Before we get into my all-rookie team for the 2007 season, here are some recent trends regarding playoff teams. The following stats are from playoff games from the 2000-2006 seasons:
Home teams have a record of 48-22 (23-12 in the AFC; 25-10 in the NFC).
The top two seeds in the NFC are 11-3 in the divisional round, after their playoff bye; the AFC's top two seeds are 9-5 in the divisional round after their bye.
Since 2000, here are the combined playoff records for each of the seeds:
No. 1 seed: 18-7
No. 2 seed: 14-12
No. 3 seed: 16-12
No. 4 seed: 12-13
No. 5 seed: 5-14
No. 6 seed: 6-13
All-rookie team
QUARTERBACK
Trent Edwards, Buffalo
Ht: 6-4
Wt: 231
Drafted: Third round
Note: Started nine games for the Bills and won five. Completed 151 of 269 passes (56.1 percent) for 1,630 yards and 7 TDs for a passer rating of 70.4.
HALFBACKS
Adrian Peterson, Minnesota
Ht: 6-1
Wt: 217
Drafted: First round
Note: Rushed for 1,431 yards and 12 TDs, adding another 268 yards and a TD on 19 receptions.
Marshawn Lynch, Buffalo
Ht: 5-11
Wt: 215
Drafted: First round
Note: Rushed for 1,115 yards and 7 TDs, adding another 184 yards on 18 receptions -- and he threw a touchdown pass on a halfback option as well.
FULLBACK
Brian Leonard, St. Louis
Ht: 6-1
Wt: 226
Drafted: Second round
Note: Had 486 yards from scrimmage (303 rushing, 183 receiving).
WIDE RECEIVERS
Calvin Johnson, Detroit
Ht: 6-5
Wt: 239
Drafted: First round
Note: Caught 48 passes for 756 yards and four touchdowns.
Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City
Ht: 6-2
Wt: 221
Drafted: First round
Note: Set a Chiefs rookie record with 70 receptions and led all 2007 rookies in receptions, yards (995) and TD catches (5).
OFFENSIVE TACKLES
Joe Thomas, Cleveland
Ht: 6-6
Wt: 311
Drafted: First round
Note: Gave up just one sack all year; first alternate for the Pro Bowl.
Tony Ugoh, Indianapolis
Ht: 6-5
Wt: 301
Drafted: Second round
Note: Made 11 starts protecting Peyton Manning's blind side.
OFFENSIVE GUARDS
Justin Blalock, Atlanta
Ht: 6-4
Wt: 329
Drafted: Second round
Note: Started 14 games for the Falcons.
Arron Sears, Tampa Bay
Ht: 6-3
Wt: 319
Drafted: Second round
Note: Started all 16 games for the Bucs.
CENTER
Samson Satele, Miami
Ht: 6-2
Wt: 310
Drafted: Second round
Note: Started all 16 games for the Dolphins.
TIGHT END
Greg Olsen, Chicago
Ht: 6-6
Wt: 254
Drafted: First round
Note: Caught 59 passes for 391 yards and two touchdowns.
DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE ENDS
Gaines Adams, Tampa Bay
Ht: 6-5
Wt: 258
Drafted: First round
Note: Led all rookies this season with 6 sacks.
Brian Robison, Minnesota
Ht: 6-3
Wt: 260
Drafted: Fourth round
Note: Had 4.5 sacks and one forced fumble.
DEFENSIVE TACKLES
Amobi Okoye, Houston
Ht: 6-2
Wt: 302
Drafted: First round
Note: Led all rookie defensive tackles this season with 5.5 sacks.
Ed Johnson, Indianapolis
Ht: 6-2
Wt: 296
Drafted: Undrafted free agent
Note: Started all 16 games; finished with 41 tackles and one sack.
LINEBACKERS
Patrick Willis, San Francisco
Ht: 6-1
Wt: 242
Drafted: First round
Note: Selected to the Pro Bowl; led the entire NFL -- not just rookies -- with 174 tackles, adding 4 sacks and 2 forced fumbles.
Jon Beason, Carolina
Ht: 6-0
Wt: 237
Drafted: First round
Note: Led Panthers with 140 tackles; also had one INT.
David Harris, N.Y. Jets
Ht: 6-2
Wt: 243
Drafted: Second round
Note: Led Jets in tackles with 127, and was second on team with 5 sacks.
CORNERBACKS
Leon Hall, Cincinnati
Ht: 5-11
Wt: 199
Drafted: First round
Note: Led the Bengals and tied for rookie lead with 5 INTs.
Darrelle Revis, N.Y. Jets
Ht: 6-0
Wt: 204
Drafted: First round
Note: Had 87 tackles and 3 INTs.
SAFETIES
Reggie Nelson, Jackonsville
Ht: 5-11
Wt: 198
Drafted: First round
Note: Led the Jaguars and tied for rookie lead with 5 INTs.
LaRon Landry, Washington
Ht: 6-0
Wt: 213
Drafted: First round
Note: Had 95 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
SPECIAL TEAMS
PUNTER
Daniel Sepulveda, Pittsburgh
Ht: 6-3
Wt: 230
Drafted: Fourth round
Note: Had a 42.4-yard average per punt and added a pass completion on a fake punt.
PLACEKICKER
Nick Folk, Dallas
Ht: 6-1
Wt: 225
Drafted: Sixth round
Note: Selected to the Pro Bowl; made 26 of 31 field-goal attempts and all 53 extra point attempts.
RETURN SPECIALIST
Yamon Figurs, Baltimore
Ht: 5-11
Wt: 175
Drafted: Third round
Note: Figurs averaged 24.7 yards per kick return with one TD and 10.7 yards per punt return with a TD that was as well.
