NFL Week 3 Down But Not Out!

OLD HEAD · 09-21-07, 08:34 AM

What To Look For -- Week 3

Week 3, 2007, 09/19/2007

NFL CELEBRATES HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH: The NFL will salute Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15) Sunday night in Chicago when the Bears host the Dallas Cowboys on NBC.

Five-time Grammy Award-winner GLORIA ESTEFAN will sing the national anthem live on NBC and the Grammy-winning group OZOMATLI will perform at halftime with portions of the show televised on NBC. Many NFL teams will designate their home games in the next several weeks in honor of the month with in-stadium festivities.

DOWN BUT NOT OUT: History shows that 0-2 teams advance to the playoffs more often than people might think. Since 1990, 18 teams have begun 0-2 and still qualified for the postseason. The 0-2 Dallas Cowboys in 1993 won Super Bowl XXVIII, the 0-2 New England Patriots of 1996 played in Super Bowl XXXI, and in 2001, the 0-2 Patriots won Super Bowl XXXVI.

Following are the 0-2 teams since 1990 to qualify for the playoffs:
YEAR
TEAM (WINLESS START)
ADVANCED TO:

1990 Houston Oilers (0-2)
Wild Card Playoffs

Philadelphia Eagles (0-2)
Wild Card Playoffs

New Orleans Saints (0-2)
Wild Card Playoffs

1991 Atlanta Falcons (0-2)
Wild Card Playoffs

1992 San Diego Chargers (0-4)
Divisional Playoffs

1993 Pittsburgh Steelers (0-2)
Wild Card Playoffs

Dallas Cowboys (0-2)
Won Super Bowl XXVIII

1994 New England Patriots (0-2)
Wild Card Playoffs

1995 Detroit Lions (0-3)
Wild Card Playoffs

1996 New England Patriots (0-2)
Lost Super Bowl XXXI

1998 Arizona Cardinals (0-2)
Divisional Playoffs

Buffalo Bills (0-3)
Wild Card Playoffs

New York Jets (0-2)
Championship Game

2001
New England Patriots (0-2)
Won Super Bowl XXXVI

2002 Atlanta Falcons (0-2)
Divisional Playoffs

Pittsburgh Steelers (0-2)
Divisional Playoffs

2003 Philadelphia Eagles (0-2)
Championship Game

2006 Kansas City Chiefs (0-2)
Wild Card Playoffs

TOUGH VS. TEXANS: The Houston Texans will host the Super Bowl XLI-champion Indianapolis Colts this Sunday with both teams tied for first place in the AFC South with 2-0 records. Houston has won four games in a row dating back to last season, with the first of those victories coming over Indianapolis.

The Texans will face a quarterback who has had considerable success against them. The Colts’ PEYTON MANNING has tallied 25 touchdowns versus only four interceptions for a 119.3 passer rating against Houston.

In each of his past three meetings with the Texans, Manning has thrown three touchdowns with no interceptions and this week can become the first quarterback in history to accomplish that feat in four consecutive games against one opponent.

Manning’s TD-INT ratio against Houston is 6.25, which is the second highest ratio for a quarterback against an opponent in history (NEIL O’DONNELL vs. Cincinnati, 22 TDs vs. 3 INTs, 7.33 ratio). He needs five touchdowns and no interceptions this weekend to surpass O’Donnell’s record.

The quarterbacks with the highest TD-INT ratio versus one opponent in history (min. 20 TD passes)

QUARTERBACK
OPPONENT
TD
INT
RATIO
Neil O’Donnell
Bengals
22
3
7.33

Peyton Manning
Texans
25
4
6.25

Steve Young
Saints
29
6
4.83

Joe Theismann
Cardinals
31
7
4.43

Steve Young
Rams
28
7
4.00

NEW FACES EXCELLING IN NEW PLACES: Three players who changed teams this offseason – New England wide receiver RANDY MOSS, Denver running back TRAVIS HENRY and Cleveland running back JAMAL LEWIS – have made big impacts with their new clubs. Each has the opportunity to make history in Week 3.

Moss amassed 183 yards in Week 1 against the Jets and 105 yards in Week 2 against San Diego. In his Week 3 meeting with Buffalo, he can become the first player in history -- rookie or veteran -- to register three 100-yard receiving games in his first three games with a new team.

Moss also needs 135 yards against the Bills to post more receiving yards in his first three games with a new team than any player in history. ART POWELL, who totaled 422 yards in his first three contests with the Oakland Raiders, owns the record.

The players with the most receiving yards in their first three games with a new team (includes rookies and veterans):

PLAYER
TEAM
YEAR
YARDS

Art Powell
Oakland
1963
422

Laveranues Coles
Washington
2003
391

Anquan Boldin
Arizona
2003
378

Bobby Mitchell
Washington
1962
376

Henry Ellard
Washington
1994
374

Randy Moss
New England
2007
288*

*Through first two games

Meanwhile, Henry and Lewis rank Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, among NFL rushers in 2007.

Henry (267 yards through two games) faces Jacksonville in Week 3 and needs 168 yards to record more rushing yards in his first three games with a new team than any player in history (rookies and veterans). Tampa Bay’s CARNELL “CADILLAC” WILLIAMS, who rushed for 434 yards in his first three games as a rookie in 2005, owns the distinction. Lewis (251 yards through two games) faces Oakland this week and needs 184 yards to eclipse Williams’ three-game record.

The players with the most rushing yards in their first three games with a new team (includes rookies and veterans):

PLAYER
TEAM
YEAR
YARDS

Carnell Williams
Tampa Bay
2005
434

Alan Ameche
Baltimore Colts
1955
410

Stephen Davis
Carolina
2003
406

Ricky Williams
Miami
2002
394

Billy Sims
Detroit
1980
382

Travis Henry
Denver
2007
267*

Jamal Lewis
Cleveland
2007
251*

*Through first two games

SUPER SACKERS TO MEET: When the Chargers travel to Green Bay to face the Packers in Week 3, the game will feature the NFL’s top two sack leaders from 2006 – San Diego’s SHAWNE MERRIMAN (17.0) and Green Bay’s AARON KAMPMAN (15.5).

The game will mark the 11th time in history that the teams of the previous season’s Nos. 1 and 2 sack leaders met the following season since 1982, when sacks became an official statistic. This will be only the fourth time that those two players also led their respective conferences in the category.

Following is a list of those 11 games (since 1982; both players had to participate in the game):

1985 Mark Gastineau (NYJ) & Andre Tippett (NE) (2 gms.)

1997 Kevin Greene (SF) & Lamar Lathon (CAR) (2 gms.)

1990 Chris Doleman (MIN) & Tim Harris (GB) (2 gms.)

1998 John Randle (MIN) & Dana Stubblefield (WAS)

1992 Pat Swilling (NO) & Reggie White (PHI)

2001 La’Roi Glover (NO) & Warren Sapp (TB)

1994 Neil Smith (KC) & Bruce Smith (BUF)

2004 Michael Strahan (NYG) & Adewale Ogunleye (CHI)* **

1995 Kevin Greene (PIT) & John Randle (MIN) *

1996 Bryce Paup (BUF) & William Fuller (PHI) *

2007 Shawne Merriman (SD) & Aaron Kampman (GB) *

*Game featured AFC and NFC sack leaders; ** Ogunleye led AFC in sacks in 2003 with Miami.

09-21-07, 08:34 AM	#1 (permalink)
OLD HEAD SCI Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: JOISY !! Posts: 1,273	NFL Week 3 Down But Not Out! What To Look For -- Week 3 Week 3, 2007, 09/19/2007 NFL CELEBRATES HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH: The NFL will salute Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15) Sunday night in Chicago when the Bears host the Dallas Cowboys on NBC. Five-time Grammy Award-winner GLORIA ESTEFAN will sing the national anthem live on NBC and the Grammy-winning group OZOMATLI will perform at halftime with portions of the show televised on NBC. Many NFL teams will designate their home games in the next several weeks in honor of the month with in-stadium festivities. DOWN BUT NOT OUT: History shows that 0-2 teams advance to the playoffs more often than people might think. Since 1990, 18 teams have begun 0-2 and still qualified for the postseason. The 0-2 Dallas Cowboys in 1993 won Super Bowl XXVIII, the 0-2 New England Patriots of 1996 played in Super Bowl XXXI, and in 2001, the 0-2 Patriots won Super Bowl XXXVI. Following are the 0-2 teams since 1990 to qualify for the playoffs: YEAR TEAM (WINLESS START) ADVANCED TO: 1990 Houston Oilers (0-2) Wild Card Playoffs Philadelphia Eagles (0-2) Wild Card Playoffs New Orleans Saints (0-2) Wild Card Playoffs 1991 Atlanta Falcons (0-2) Wild Card Playoffs 1992 San Diego Chargers (0-4) Divisional Playoffs 1993 Pittsburgh Steelers (0-2) Wild Card Playoffs Dallas Cowboys (0-2) Won Super Bowl XXVIII 1994 New England Patriots (0-2) Wild Card Playoffs 1995 Detroit Lions (0-3) Wild Card Playoffs 1996 New England Patriots (0-2) Lost Super Bowl XXXI 1998 Arizona Cardinals (0-2) Divisional Playoffs Buffalo Bills (0-3) Wild Card Playoffs New York Jets (0-2) Championship Game 2001 New England Patriots (0-2) Won Super Bowl XXXVI 2002 Atlanta Falcons (0-2) Divisional Playoffs Pittsburgh Steelers (0-2) Divisional Playoffs 2003 Philadelphia Eagles (0-2) Championship Game 2006 Kansas City Chiefs (0-2) Wild Card Playoffs TOUGH VS. TEXANS: The Houston Texans will host the Super Bowl XLI-champion Indianapolis Colts this Sunday with both teams tied for first place in the AFC South with 2-0 records. Houston has won four games in a row dating back to last season, with the first of those victories coming over Indianapolis. The Texans will face a quarterback who has had considerable success against them. The Colts’ PEYTON MANNING has tallied 25 touchdowns versus only four interceptions for a 119.3 passer rating against Houston. In each of his past three meetings with the Texans, Manning has thrown three touchdowns with no interceptions and this week can become the first quarterback in history to accomplish that feat in four consecutive games against one opponent. Manning’s TD-INT ratio against Houston is 6.25, which is the second highest ratio for a quarterback against an opponent in history (NEIL O’DONNELL vs. Cincinnati, 22 TDs vs. 3 INTs, 7.33 ratio). He needs five touchdowns and no interceptions this weekend to surpass O’Donnell’s record. The quarterbacks with the highest TD-INT ratio versus one opponent in history (min. 20 TD passes) QUARTERBACK OPPONENT TD INT RATIO Neil O’Donnell Bengals 22 3 7.33 Peyton Manning Texans 25 4 6.25 Steve Young Saints 29 6 4.83 Joe Theismann Cardinals 31 7 4.43 Steve Young Rams 28 7 4.00 NEW FACES EXCELLING IN NEW PLACES: Three players who changed teams this offseason – New England wide receiver RANDY MOSS, Denver running back TRAVIS HENRY and Cleveland running back JAMAL LEWIS – have made big impacts with their new clubs. Each has the opportunity to make history in Week 3. Moss amassed 183 yards in Week 1 against the Jets and 105 yards in Week 2 against San Diego. In his Week 3 meeting with Buffalo, he can become the first player in history -- rookie or veteran -- to register three 100-yard receiving games in his first three games with a new team. Moss also needs 135 yards against the Bills to post more receiving yards in his first three games with a new team than any player in history. ART POWELL, who totaled 422 yards in his first three contests with the Oakland Raiders, owns the record. The players with the most receiving yards in their first three games with a new team (includes rookies and veterans): PLAYER TEAM YEAR YARDS Art Powell Oakland 1963 422 Laveranues Coles Washington 2003 391 Anquan Boldin Arizona 2003 378 Bobby Mitchell Washington 1962 376 Henry Ellard Washington 1994 374 Randy Moss New England 2007 288* Through first two games Meanwhile, Henry* and Lewis rank Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, among NFL rushers in 2007. Henry (267 yards through two games) faces Jacksonville in Week 3 and needs 168 yards to record more rushing yards in his first three games with a new team than any player in history (rookies and veterans). Tampa Bay’s CARNELL “CADILLAC” WILLIAMS, who rushed for 434 yards in his first three games as a rookie in 2005, owns the distinction. Lewis (251 yards through two games) faces Oakland this week and needs 184 yards to eclipse Williams’ three-game record. The players with the most rushing yards in their first three games with a new team (includes rookies and veterans): PLAYER TEAM YEAR YARDS Carnell Williams Tampa Bay 2005 434 Alan Ameche Baltimore Colts 1955 410 Stephen Davis Carolina 2003 406 Ricky Williams Miami 2002 394 Billy Sims Detroit 1980 382 Travis Henry Denver 2007 267* Jamal Lewis Cleveland 2007 251* Through first two games SUPER SACKERS TO MEET:* When the Chargers travel to Green Bay to face the Packers in Week 3, the game will feature the NFL’s top two sack leaders from 2006 – San Diego’s SHAWNE MERRIMAN (17.0) and Green Bay’s AARON KAMPMAN (15.5). The game will mark the 11th time in history that the teams of the previous season’s Nos. 1 and 2 sack leaders met the following season since 1982, when sacks became an official statistic. This will be only the fourth time that those two players also led their respective conferences in the category. Following is a list of those 11 games (since 1982; both players had to participate in the game): 1985 Mark Gastineau (NYJ) & Andre Tippett (NE) (2 gms.) 1997 Kevin Greene (SF) & Lamar Lathon (CAR) (2 gms.) 1990 Chris Doleman (MIN) & Tim Harris (GB) (2 gms.) 1998 John Randle (MIN) & Dana Stubblefield (WAS) 1992 Pat Swilling (NO) & Reggie White (PHI) 2001 La’Roi Glover (NO) & Warren Sapp (TB) 1994 Neil Smith (KC) & Bruce Smith (BUF) 2004 Michael Strahan (NYG) & Adewale Ogunleye (CHI)* ** 1995 Kevin Greene (PIT) & John Randle (MIN) * 1996 Bryce Paup (BUF) & William Fuller (PHI) * 2007 Shawne Merriman (SD) & Aaron Kampman (GB) * Game featured AFC and NFC sack leaders; * Ogunleye led AFC in sacks in 2003 with Miami. __________________ SHOW NO EMOTION
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