NFL 2013 Week 10: The Week That Was

A look back at the statistical highlights, achievements and milestones plus a review of the week that was for games played Week 10 of the NFL 2013 season

League Trends

A look at some notable trends and milestones through Week 10:

Close contests remain a staple of the NFL 2013 season as 100 of 147 games (68 percent) have been within seven points in the fourth quarter, the most such games through the first 10 weeks of a season in NFL history (98 in 2004).

NFL Teams have combined for 6,836 points this season, the most points through 10 weeks in NFL history. The previous high was 6,714 last season.

NFL Teams have combined to score 762 touchdowns and have thrown 462 touchdown passes, both of which are the most ever through Week 10. The previous highs were 739 TDs and 442 TD passes last season.

NFL Teams have combined to score 39 interception-return touchdowns through Week 10, tied for the most INT-TD returns through Week 10 of any season (39 in 2012).

Impressive Individual Performances

Tavon Austin

Saint Louis Rams rookie Tavon Austin returned a punt 98 yards for a touchdown and had receiving touchdowns of 81 and 57 yards in the Rams' 38-8 win at Indianapolis. Austin is the first player in NFL history with a 95+ yard punt-return touchdown and two 55+ yard receiving touchdowns in the same game. No player had ever had a 95+ yard punt-return touchdown and one 55+ yard receiving touchdown in a single game.

Austin joins Pro Football Hall of Famer Gale Sayers (December 12, 1965) and Randy Moss (November 26, 1998) as the only players age 22 or younger with three 50+ yard touchdowns in the same game.

Austin finished the game with 142 scrimmage yards (138 receiving, four rushing) and 145 punt-return yards. Austin and Steve Smith (December 8, 2002) are the only players in NFL history with at least 140 scrimmage yards and 140 punt-return yards in the same game.

Nick Foles

Philadelphia quarterback Nick Foles threw three touchdown passes without an interception in the Eagles' 27-13 win at Green Bay. Foles, who tied the NFL record with seven touchdown passes last week, joins Tom Brady (2007) as the only players in league history with at least 10 touchdown passes and no interceptions in a two-game span in a single season.

Foles also joins Pro Football Hall of Famer Y.A. Tittle as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to throw three touchdown passes in the game following a seven-touchdown performance.

This season, Foles has 16 touchdown passes and no interceptions. He joins Peyton Manning (20 in 2013 for Denver) and Milt Plum (16 in 1960 for Cleveland) as the only players to start a season with at least 16 touchdown passes before throwing an interception.

Russell Wilson

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson threw for 287 yards, two touchdowns and a 134.6 passer rating in the Seahawks' 33-10 win at Atlanta. The victory was Wilson's 20th of his career and he is only the fifth quarterback in the Super Bowl era to win at least 20 starts in his first two NFL seasons. The others to accomplish the feat are Ben Roethlisberger (22), Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino (21), Joe Flacco (20) and Matt Ryan (20).

The Seahawks are 9-1 for the first time in franchise history.

Ben Roethlisberger

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger led the Steelers to a 23-10 win over Buffalo, his 90th career victory.

Roethlisberger reached 90 career wins in his 135th start and is the fifth fastest to reach the milestone among quarterbacks who began their careers in the Super Bowl era. The four quarterbacks to reach 90 wins in fewer starts are Tom Brady (115), Pro Football Hall of Famers Joe Montana (128), Terry Bradshaw (129) and Ken Stabler (133).

Peyton Manning

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning completed 25 of 36 passes (69.4 percent) for 330 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions for a 135.2 passer rating in the Broncos' 28-20 win at San Diego. Manning has 33 touchdown passes this season, tied with TOM BRADY (2007) for the most through the first nine games of a season in NFL history. Brady set the NFL single-season record with 50 touchdown passes that year.

Peyton Manning now has eight seasons with at least 30 touchdown passes. Only Brett Favre (nine) has more such seasons in NFL history.

The Broncos have scored 371 points this season, the most through the first nine games of a season in NFL history. The previous high was held by the 1950 Los Angeles Rams, who scored 358 points in their first nine games.

John Abraham

Arizona Cardinals linebacker John Abraham had two sacks and a forced fumble in the Cardinals' 27-24 win over Houston. Abraham has 127 career sacks and passed Pro Football Hall of Famer Derrick Thomas (126.5) to move into 12th place in NFL history. Abraham leads all active NFL players in both sacks (127) and forced fumbles (47).

On the first play from scrimmage, Abraham sacked the quarterback and forced a fumble which was recovered by linebacker Matt Shaughnessy, who returned it six yards for a touchdown.

Turnaround Teams: Part I

Through Week 10 of the 2013 season, seven of eight divisions currently have at least one team in first place or tied for first place that did not win the division in 2012.

Four of the teams who are currently own at least a share of first place in their respective divisions finished in last place or tied for last in 2012 -- Detroit (6-3, NFC North), Kansas City (9-0, AFC West), New Orleans (7-2, NFC South) and Philadelphia (5-5, NFC East).

At least one team has finished in first place in its division the season after finishing in last place for 10 consecutive years, the longest streak in NFL history.

Here is a look at the 2013 division leaders through Week 10:

Division 2012 Champion 2013 Leader(s) as of Week 10
Source: NFL
AFC EastNew EnglandNew England (7-2)
AFC NorthBaltimoreCincinnati (6-4)
AFC SouthHoustonIndianapolis (6-3)
AFC WestDenverKansas City (9-0)
NFC EastWashingtonDallas (5-5), Philadelphia (5-5)
NFC NorthGreen BayDetroit (6-3)
NFC SouthAtlantaNew Orleans (7-2)
NFC WestSan FranciscoSeattle (9-1)

 

Turnaround Teams: Part II

In Week 10, the Arizona Cardinals (5-4) defeated Houston 27-24 and the New Orleans Saints (7-2) earned a 49-17 victory over Dallas. Arizona (5-11 in 2012) and New Orleans (7-9 in 2012) each matched their 2012 win totals and joined Detroit (6-3; 4-12 in 2012), Kansas City (9-0; 2-14 in 2012) and Philadelphia (5-5; 4-12 in 2012) as the teams to accomplish the feat this season.

Looking ahead to Week 11, the Cleveland Browns (4-5; 5-11 in 2012) and New York Jets (5-4; 6-10 in 2012), who both had byes this week, can also join the list.

The teams that have matched or exceeded their 2012 win totals:

Team 2012 Record 2013 Record
Source: NFL
Detroit4-126-3
Kansas City2-149-0
Philadelphia4-125-5
Arizona5-115-4
New Orleans7-97-2

 

Passing Fancy

NFL quarterbacks are on a record-breaking pace in 2013. At the NFL 2013 season midpoint, games are averaging 479.1 passing yards per game, on pace to be the most of any season in NFL history (462.6 in 2012).

The league-wide passer rating (86.5) is also on pace for an all-time high (85.6 in 2012), and the average number of touchdown passes per game (3.14) is on pace to be the highest since 1963 (3.21).

A look at how the 2013 season is on pace to rank historically in three key passing categories -- rating, yards per game and touchdowns per game:

Season Passer Rating Season Passing Yards / Game Season TD Passes / Game
Source: NFL *Through Week 10
201386.5*2013479.1*19483.27
201285.62012462.619633.21
201184.32011459.420133.14*
201084.12010443.119473.13
200883.21995441.619623.09

 

Megatron

Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson had six catches for 83 yards and two touchdowns in the Lions' 21-19 win at Chicago. Johnson, playing in his 100th career game, has 8,740 career receiving yards, the second-most in NFL history in a player's first 100 games. He passes Randy Moss (8,680) today and only trails Pro Football Hall of Famer Lance Alworth (9,019).

In his career, Johnson is averaging 87.4 receiving yards per game, the highest mark in NFL history (minimum 100 games).

With his two touchdown catches, Johnson (63) passed Herman Moore (62) for the most receiving touchdowns in franchise history.

NFL players with the most receiving yards through their first 100 career games:

Player Receiving Yards
Source: NFL
Lance Alworth9,019
Calvin Johnson8,740
Randy Moss8,680
Torry Holt8,598
Jerry Rice8,488

 

Touchdowns Galore

Denver's Peyton Manning and New Orleans' Drew Brees each threw four touchdowns with zero interceptions in Week 10. It marked Manning's NFL record 27th career game with four or more TD passes; Brees is tied Brett Favre (23) for the second-most such games in NFL history.

The players with the most games with at least four touchdown passes in NFL history:

Player Games 4 or more TD Passes
Source: NFL * Active
Peyton Manning*27
Drew Brees*23
Brett Favre23
Dan Marino21
Tom Brady*19

 

Brees and Manning also moved up the ranks for the most games with four or more touchdown passes and zero interceptions. Brees tied TOM BRADY (15) for the most such games and Manning surpassed Favre for the third-most such games in NFL history.

The players with the most 4+ touchdown passes and zero interception games in NFL history:

Player Games 4+ TD Passes & 0 INTs
Source: NFL *Active
Drew Brees*15
Tom Brady*15
Peyton Manning*13
Brett Favre12

 

3,000 Club

Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (3,249, nine games) and Saints quarterback Drew Brees (3,064, nine games) each reached 3,000 passing yards in Week 10. It is only the second time in NFL history that two quarterbacks have thrown for 3,000+ yards through the first 10 weeks of an NFL season.

Brees (3,326, 10 games) and TOM BRADY (3,032, nine games) accomplished the feat in 2011.

Mr. MVP

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson rushed for 75 yards and two touchdowns in the Vikings' 34-27 win over Washington on Thursday Night Football.

Peterson, who ranks fourth in the NFL in rushing yards (786) and first in rushing touchdowns (nine), joined Pro Football Hall of Famers Jim Brown, Emmitt Smith and La Dainian Tomlinson as the only running backs to register 750 rushing yards and eight touchdowns or more in seven consecutive seasons to start a career.

Running Backs with 750+ Rush Yards and 8+ Rushing TD Seasons

Player Team Most Consecutive - Career Start
Source: NFL
LaDainian TomlinsonSan Diego Chargers8 (2001-2008)
Adrian PetersonMinnesota Vikings7 (2007-2013)
Emmitt SmithDallas Cowboys7 (1990-1996)
Jim BrownCleveland Browns7 (1957-1963)

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NFL 2013 Week 10: The Week That Was