NFL 2010 Ben Roethlisberger QB Steelers
Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers are 4-1

21 teams with .500+ record, tied for most ever entering Week 7

Thirteen teams currently have at least a share of first place in their respective divisions, the most in NFL history through the first six weeks of a season.

"We're 4-2 and tops in the division," says Houston Texans guard WADE SMITH. "That's where we want to be."

Ten of those 13 clubs did not win their divisions a year ago, and all eight divisions have at least one new team either in first place or tied for the top spot. If that holds, it will be the most new division winners in a single season.

"Our goal is to take care of our team and stay on schedule," says New York Giants head coach TOM COUGHLIN, whose club is tied for first place in the NFC East with the Philadelphia Eagles. "We're 4-2. I wish we were 6-0, but we're not. We've earned the 4-2 record and we've battled our way back from a 1-2 start. Let's hope it keeps going."

There are 21 teams with a .500 or better record.

That's tied with 2008 for the most such teams through the first six weeks of a season in NFL history.

"There are a lot of good football teams in this league," says quarterback DREW BREES of the 4-2 New Orleans Saints. "On any given Sunday, as the saying goes, anybody can beat anybody. You see it every week."

The New York Jets lead the way with an NFL-best 5-1 mark. The New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers are right behind them with 4-1 records.

"5-1 is good enough to be in first place and to have the best record in football," says Jets head coach REX RYAN. "The record says we're the best team in the league. But I think we can really improve in all aspects. We need to improve as a team, and I think we will. We have an opportunity to get better and better as the year goes on."

The Jets have a bye this weekend, but other teams will look to get better in Week 7. Some of the key games this week:

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (4-1) at MIAMI DOLPHINS (3-2)

The Steelers improved to 4-1 and moved into first place in the AFC North with a 28-10 victory last week over the Cleveland Browns. Pittsburgh quarterback BEN ROETHLISBERGER threw for three touchdowns in his first game of 2010, connecting on scoring passes to MIKE WALLACE (29 yards), HINES WARD (8) and HEATH MILLER (14).

"Any time you get an AFC North win, it's good," says Steelers head coach MIKE TOMLIN. "It's good to have a victory coming off the bye week and it keeps us in the hunt."

Pittsburgh travels to Miami this weekend for the first of three consecutive road contests (at Miami, at New Orleans, at Cincinnati).

"We've got three straight coming up on the road," says Steelers linebacker JAMES FARRIOR. "That's a tough challenge ahead of us. We just have to stay focused and take it one game at a time. Miami is next. That's all we have to focus on."

The Dolphins, who are a perfect 3-0 on the road, are seeking their first win at home. Last week, Miami knocked off the Green Bay Packers 23-20 in overtime as DAN CARPENTER kicked a 44-yard field goal in the extra session.

"Fifty-three players and every coach in that locker room believed we could come in here and get this done," Dolphins head coach TONY SPARANO said after the game. "It didn't matter how long it took."

ARIZONA CARDINALS (3-2) at SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (3-2)

First place will be up for grabs as the NFC West co-leaders face one another in Seattle. The Cardinals, who had a bye in Week 6, watched as the Seahawks, Rams and 49ers all won last weekend.

"It's like the playoffs," says Arizona defensive end CALAIS CAMPBELL. "Needing to win gives you a little more motivation. I like the competition. If we take care of our own business, we'll be where we need to be."

These two teams have combined to win each of the past six NFC West titles, with the Cardinals winning the past two.

Last week, the Seahawks pulled out a 23-20 victory at Chicago to move into a first place tie with idle Arizona.

"I think we made a statement to ourselves," says Seattle safety LAWYER MILLOY. "The toughest thing to do is to win on the road in this league. This is a young team that's coming together. This is a big step in our development."

For Arizona, rookie quarterback MAX HALL will look to continue the momentum gained from his first victory in Week 5 when he became the first undrafted rookie QB to start and win against the defending Super Bowl champions since 1967.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (2-3) at GREEN BAY PACKERS (3-3)

Two NFC North rivals will meet on Sunday night in a key divisional contest.

The Vikings defeated the Dallas Cowboys 24-21 in Week 6 to improve to 2-3, just a half-game behind the 3-3 Packers. Minnesota's PERCY HARVIN returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown and linebacker E.J. HENDERSON had two interceptions. Vikings running back ADRIAN PETERSON rushed for 73 yards and tied JAMAL LEWIS to become the fifth-fastest player to reach 5,000 career rushing yards (51 games).

"It was a hard-fought game between two teams that were scrapping," says Minnesota head coach BRAD CHILDRESS. "Different games you win different ways. We know that this is a process. We just want to continue to improve and improve enough to beat the Packers on Sunday night."

The Packers dropped a 23-20 overtime decision to Miami last week but know there is still plenty of time left in the season. Last year, Green Bay started 4-4 before finishing 7-1 and earning a Wild Card berth.

"We have time, but time is of the essence," says Green Bay wide receiver GREG JENNINGS, who had a career-long 86-yard touchdown catch last week. "Every win is important."

MILESTONE ALERT:

Vikings quarterback BRETT FAVRE will start his 119th career game at Lambeau Field. That is the most starts by a quarterback at a stadium in NFL history. Favre is currently tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer JOHN ELWAY, who started 118 games at Denver's Mile High Stadium.

NEW YORK GIANTS (4-2) at DALLAS COWBOYS (1-4)

The Giants and Cowboys will meet on Monday night. For New York, it will mark the first division game of the season.

"This is different," says Giants defensive tackle CHRIS CANTY. "We're six games in and we haven't played a division opponent. We've got some tough challenges ahead of us, but I think this team is looking forward to improving."

The Giants won their third consecutive game last week with a 28-20 win over the Detroit Lions. Running back AHMAD BRADSHAW, who tops the NFC with 582 rushing yards, led the way with 133 yards on the ground and quarterback ELI MANNING improved to 19-4 (.826) in the month of October, the best mark by a starting quarterback who began his career in the Super Bowl era (minimum 20 starts).

Dallas will look to turn its season around after the Cowboys dropped their fourth game by seven or fewer points last week. Despite a 1-4 record, Dallas enters the contest with the NFL's No. 3 ranked offense (400.0 yards per game) and No. 4 ranked defense (281.4 yards per game).

"They're obviously very talented," says Manning about the Cowboys. "They are going to be playing fast and it is going to be loud in Dallas at that stadium. Their defense has great players all around and their offense is explosive."

There were three touchdown receptions of at least 80 yards on Sunday -- Detroit's CALVIN JOHNSON (87 yards), Green Bay's GREG JENNINGS (86) and Philadelphia's JEREMY MACLIN (83). That marks the most touchdown catches of 80 or more yards in one day since November 23, 2003.

NFL 2010 WEEK 7 schedule (october 24-25)

Byes: Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, NY Jets

(All times local)

Cincinnati at Atlanta, 1:00 PM

Arizona at Seattle, 1:05 PM

Buffalo at Baltimore, 1:00 PM

New England at San Diego, 1:15 PM

San Francisco at Carolina, 1:00 PM

Oakland at Denver, 2:15 PM

Washington at Chicago, 12:00 PM

Jacksonville at Kansas City, 12:00 PM

Pittsburgh at Miami, 1:00 PM

Cleveland at New Orleans, 12:00 PM

St. Louis at Tampa Bay, 1:00 PM

Philadelphia at Tennessee, 12:00 PM

Minnesota at Green Bay, 7:20 PM (NBC)

NY Giants at Dallas, 7:30 PM (ESPN)

NFL 2010 WEEK 6 results (october 17-18)

Byes: Arizona, Buffalo, Carolina, Cincinnati

Seattle 23, CHICAGO 20

NY Jets 24, DENVER 20

Miami 23, GREEN BAY 20 (OT)

SAN FRANCISCO 17, Oakland 9

HOUSTON 35, Kansas City 31

MINNESOTA 24, Dallas 21

NEW ENGLAND 23, Baltimore 20 (OT)

Indianapolis 27, WASHINGTON 24

NY GIANTS 28, Detroit 20

PHILADELPHIA 31, Atlanta 17

PITTSBURGH 28, Cleveland 10

Tennessee 30, JACKSONVILLE 3

ST. LOUIS 20, San Diego 17

New Orleans 31, TAMPA BAY 6

NFL 2010 WEEK 5 results (october 10-11)

Byes: Miami, New England, Pittsburgh, Seattle

BALTIMORE 31, Denver 17

ARIZONA 30, New Orleans 20

Jacksonville 36, BUFFALO 26

Tennessee 34, DALLAS 27

Chicago 23, CAROLINA 6

OAKLAND 35, San Diego 27

Tampa Bay 24, CINCINNATI 21

Philadelphia 27, SAN FRANCISCO 24

Atlanta 20, CLEVELAND 10

DETROIT 44, St. Louis 6

INDIANAPOLIS 19, Kansas City 9

NY Giants 34, HOUSTON 10

WASHINGTON 16, Green Bay 13 (OT)

NY JETS 29, Minnesota 20

NFL 2010 WEEK 4 results (october 3-4)

Byes: Dallas, Kansas City, Minnesota, Tampa Bay

ATLANTA 16, San Francisco 14

Houston 31, OAKLAND 24

NY Jets 38, BUFFALO 14

Washington 17, PHILADELPHIA 12

CLEVELAND 23, Cincinnati 20

SAN DIEGO 41, Arizona 10

GREEN BAY 28, Detroit 26

NY GIANTS 17, Chicago 3

NEW ORLEANS 16, Carolina 14

Baltimore 17, PITTSBURGH 14

Monday, October 4

ST. LOUIS 20, Seattle 3

New England 41, MIAMI 14

Denver 26, TENNESSEE 20

JACKSONVILLE 31, Indianapolis 28

NFL 2010 WEEK 3 results (SEPTEMBER 26-27)

BALTIMORE 24, Cleveland 17

Philadelphia 28, JACKSONVILLE 3

Cincinnati 20, CAROLINA 7

ST. LOUIS 30, Washington 16

Dallas 27, HOUSTON 13

ARIZONA 24, Oakland 23

KANSAS CITY 31, San Francisco 10

Indianapolis 27, DENVER 13

MINNESOTA 24, Detroit 10

SEATTLE 27, San Diego 20

NEW ENGLAND 38, Buffalo 30

NY Jets 31, MIAMI 23

Atlanta 27, NEW ORLEANS 24 (OT)

Tennessee 29, NY GIANTS 10

Pittsburgh 38, TAMPA BAY 13

CHICAGO 20, Green Bay 17

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

 

NFL 2010 Week 7 Preview: 13 Teams In First Place: Most In NFL History Through First Six Weeks