Since the AFC/NFC merger, only 11 rookie quarterbacks have started a playoff game.
AFC Wild Card 2012: Two Rookie QBs Square Off For First Time In Playoff History
T.J. Yates and Andy Dalton will make NFL history in the AFC divisional round game between the Houston Texans and Cincinnati Bengals.
The AFC divisional round game between the Houston Texans and the Cincinnati Bengals will be the first time that two have faced each other, with Texans fifth round pick T.J. Yates and Bengals second round pick Andy Dalton under center.
History doesn’t bode well for either, as rookie quarterbacks have gone 6-9 in the playoffs, throwing 15 TD’s and 23 INT’s.
Yates is coming off an injury to his non-throwing shoulder that knocked him out of Houston's 23-22 loss to the Tennessee Titans, although the UNC product insisted that "he didn't need that shoulder anyway".
And while Yates was pressed into action after season-ending injuries to Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart, Dalton has started all 16 games for Cincinnati this season.
The Houston native has completed 58.1% of his passes for 3,398 yards, 20 TD’s and 13 INT’s as a rookie.
In the Texans’ 20-19 victory over the Bengals in Week 14, Yates threw for 300 yards and 2 TD’s, including leading Houston on a game-winning drive as time expired, to only 189 yards and 1 TD for Dalton.
Check out Battle Red Blog for the latest on the Texans and Cincy Jungle for the latest on the Bengals, and head on over to the SBNation NFL news hub for everything you need to know about the 2012 playoffs.
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