Some have never experienced a game so big. But 17 Dolphins have played in at least one postseason contest, led by Joey Porter (10) and Jason Ferguson (seven). Porter and former Giants linebacker Reggie Torbor have Super Bowl rings, as does Brandon London, though he was on the Giants practice squad.

LB Joey Porter

* PLAYOFF GAMES: 10 (all with the Steelers)

* FORGETTABLE: Porter had just three tackles and was pretty much a nonfactor in the Steelers' Super Bowl XL victory over Seattle.

* MEMORABLE: Porter had six tackles, including a sack of Tom Brady in a 41-27 loss to the Patriots in the AFC title game on Jan. 23, 2005. He also had a sack and strip of Broncos QB Jake Plummer that set up a TD in the Steelers' 34-17 victory over Denver in the 2005 AFC title game on Jan. 22, 2006.

DE Vonnie Holliday

* PLAYOFF GAMES: Five (four with the Packers, one with the Chiefs)

* FORGETTABLE: Two weeks after he sacked Bills QB Drew Bledsoe five times and forced three fumbles, Holliday had just one tackle and the Packers lost 27-7 to the Falcons in a 2002 wild-card game on Jan. 4, 2003.

* MEMORABLE: Holliday sacked Steve Young in a first-round 30-27 loss to the 49ers on Jan. 3, 1999. It was his only tackle on a bad ankle. "When you talk about one of the greatest players of all time at quarterback in that atmosphere to be in that game and in that atmosphere, there's nothing like it," Holliday said.

CHAD PENNINGTON

* PLAYOFF GAMES: Five games (all with Jets)

* FORGETTABLE: The quarterback was just 21-of-47 for 183 yards with two picks in a 30-10 loss to the Oakland Raiders on Jan. 12, 2003. He also threw an interception that Asante Samuel ran back for a 37-yard touchdown to cap a 37-16 loss to the Patriots on Jan. 7, 2007.

* MEMORABLE: In his postseason debut, he shredded the Colts, compiling a 142.0 passer rating in a 41-0 blowout on Jan. 4, 2003. He also led the Jets to a 20-17 wild card victory over the Chargers on Jan. 7, 2005, with two TD passes, including a 47-yarder to Santana Moss.

Jets to watch

QB Brett Favre: He is 12-10 in the playoffs, compiling an 85.2 passer rating that is just below his regular-season rating. He completed 14 of 27 passes for 246 yards, throwing for two touchdowns and running for another, in a Super Bowl XXXI win against New England on Jan. 27, 1997.

His last playoff performance, on Jan. 20, 2008, in the NFC Championship Game, wasn't as good. Favre threw two interceptions, including one in overtime to Corey Webster, to set up the Giants' win.

RB Thomas Jones: The Virginia product had a strong run with the Bears, compiling 381 yards (on 5.1 per carry) and four touchdowns in four playoff starts.

That included 112 yards on just 15 carries in Super Bowl XLI in Dolphin Stadium on Feb. 4, 2007.

CB Ty Law: Bill Parcells wanted to sign the South Florida resident during the season, and it's easy to understand why.

Law has become a starter with the Jets and he has four interceptions in 20 career games against the Dolphins.

He also has played in 13 playoff games, and has starred in many, returning a Kurt Warner interception for a touchdown in Super Bowl XXXVI (Feb. 3, 2002) and picking off Peyton Manning three times in an AFC Championship Game (Jan. 18, 2004).