[OLD HEAD]

Week 2, 2007, 09/12/2007

WHAT TO LOOK FOR – WEEK 2

KEEP HOPE ALIVE: 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, 34 of the 60 playoff teams (56.6 percent) began the year at either 1-1 or 0-2. Three of the past six Super Bowl champions began their seasons with a 1-1 or 0-2 record.


A two-year look at how playoff clubs in 2005 and 2006 began their seasons:


Team
After 2 Games
Playoff Result
Carolina
1-1
Advanced to Conf. Champ.

Baltimore
2-0
Advanced to Divisional

Chicago
1-1
Advanced to Divisional

Chicago
2-0
Advanced to Super Bowl XLI

Cincinnati
2-0
Advanced to Wild Card

Dallas
2-0
Advanced to Wild Card

Denver
1-1
Advanced to Conf. Champ.

Indianapolis
2-0
Won Super Bowl XLI

Indianapolis
2-0
Advanced to Divisional

Kansas City
0-2
Advanced to Wild Card

Jacksonville
1-1
Advanced to Wild Card

New England
2-0
Advanced to Conf. Champ.

New England
1-1
Advanced to Divisional

New Orleans
2-0
Advanced to Conf. Champ.

N.Y. Giants
2-0
Advanced to Wild Card

N.Y. Giants
1-1
Advanced to Wild Card

Pittsburgh
2-0
Won Super Bowl XL

N.Y. Jets
1-1
Advanced to Wild Card

Seattle
1-1
Advanced to Super Bowl

Philadelphia
1-1
Advanced to Divisional

Tampa Bay
2-0
Advanced to Wild Card

San Diego
2-0
Advanced to Divisional

Washington
2-0
Advanced to Divisional

Seattle
2-0
Advanced to Divisional




-- NFL WEEK 2 --



FAVRE CLIMBING THE CHARTS: With a victory Sunday over the New York Giants, the Green Bay Packers’ BRETT FAVRE will become the winningest quarterback in NFL history.



Favre is tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer JOHN ELWAY with 148 wins after his victory in Week 1 over Philadelphia.



The most wins by a starting quarterback in NFL history:



QUARTERBACK
CAREER WINS

John Elway*148

Brett Favre 148

Dan Marin *147

Fran Tarkenton *125

Johnny Unitas *119

* In Pro Football Hall of Fame



-- NFL WEEK 2 --

L.T. THE PASSER: On Kickoff Weekend against Chicago, San Diego Chargers running back LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to ANTONIO GATES for his seventh-career TD pass.



With his next such throw, Tomlinson will tie Pro Football Hall of Famer WALTER PAYTON (8) for the most TD passes by a non-QB since 1970.



Tomlinson matches Payton in another category. Last year, he joined Payton as the only player in history to be named the NFL MVP and win the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in the same year. Payton accomplished the feat in 1977. The Man of the Year Award was renamed for Payton in 1999.



A look at most TD passes by a non-QB since 1970:



NON-QBs TD PASSERS
TD PASSES
RB Walter Payton 8

RB LaDainian Tomlinson 7

RB Keith Byars 6

RB Marcus Allen 6

FB Greg Pruitt 6


CHIEF MAKING MARK: The Kansas City Chiefs’ TONY GONZALEZ can tie SHANNON SHARPE this week for the most touchdown catches by a tight end in history.

Gonzalez has 61 scoring catches, one behind Sharpe’s 62.


Gonzalez owns the tight-end record for most catches in a season. He set it twice, in 2000 (93) and 2004 (102). He also holds the mark for most 100-yard receiving games by a tight end in a season with six (2000 and 2004).


The most career TD receptions by a tight end

Shannon Sharpe 62

Keith Jackson 49

Tony Gonzalez 61

Raymond Chester 48

Jerry Smith 60

Ozzie Newsome 47

Wesley Walls 54

Rich Caster 45

Dave Casper 52

Kellen Winslow 45

Ben Coates 50



-- NFL WEEK 2 --


APPROACHING WIN MILESTONES: This week, two storied NFL franchises can reach milestones with a victory.


With a win over Buffalo, the Pittsburgh Steelers can become the first AFC team to reach 500 regular-season wins. Also with a victory, the Green Bay Packers can join the Chicago Bears (686 wins) as the only NFL teams with 650 victories.



A look at possible team milestones in the 2007 NFL season:


TEAM.. MILESTONE.. SEASONS.. RECORD..

Baltimore
4 victories to reach 100 regular-season wins
1996-2006
96-87-1

Carolina 3 victories to reach 100 regular-season wins
1995-2006
97-102

Denver
11 victories to reach 400 total wins
1960-2006
389-342-10

Green Bay 1 victory to become 2nd team (Bears, 686) with 650 total wins
1921-2006
649-514-36

N.Y. Giants
4 victories to reach 600 regular-season wins
1925-2006
596-500-33

Oakland
4 victories to reach 400 regular-season wins
1960-2006
396-301-11

Pittsburgh 1 victory to reach 500 regular-season wins
1933-2006
499-478-20

St. Louis 2 victories to reach 500 regular-season wins
1937-2006
498-441-20