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NFL 2008

What To Look For -- Week 12
Week 12, 2008, 11/21/2008

November 21, 2008



WHAT TO LOOK FOR – WEEK 12


WINNERS ALL AROUND: At this point in the season, numerous teams have playoff aspirations. Through 10 games for each team, there are 21 clubs with a record of .500 or above, tying 2002 for the most such teams at this point in NFL history.

The 12 teams in the AFC East, NFC East and NFC South all have a record of .500 or better. That is the first time that three divisions have had every team with a .500 or better record this late in a season since realignment in 2002.



-- NFL --


SOMETHING IN THE AIR: When the NFC East-leading New York Giants visit the NFC West-leading Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, the Giants will return to the site of their Super Bowl XLII triumph.

Since 1990, Super Bowl champion teams have returned to the venue of their previous season’s Super Bowl victory eight times, with the champion winning seven of those contests.

Following are results for the eight teams who returned the next season to the site of their Super Bowl victory since 1990:



S.B. CHAMPION (GAME)
LOCATION
NEXT YEAR GAME RESULT

San Francisco (XXIV)
New Orleans
W, San Francisco 13 at New Orleans 12

New York Giants (XXV)
Tampa Bay
W, New York 21 at Tampa Bay 14

Washington (XXVI)
Minneapolis
W, Washington 15 at Minnesota 13

San Francisco (XXIX)
South Florida
W, San Francisco 44 at Miami 20

Dallas Cowboys (XXX)
Tempe
W, Dallas 10 at Arizona 6

Denver Broncos (XXXII)
San Diego
W, Denver 31 at San Diego 16

St. Louis Rams (XXXIV)
Atlanta
W, St. Louis 41 at Atlanta 20

Baltimore Ravens (XXXV)
Tampa Bay
L, Baltimore 10 at Tampa Bay 22

New York Giants (XLII)
Glendale, AZ
???



-- NFL --

57 MILES OF PASSING YARDS AND COUNTING: The meeting between the AFC East-leading New York Jets and AFC South-leading Tennessee Titans in Nashville this Sunday is more than just a game between two AFC contenders.

The matchup will showcase two of the most prolific passers in NFL history. The combined career passing yardage of quarterbacks BRETT FAVRE of the Jets (63,892) and KERRY COLLINS of the Titans (36,472) account for the third most ever (100,364) between two quarterbacks in a game.

The games featuring the most combined career passing yards by opposing quarterbacks:



STARTING QUARTERBACKS
DATE
COMBINED CAREER PASSING YARDS

John Elway vs. Dan Marino
12/21/98
109,224


Vinny Testaverde vs. Brett Favre
11/18/07
105,979


Brett Favre vs. Kerry Collins
11/23/08
100,364


Warren Moon vs. John Elway
10/11/98
97,404


Warren Moon vs. John Elway
11/2/97
92,570


BY LAND AND AIR: Defenses often have trouble stopping San Diego Chargers running back LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON because of his ability to both run the ball effectively and catch passes out of the backfield.

This week, Tomlinson’s dual ability can put his name in the record books. With six receptions against Indianapolis on Sunday night, he would become one of only five players ever with 10,000 career rushing yards and 500 catches.

Another running back who is close to the 10,000-rushing-yard/500-catch achievement is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ WARRICK DUNN, who is 11 receptions short of 500.



The NFL running backs with 10,000 rushing yards and 500 catches in a career:

PLAYER
RUSHING YARDS
RECEPTIONS

Marcus Allen
12,243
587

Tiki Barber
10,449
586

Marshall Faulk
12,279
767

Emmitt Smith
18,355
515


LaDainian Tomlinson *
11,336
494

Warrick Dunn *
10,657
489


* Active



-- NFL --


STARTING STRONG: After rushing for 1,341 yards and winning the Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award in his first season with the Minnesota Vikings, running back ADRIAN PETERSON has shown no signs of slowing down this year.

Through the first 24 games of his career, Peterson has rushed for 2,441 yards. With 110 yards this week against Jacksonville, he will have the second-most rush yards ever through a player’s first 25 games.

Following are the running backs with the most rushing yards through the first 25 games of their career:


PLAYER
YARDS THROUGH 25 GAMES

Eric Dickerson
2,771

Jim Brown
2,550

Edgerrin James
2,542

George Rogers
2,498

Adrian Peterson
2,441*


* Through 24 games



-- NFL --



ROOKIES RUN WILD: Through Week 11, 10 rookie running backs have rushed for 100 yards in a game at least once -- the most such rookies ever.

The 10 rookie running backs who have recorded at least one 100-yard rushing effort this season:


PLAYER
100-YARD GAMES
ROUND SELECTED (OVERALL)

Matt Forté, Chicago
2
2 (44)


Chris Johnson, Tennessee
2
1 (24)


Steve Slaton, Houston
2
3 (89)


Jamaal Charles, KC
1
3 (73)


BenJarvus Green-Ellis, NE
1
Undrafted


Tim Hightower, Arizona
1
5 (149)


Darren McFadden, Oakland
1
1 (4)


Ray Rice, Baltimore
1
2 (55)


Kevin Smith, Detroit
1
3 (64)


Jonathan Stewart, Carolina
1
1 (13)



HISTORIC TEAMMATES: With three receptions on Sunday against the Giants, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver LARRY FITZGERALD will reach 400 catches in his career. If he attains the milestone this week, Fitzgerald will have done it in the second-fewest games ever – 71.

The player who reached 400 career catches in the fewest games in history is Fitzgerald teammate ANQUAN BOLDIN, who did it in 67 games. (The two are profiled in this week’s Sports Illustrated.)


Following are the players with 400 receptions in the fewest games to start a career:


PLAYER
TEAM
GAMES

Anquan Boldin
Arizona
67

Kellen Winslow
San Diego
72

Lionel Taylor
Detroit
73

Marvin Harrison
Indianapolis
75

Andre Johnson
Houston
75

Larry Fitzgerald
Arizona
70 *


* 397 receptions in 70 games



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