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First-time playoff QB = first-round loss
Cold, Hard Football Facts for January 5, 2008
Compiled by John Dudley
Cold, Hard Football Facts compiler of such things
The Jaguars are the people's choice to beat the Steelers tonight, and the numbers bear it out. The Jaguars were better overall in the regular season, won their regular meeting with the Steelers, and Pittsburgh's injuries appear to be a real problem.
However, Pittsburgh fans looking for some evidence that supports their black-and-gold hearts can remember a Cold, Hard Football Fact: first-time playoff starters don't win.
OK, that's not entirely true. After all, Ben Roethlisberger himself won his first playoff start back in 2004.
But he's the only QB in the last four years to do so against an experienced counterpart -- first-time starters (like Jacksonville's David Garrard) against playoff veterans are an underwhelming 1-12 since 2003.
Here's the list:
|
Season |
Final Score |
Winning QB (Playoff Start) |
Losing QB (Playoff Start) | |
2003 |
Titans 20, Ravens 17 |
Steve McNair (8th) |
Anthony Wright (1st) | |
2003 |
Packers 33, Seahawks 27 |
Brett Favre (18th) |
Matt Hasselbeck (1st) | |
2003 |
Panthers 29, Rams 23 |
Jake Delhomme (2nd) |
Marc Bulger (1st) | |
2003 |
Colts 38, Chiefs 31 |
Peyton Manning (5th) |
Trent Green (1st) | |
2004 |
Jets 20, Chargers 17 |
Chad Pennington (3rd) |
Drew Brees (1st) | |
2004 |
Steelers 20, Jets 17 |
Ben Roethlisberger (1st) |
Chad Pennington (4th) | |
2005 |
Redskins 17, Buccaneers 10 |
Mark Brunell (9th) |
Chris Simms (1st) | |
2005 |
Patriots 28, Jaguars 3 |
Tom Brady (10th) |
Byron Leftwich (1st) | |
2005 |
Panthers 23, Giants 0 |
Jake Delhomme (5th) |
Eli Manning (1st) | |
2005 |
Steelers 31, Bengals 17 |
Ben Roethlisberger (3rd) |
Carson Palmer (1st) | |
2005 |
Panthers 29, Bears 21 |
Jake Delhomme (6th) |
Rex Grossman (1st) | |
2006 |
Seahawks 21, Cowboys 20 |
Matt Hasselbeck (6th) |
Tony Romo (1st) | |
2006 |
Patriots 24, Chargers 21 |
Tom Brady (13th) |
Philip Rivers (1st) |
This obviously doesn't bode well for the chances of Tennessee and Washington, either. Vince Young will be going against Philip Rivers, who certainly didn't enjoy his maiden voyage last year against New England. And Collins is older than Seattle's Matt Hasselbeck, but Hasselbeck has seven starts under his belt to Collins' zero.
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