD catches. Jurevicius averages 21.2 yards per catch (10-212) in five career playoff games, with two TDs. ... Jerramy Stevens set club record for TEs with 554 yards receiving (45 catches). ... WR Darrell Jackson had nine receptions (143 yards, TD) vs. Washington, becoming club all-time leader with 26 postseason catches. He has averaged 109.7 yards receiving per game in three career playoff games. ... Rocky Bernard ranked second among NFL DTs with 81/2 sacks. ... LB LeRoy Hill ranked third among NFL rookies with 71/2 sacks.
Time: 6:30 p.m.TV/radio: (17/62) (8) (53) WBBW-AM (1240)Key matchup: Carolina RB Nick Goings vs. Seattle's run defense. Carolina's No. 1 back, with DeShaun Foster and Stephen Davis sidelined, is familiar with the job. When the Panthers were hit hard by injuries to their running backs last season, Goings went from sixth-stringer to starter and finished the year with five 100-yard rushing games. Carolina needs to establish the run to keep the Seahawks from stacking their defense against All-Pro wide receiver Steve Smith. Seattle, which ranked fifth (94.4 yards per game) against the run, held Clinton Portis to 41 yards and the Redskins to 59 total yards rushing last week.Streaks, stats and notes: Carolina looks to become the first team to win five straight road playoff games. ... Carolina is 8-2 away from home this season. ... John Kasay has connected on 21 of 23 FGs in the playoffs. ... Carolina coach John Fox is 5-1 lifetime in the playoffs. ... Smith's 218 yards receiving last week ranks fourth all-time in the playoffs. Smith set franchise records with an NFL-best 1,563 yards and 103 receptions, tied for most in the league. Smith also finished tied for the NFL lead with 12 TDs. ... Carolina becomes the third No. 5 seed since 1990 to advance to the championship game. ... In six career playoff games, QB Jake Delhomme has 108.4 passer rating, 10 TDs vs. two INTs and 1,446 yards passing. Delhomme passed for 3,421 yards and tied for the NFC lead with 24 TD passes. ... Panthers have a plus-16 turnover differential. ... WR Ricky Proehl averaged a career-best 17.6 yards per catch in regular season (25-441) and averages 16.6 yards per catch (19-316) in 12 career playoff games. ... DE Julius Peppers posted the third 10-sack (101/2) season of his four-year career. ... Carolina's defense ranked third, allowing a 41.0 red zone TD percentage (16 TDs, 39 trips) in regular season. ... Seattle is 23-4 at Qwest Field since the end of the 2002 season, including 9-0 this season. Seattle and Denver are tied for the longest current home winning streak, 11 straight. ... Mike Holmgren is looking to become the fifth coach in NFL history to lead two teams to the Super Bowl. ... RB Shaun Alexander set NFL single-season record with 28 TDs and led league with 1,880 yards rushing, ninth-highest total in NFL history. ... Seahawks have a plus-10 turnover differential. ... Seattle finished second in the NFL with 369.7 yards per game on offense. ... QB Matt Hasselbeck has won 21 of past 25 home starts, with 64.6 completion rate (498 of 771), 40 TDs, 16 INTs and 96.3 passer rating in that span. ... WR Joe Jurevicius had career-best 10 TD catches. Jurevicius averages 21.2 yards per catch (10-212) in five career playoff games, with two TDs. ... Jerramy Stevens set club record for TEs with 554 yards receiving (45 catches). ... WR Darrell Jackson had nine receptions (143 yards, TD) vs. Washington, becoming club all-time leader with 26 postseason catches. He has averaged 109.7 yards receiving per game in three career playoff games. ... Rocky Bernard ranked second among NFL DTs with 81/2 sacks. ... LB LeRoy Hill ranked third among NFL rookies with 71/2 sacks.
Associated Press