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 49ers1983-199816
Indianapolis Colts2002-20109
New England Patriots2003-present8*

 

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 Bengals19701-68-6*
Minnesota Vikings20052-59-7

 

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 Manning2004Indianapolis Colts13
Aaron Rodgers2011Green Bay Packers12*
Johnny Unitas1959Baltimore Colts12

 

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 Marino39,498
Peyton Manning39,164
Drew Brees39,076*
Dan Fouts37,302
Tom Brady37,053

 

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 Marino290
Peyton Manning286
Tom Brady279
Brett Favre272
Drew Brees264*

 

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 ManningIndianapolis Colts19983,739
Sam BradfordSt. Louis Rams20103,512
Matt RyanAtlanta Falcons20083,440
Cam NewtonCarolina Panthers20113,297*
Joe FlaccoBaltimore Ravens20082,971

 

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 Harrison4 (115, 102, 109, 143)
Jerry Rice4 (100, 112, 122, 108)
Wes Welker3 (112, 111, 123)

 

NFL 2011 - What To Look For Week 14