By Dean Michaels
Patriots Winning Model
The New England Patriots (9-3) are tied with Baltimore (9-3), Houston (9-3) and Pittsburgh (9-3) for the best record in the AFC.
With a win against the Redskins on Sunday, New England will reach 10 regular-season wins for the ninth consecutive season and would join the San Francisco 49ers (16) and the Indianapolis Colts (nine) as the only teams to accomplish the feat in NFL history.
The teams with the most consecutive seasons with 10+ regular-season wins in NFL history:
Team | Years | Consecutive Seasons With 10+ Wins |
---|---|---|
*Active Source: NFL | ||
San Francisco 49ers | 1983-1998 | 16 |
Indianapolis Colts | 2002-2010 | 9 |
New England Patriots | 2003-present | 8* |
Broncos Charging Ahead
The Denver Broncos (7-5) have won five consecutive games after starting the season 2-5 and are tied with the Oakland Raiders for the AFC West lead. With a win against Chicago on Sunday, Denver can become the third team ever to win six consecutive games after starting a season 2-5 or worse.
The teams that won six consecutive games after starting a season 2-5 or worse:
Team | Year | Season Start | Final Record |
---|---|---|---|
*Advanced to playoffs Source: NFL | |||
Cincinnati Bengals | 1970 | 1-6 | 8-6* |
Minnesota Vikings | 2005 | 2-5 | 9-7 |
Aaron Rodgers - The Champ Is Here
Green Bay quarterback AARON RODGERS, who has an NFL-best 37 touchdown passes this season, has registered multiple TD passes in each of the Packers' first 12 games in 2011.
With two TD passes on Sunday against Oakland, Rodgers will tie PEYTON MANNING (13) for the most consecutive games with at least two touchdown passes to start a season.
The most consecutive games with at least two touchdown passes to start a season:
Player | Year | Team | Consecutive Games W/ 2+ TD Passes To Start Season |
|
---|---|---|---|---|
*Active Source: NFL | ||||
Peyton Manning | 2004 | Indianapolis Colts | 13 | |
Aaron Rodgers | 2011 | Green Bay Packers | 12* | |
Johnny Unitas | 1959 | Baltimore Colts | 12 |
Targeting 4,000 Passing Yards
Entering Week 14, three quarterbacks are within 300 passing yards of joining DREW BREES (4,031) with 4,000 passing yards this season -- TOM BRADY (3,916), AARON RODGERS (3,844) and ELI MANNING (3,705). If Brady, Manning and Rodgers reach 4,000 passing yards on Sunday, they would surpass the record set in 2008 (Brees, 4,100; KURT WARNER, 4,020) for the most QBs with 4,000 passing yards through Week 14.
Drew Brees
New Orleans quarterback DREW BREES, who leads the NFL with 4,031 passing yards this season, will make his 150th career start at Tennessee on Sunday. Brees' 39,076 passing yards in 149 career starts are already the third-most passing yards through 150 starts in NFL history. He can challenge Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (39,498) and PEYTON MANNING (39,164) for the most passing yards in the first 150 starts of a career in NFL history.
The most passing yards through 150 starts in NFL history:
Quarterback | Most Passing Yards Through 150 Starts |
---|---|
* Through 149 starts Source: NFL | |
Dan Marino | 39,498 |
Peyton Manning | 39,164 |
Drew Brees | 39,076* |
Dan Fouts | 37,302 |
Tom Brady | 37,053 |
Brees' 264 touchdown passes in 149 starts are the fifth-most through 150 starts and he can improve that mark on Sunday.
The most touchdown passes through 150 starts in NFL history:
Quarterback | Most TD Passes Through 150 Starts |
---|---|
* Through 149 starts Source: NFL | |
Dan Marino | 290 |
Peyton Manning | 286 |
Tom Brady | 279 |
Brett Favre | 272 |
Drew Brees | 264* |
Super Cam Newton
Carolina rookie quarterback CAM NEWTON has passed for 3,297 yards this season. With 216 yards this Sunday against Atlanta, Newton can surpass MATT RYAN (3,440 in 2008) and SAM BRADFORD (3,512 in 2010) for the second-most passing yards by a rookie in NFL history. PEYTON MANNING holds the rookie record with 3,739 passing yards in 1998.
Last week, Newton (13) passed STEVE GROGAN (12 in 1976) for the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a single season in NFL history.
The most passing yards by a rookie quarterback in NFL history:
Quarterback | Team | Season | Passing Yards |
---|---|---|---|
* Through Week 13 Source: NFL | |||
Peyton Manning | Indianapolis Colts | 1998 | 3,739 |
Sam Bradford | St. Louis Rams | 2010 | 3,512 |
Matt Ryan | Atlanta Falcons | 2008 | 3,440 |
Cam Newton | Carolina Panthers | 2011 | 3,297* |
Joe Flacco | Baltimore Ravens | 2008 | 2,971 |
Wild Wild Wes Welker
New England wide receiver WES WELKER leads the NFL in receptions (93) and receiving yards (1,253) through Week 13. With seven receptions on Sunday, Welker can join MARVIN HARRISON and Pro Football Hall of Famer JERRY RICE as the only players to have four seasons with 100 receptions.
The players to record four 100-reception seasons in NFL history:
Player | Most Seasons with 100 Receptions | ||
---|---|---|---|
* Through Week 13 Source: NFL | |||
Marvin Harrison | 4 (115, 102, 109, 143) | ||
Jerry Rice | 4 (100, 112, 122, 108) | ||
Wes Welker | 3 (112, 111, 123) |
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