NFL Divisional Round Playoff Notes

The 44th year of the divisional round since the AFC/NFC format was instituted begins today. There are two games and the round concludes tomorrow with two more.

The NFC top seed Seattle  Seahawks are favored by 8 points vs the New Orleans Saints in the first game. Three years ago in the wild card round, a (7-9) Seahawks team played at home as a divisional winner, and beat the defending champion Saints, who were a similar favorite.

Seattle is a conference top seed for just the second time in its 38 year history. They rode the top seed to a Super Bowl appearance in 2005. The Seahawks are just (2-6) in divisional round games. They have lost 4 straight in this round.

Three of the eight remaining teams–the Seahawks, Carolina Panthers and San Diego Chargers, have never won a Super Bowl. Each team lost in its only Super Bowl appearance.