A couple of interesting historical sidelights to the NFL playoffs this weekend.  While watching the Cardinals-Saints game today, a graphic was flashed on the screen comparing the number of Superbowl appearances for the Cards and Saints combined: 1 (Arizona lost the Superbowl last year).  The comparison was with the combined number of Superbowl appearances between the Vikings and the Cowboys, who play on Sunday.  They came in at a combined 12 Superbowl games between them. 

An intriguing factoid about the Colts-Ravens matchup involves the fact that the Colts used to be Baltimore’s NFL team until the infamous midnight move to Indianapolis back in 1984. Baltimore eventually got a team of its own again, though the way they repaired their broken football hearts was to take another relocated team (the old Cleveland Browns became the Baltimore Ravens).  You know that Baltimore fans, especially the older ones who remember the old Colts, are REALLY looking for a win over Indy!

And finally, if Indy and New Orleans do both make it to the Superbowl, that matchup will feature Peyton Manning, whose dad was the Quarterback for New Orleans from 1971-1982, playing against his dad’s old team.  Plus the fact that Peyton was born in New Orleans while his dad played for the Saints, adds to the potential back stories that will be all over the television, the internet, and on the lips of football fans everywhere.