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Saturday’s playoff games will make history, in two ways

Detroit Lions v Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, WI - JANUARY 01: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions throws a pass against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on January 1, 2012 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the Lions 45-41. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

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Once again, we’re not contractually obligated to promote the sporting events broadcast by NBC. But, once again, we’ll do it anyway.

As our pal Joe Gesue from NBC’s Football Night In America production team points out, Saturday’s wild-card doubleheader on NBC involves a pair of history-making matchups.

In the opener between the Bengals and the Texans, two rookie quarterbacks will square off for the first time ever in a playoff game: T.J. Yates and Andy Dalton.

The second game of the doubleheader will feature, for the first time ever in any setting, two quarterbacks who have thrown for 5,000 or more yards: Drew Brees and Matthew Stafford.

The fact that only four guys have ever thrown for 5,000 yards -- with that club expanding by two in the past three days -- makes that one a little less shocking. Still, it’ll be the first time two 5,000-yard passers have ever gotten together, and whether or not it’s on NBC, it’ll be the game to watch this weekend.