NFL Season is a Marathon Not a Sprint
History shows that 0-2 teams advance to the playoffs more often than people might think. Since the current playoff format was instituted in 1990, 22 teams started 0-2 and still qualified for the postseason.
The 1993 Dallas Cowboys started 0-2 before winning 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. Most recently, the 2007 New York Giants started 0-2 before winning Super Bowl XLII.
That Was Close
In the NFL, there is little room for error. One play can mean the difference between winning and losing, as games are often decided by the slimmest of margins -- especially in 2010.
Close games have been a theme for the league after the first two weeks of play. In fact, 19 of the 32 games (59.4%) have been decided by seven points or fewer, the most at this point of the season in NFL history.
With some excellent matchups slated for Week 3, games should continue to be thisclose. If eight games are decided by seven-or-fewer points this weekend, the 2010 season will feature the most ever seven-points-or-fewer games through the first three weeks, topping the 1988 season, which had 26 such games.
Elite Company
New York Jets running back LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON has recorded 180 scrimmage yards (138 rushing, 42 receiving) in the first two games of the season, upping his career totals to 12,628 rushing yards and 3,997 receiving yards.
This Sunday against Miami, Tomlinson needs three receiving yards to become the fifth player in NFL annals to record 12,000 rushing yards & 4,000 receiving yards.
Players with 12,000 rushing yards and 4,000 receiving yards
| Player | Team | Rush Yards | Receiving Yards | Scrimmage Yards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Source: NFL | ||||
| Walter Payton | Bears | 16,726 | 4,538 | 21,264 |
| Marshall Faulk | Colts, Rams | 12,279 | 6,875 | 19,154 |
| Marcus Allen | Raiders, Chiefs | 12,243 | 5,411 | 17,654 |
| Thurman Thomas | Bills, Dolphins | 12,074 | 4,458 | 16,532 |
| LaDainian Tomlinson* | Chargers, Jets | 12,628 | 3,997 | 16,625 |
Best in Show
Last week, Detroit Lions running back JAHVID BEST became the first rookie in NFL history with at least 75 rushing yards, 150 receiving yards and three touchdowns in a single game. In his first two games, Best has amassed 268 yards from scrimmage (98 rush, 170 receiving) and leads the NFL with five touchdowns (four rush, one receiving).
With two touchdowns against the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday, Best would become the first player in NFL history to record seven touchdowns in his first three career games.
Open the Gates
Through the first two games of the 2010 season, San Diego Chargers tight end ANTONIO GATES has 10 receptions for 133 yards and three touchdowns, tied for first in the AFC.
Gates, who has 62 career receiving touchdowns, needs one touchdown catch this week to surpass SHANNON SHARPE for second-most touchdown receptions by a tight end in NFL history. Atlanta Falcons tight end TONY GONZALEZ ranks first with 82.
tight ends with the most TD catches in NFL history
| Player | Team | TD CATCHES | GAMES PLAYED |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source: NFL | |||
| Tony Gonzalez* | Chiefs, Falcons | 82 | 208 |
| Antonio Gates* | Chargers | 62 | 111 |
| Shannon Sharpe | Broncos, Ravens | 62 | 204 |
| Jerry Smith | Redskins | 60 | 168 |
| Wesley Walls | 49ers, Saints, Panthers, Packers | 54 | 196 |
2010 WEEK 3 SCHEDULE (SEPTEMBER 26-27)
(All times local)
Cleveland at Baltimore, 1:00 PM
Philadelphia at Jacksonville, 4:05 PM
Cincinnati at Carolina, 1:00 PM
Washington at St. Louis, 3:05 PM
Dallas at Houston, 12:00 PM
Oakland at Arizona, 1:15 PM
San Francisco at Kansas City, 12:00 PM
Indianapolis at Denver, 2:15 PM
Detroit at Minnesota, 12:00 PM
San Diego at Seattle, 1:15 PM
Buffalo at New England, 1:00 PM
NY Jets at Miami, 8:20 PM (NBC)
Atlanta at New Orleans, 12:00 PM
Tennessee at NY Giants, 1:00 PM
Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay, 1:00 PM
Monday, September 27
Green Bay at Chicago, 7:30 PM (ESPN)
NFL 2010 week 2 results
ATLANTA 41, Arizona 7
DENVER 31, Seattle 14
Tampa Bay 20, CAROLINA 7
OAKLAND 16, St. Louis 14
CINCINNATI 15, Baltimore 10
NY JETS 28, New England 14
Kansas City 16, CLEVELAND 14
SAN DIEGO 38, Jacksonville 13
Chicago 27, DALLAS 20
Houston 30, WASHINGTON 27 (OT)
Philadelphia 35, DETROIT 32
INDIANAPOLIS 38, NY Giants 14
GREEN BAY 34, Buffalo 7
Miami 14, MINNESOTA 10
Pittsburgh 19, TENNESSEE 11
New Orleans 25, SAN FRANCISCO 22
NFL 2010 week 1 results
Thursday (September 9)
NEW ORLEANS 14, Minnesota 9
Sunday (September 12)
TAMPA BAY 17, Cleveland 14
TENNESSEE 38, Oakland 13
Green Bay 27, PHILADELPHIA 20
Miami 15, BUFFALO 10
Arizona 17, ST. LOUIS 13
CHICAGO 19, Detroit 14
SEATTLE 31, San Francisco 6
HOUSTON 34, Indianapolis 24
WASHINGTON 13, Dallas 7
JACKSONVILLE 24, Denver 17
NEW ENGLAND 38, Cincinnati 24
NY GIANTS 31, Carolina 18
PITTSBURGH 15, Atlanta 9 (OT)
Monday (September 13)
Baltimore 10, NY JETS 9
KANSAS CITY 21, San Diego 14
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