NFL Playoffs: Getting to Know the No. 2 and No. 7 Seeds

Photo courtesy of Indianapolis Colts

The NFL playoffs get underway on Saturday and the first match-up comes from the AFC and pits the second-seeded Buffalo Bills against the No. 7 seed Indianapolis Colts.

Indianapolis may have sneaked into the playoffs, but its head coach knows something about winning playoff games in Buffalo. Frank Reich was a quarterback for the Bills’ teams that reached the Super Bowl four straight times during the 1990’s. They’ll meet in the AFC Wild Card game at 1:05 p.m. ET on Saturday.

The NFC match-up of a No. 2 seed vs. a No. 7 seed will have the Chicago Bears traveling to New Orleans to take on the Saints. Chicago is one of two NFC teams to make the postseason without a winning record. New Orleans is currently a 9.5-point favorite for the contest that kicks off at 4:40 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Here’s a look at the teams that make up the two match-ups.

Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts have made the playoffs for the first time since 2018. They topped the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round that season before ultimately falling to the top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional playoffs.

Colts’ record versus current playoff teams (All-Time)

Chicago Bears, 25-19                 

New Orleans Saints, 5-9

Seattle Seahawks, 7-5                 

Washington Football Team, 21-12

Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8-6       

Green Bay Packers, 24-21-1

Los Angeles Rams, 23-20-2           

Kansas City Chiefs, 17-10

Pittsburgh Steelers, 6-26             

Buffalo Bills, 13-9

Baltimore Ravens, 10-6                 

Tennessee Titans, 35-18

Cleveland Browns, 17-18

Buffalo Bills

For the second straight year, the Buffalo Bills have made the playoffs. Buffalo was the No. 5 seed last season, but lost on the road to the Houston Texans. The Bills have not won a playoff game since 1995 in the Wild Card round.

Bills’ record versus current playoff teams (All-Time)

New Orleans Saints, 4-7              

Chicago Bears, 5-8

Seattle Seahawks, 6-8                  

Washington Football Team, 9-6

Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4-7                     

Green Bay Packers, 8-5

Los Angeles Rams, 8-5                  

Kansas City Chiefs, 26-22-1

Pittsburgh Steelers, 11-16             

Tennessee Titans, 19-29

Baltimore Ravens, 3-6                   

Cleveland Browns, 9-13

Indianapolis Colts, 37-32-1

Chicago Bears

For the first time since 2018 and only the second time since 2010, the Chicago Bears have made the playoffs. Chicago reached the NFC Championship in 2010, but ultimately fell at home to the Green Bay Packers

Bears’ record versus current playoff teams (All-Time)

New Orleans Saints, 15-17             

Washington Football Team, 24-26-1

Seattle Seahawks, 7-11                  

Indianapolis Colts, 19-25

Los Angeles Rams, 54-38-3           

Kansas City Chiefs, 7-6

Pittsburgh Steelers, 19-7-1             

Buffalo Bills, 8-5

Baltimore Ravens 4-2                    

Tennessee Titans, 6-10

Cleveland Browns, 7-9                    

Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 40-20

Green Bay Packers, 95-100-7

New Orleans Saints

For the fourth straight year, the New Orleans Saints have won the NFC South. Unfortunately, those division titles haven’t resulted in Super Bowl appearances. The Saints were eliminated in overtime last season in the Wild Card game by the Minnesota Vikings, 26-20.

Saints’ record versus current playoff teams (All-Time)

Green Bay Packers, 9-17            

Chicago Bears, 15-17

Seattle Seahawks, 8-8                

Washington Football Team, 10-17

Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 37-21                

Indianapolis Colts, 9-5

Los Angeles Rams, 46-47-2        

Kansas City Chiefs, 5-7

Pittsburgh Steelers, 9-7              

Buffalo Bills, 7-4

Baltimore Ravens, 2-5                  

Tennessee Titans, 6-8-1

Cleveland Browns, 5-13