[OLD HEAD]

09-15-2010

NFL 2010

WHAT TO LOOK FOR – WEEK 2


PRIMETIME EXCITEMENT: Eleven of the 16 games in Week 1 were decided by seven points or fewer, the most on Kickoff Weekend in NFL history, including all four nationally-televised primetime games.



The margin of victory in the four primetime contests was 4.8 points per game (19 total points), marking the second consecutive season that all primetime Kickoff Weekend games were decided by seven points or fewer. In 2009, the margin of victory in the four Week 1 primetime contests was 3.5 points per game (14 total points).



-- NFL --



NO NEED TO PANIC: At the end of Week 2, no more than 14 teams will be able to claim a perfect 2-0 record, leaving at least 18 clubs at 1-1 or 0-2.

Since realignment in 2002, 55 of the 96 playoff teams (57.3 percent) began the year at either 1-1 or 0-2. Four of the past nine Super Bowl champions began their seasons with a 1-1 or 0-2 record.

A look at how playoff clubs in 2008 and 2009 began their seasons:


2008
2009

Team
After 2 games
Playoff Result

Arizona
2-0
Advanced to Super Bowl XLIII

Arizona
1-1
Advanced to Divisional

Atlanta
1-1
Advanced to Wild Card

Baltimore
2-0
Advanced to Divisional

Baltimore
2-0
Advanced to Conf. Champ.

Cincinnati
1-1
Advanced to Wild Card

Carolina
2-0
Advanced to Divisional

Dallas
1-1
Advanced to Divisional

Indianapolis
1-1
Advanced to Wild Card

Green Bay
1-1
Advanced to Wild Card

Miami
0-2
Advanced to Wild Card

Indianapolis
2-0
Advanced to Super Bowl XLIV

Minnesota
0-2
Advanced to Wild Card

Minnesota
2-0
Advanced to Conf. Champ.

N.Y. Giants
2-0
Advanced to Divisional

New England
1-1
Advanced to Wild Card

Philadelphia
1-1
Advanced to Conf. Champ.

New Orleans
2-0
Won Super Bowl XLIV

Pittsburgh
2-0
Won Super Bowl XLIII

N.Y. Jets
2-0
Advanced to Conf. Champ.

San Diego
0-2
Advanced to Divisional

Philadelphia
1-1
Advanced to Wild Card

Tennessee
2-0
Advanced to Divisional

San Diego
1-1
Advanced to Divisional




-- NFL --




INTERCONFERENCE ACTION: With the NFL’s late-season schedule packed with division games, the September slate features many exciting interconference matchups, including a Week 2 battle between quarterback brothers as the Colts’ PEYTON MANNING takes on ELI and the Giants in primetime this Sunday night.

Of the 32 games scheduled for Weeks 2 and 3, 14 will be interconference games, including six this Sunday.


The teams with the top five interconference records since realignment in 2002:


TEAM
RECORD
WIN PCT.
NEXT INTERCONFERENCE GAME

New England Patriots
28-4-0
.875
Week 8 vs. Minnesota

Indianapolis Colts
25-7-0
.781
Week 2 vs. N.Y. Giants

Tennessee Titans
23-9-0
.719
Week 3 at N.Y. Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers
23-9-1
.712
Week 3 at Tampa Bay

San Diego Chargers
20-12-0
.625
Week 3 at Seattle



BIG PLAY EXCITEMENT: Tennessee running back CHRIS JOHNSON rushed for 142 yards in Week 1, including a 76-yard touchdown in the Titans’ 38-13 win against Oakland. Johnson’s long score marked the eighth 50-yard touchdown run of his young career, which is already tied for the third-most in NFL history.


If Johnson rushes for another 50-yard TD when Tennessee hosts Pittsburgh this Sunday, he would become the third player in history with nine such runs, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers BARRY SANDERS (15) and JIM BROWN (12).



The players with the most career 50-yard touchdown runs:


PLAYER
TDs
CAREER GAMES

Barry Sanders*
15
153


Jim Brown*
12
118


Chris Johnson**
8
32


Ollie Matson*
8
171


Lenny Moore*
8
143


O.J. Simpson*
8
135


Robert Smith
8
98


Fred Taylor**
8
147


* Pro Football Hall of Famer; **Active




-- NFL --



FAVRE NEARS 500: Minnesota Vikings quarterback BRETT FAVRE, who is already the NFL’s all-time leader in career touchdown passes with 498, needs two passing TDs this Sunday against the Miami Dolphins to become the first player in history with 500. Thirteen years and one day ago, Favre’s 150th career touchdown pass came against the Dolphins, a two-yarder to Green Bay wide receiver ANTONIO FREEMAN in a 23-18 Packers victory.



Here’s a look at Favre’s milestone touchdown passes during his march towards 500:


TD PASS
TD RECIPIENT
TD LENGTH
GAME RESULT
NO. OF NFL PLAYERS

TO REACH MILESTONE

No. 1
WR Sterling Sharpe
5 yards
9/20/92: GB vs. Cin., W 24-23
1,189


No. 50
WR Robert Brooks
28 yards
11/6/94: GB vs. Det., W 38-30
176


No. 100
RB Edgar Bennett
14 yards
12/3/95: GB vs. Cin., W 24-10
113


No. 150
WR Antonio Freeman
2 yards
9/14/97: GB vs. Mia., W 23-18
71


No. 200
TE Tyrone Davis
2 yards
11/15/98: GB vs. NYG, W 37-3
30


No. 250
WR Donald Driver
32 yards
11/27/00: GB vs. Car., L 14-31
13


No. 300
RB Ahman Green
8 yards
10/13/02: GB vs. NE, W 28-10
5


No. 350
WR Javon Walker
79 yards
9/26/04: GB vs. Ind., L 31-45
3


No. 400
WR Greg Jennings
75 yards
9/24/06: GB vs. Det., W 31-24
2


No. 421
WR Greg Jennings
16 yards
9/30/07: GB vs. Min., W 23-16
1


No. 450
WR Laveranues Coles
34 yards
9/28/08: NYJ vs. Ari., W 56-35
1


No. 500
??

??
0


-- NFL --



THRICE AS NICE: Houston Texans running back ARIAN FOSTER, who led all NFL players with 231 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns on Kickoff Weekend, has rushed for 350 yards and five touchdowns in his first two career starts.

With 102 rushing yards against the Washington Redskins in Week 2, Foster would set the record for the most rushing yards in a player’s first three starts since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.

Foster, who last week became the first player in NFL history to rush for at least 200 yards and three touchdowns on Kickoff Weekend, also needs two rushing TDs to become the first player with seven in his first three starts since 1970.



The players with the most rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in their first three NFL starts (since 1970):


PLAYER
TEAM
RUSH YARDS

Jonathan Stewart
Carolina
451

Clarence Williams
San Diego
6


Gary Brown
Houston Oilers
439

Jon Keyworth
Denver
6


Cadillac Williams
Tampa Bay
434

Many tied

5


Julius Jones
Dallas
429


Mike Anderson
Denver
403


Arian Foster
Houston
350*

Arian Foster
Houston
5*


* Through 2 starts


FABULOUS AT 50: Since joining the New England Patriots in 2007, wide receiver RANDY MOSS has 47 touchdown receptions in his first 49 games with the club, including an NFL single-season record 23 in 2007. Moss’ total already ranks as the most receiving touchdowns of any player in his first 50 games with a new team (rookies and veterans) in NFL history.

Moss can extend his record when he plays in his 50th game with New England when the Patriots visit the New York Jets in Week 2. He also ranks fourth on the all-time list with 43 receiving touchdowns in his first 50 games with the Minnesota Vikings.


The players with the most receiving touchdowns in their first 50 games with a new team:



PLAYER
TEAM
REC. TDs

Randy Moss
Patriots
47*

Lance Alworth
Chargers
45

Jerry Rice
49ers
44

Randy Moss
Vikings
43

Bob Hayes
Cowboys
42

Art Powell
Raiders
42

* Through 49 games




# # #