NFL 2013 Week 10: What To Look For

Tony Terrific

Atlanta tight end Tony Gonzalez leads the Falcons with 44 catches in 2013.

With six catches on Sunday against Seattle, Gonzalez would join Pro Football Hall of Famer JERRY RICE (17) as the only players in NFL history with at least 16 career 50-catch seasons.

Gonzalez is the only player in NFL history with 15 consecutive 50-reception seasons.

The NFL players with the most 50-catch seasons:

Player Team(s), Years 50-Catch Seasons
Source: NFL *Active; 44 catches in 2013
Jerry Rice49ers,1986-96, 1998-2000; Oakland, 2001-0317
Tony Gonzalez*Chiefs,1998-2008; Atlanta, 2009-1215
Andre ReedBills,1986-94, 1996-9913
Terrell Owens49ers, 1997-2003; Eagles, 2004; Cowboys, 2006-08; Bills, 2009; Bengals, 201013
Isaac BruceSt. Louis, 1995-97, 1999-2004, 2006-07; 49ers 200812
Marvin HarrisonColts, 1996-2006, 200812

It's How You Finish

In every season since 1987, at least one team with a .500 or worse record through eight games has advanced to the postseason. Last year, three such teams -- Cincinnati (3-5), Washington (3-5) and Seattle (4-4) -- accomplished the feat.

Over the past five seasons, 12 teams started 4-4 or worse and rebounded to qualify for the playoffs. Six of those teams, including the 2012 Seattle Seahawks, won at least one playoff game.

The teams in the past five seasons (2008-2012) that started the season at .500 or below through eight games and earned a playoff berth:

Season Team Record
(8 Games)
Final
Record
Playoff Results
Source: NFL
2008Indianapolis4-412-4Advanced to Wild Card
2008Miami4-411-5Advanced to Wild Card
2008Minnesota4-410-6Advanced to Wild Card
2008San Diego3-58-8Advanced to Divisional
2009Green Bay4-411-5Advanced to Wild Card
2009N.Y. Jets4-49-7Advanced to AFC Championship
2009Baltimore4-49-7Advanced to Divisional
2010Seattle4-47-9Advanced to Divisional
2011Denver3-58-8Advanced to Divisional
2012Cincinnati3-510-6Advanced to Wild Card
2012Seattle4-411-5Advanced to Divisional
2012Washington3-510-6Advanced to Wild Card

 

Turnaround Teams I

At the midway point 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.

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

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 9:

Division 2012 Champion 2013 Leader(s) After Week 9
Source: NFL
AFC EastNew EnglandNew England (7-2)
AFC NorthBaltimoreCincinnati (6-3)
AFC SouthHoustonIndianapolis (6-2)
AFC WestDenverKansas City (9-0)
NFC EastWashingtonDallas (5-4)
NFC NorthGreen BayChicago (5-3),
Detroit (5-3),
Green Bay (5-3)
NFC SouthAtlantaNew Orleans (6-2)
NFC WestSan FranciscoSeattle (8-1)

 

Turnaround Teams II

Three teams -- Detroit (5-3; 4-12 in 2012), Kansas City (9-0; 2-14 in 2012) and Philadelphia (4-5; 4-12 in 2012) -- have already matched or surpassed their win totals from last season.

In Week 10, two more teams -- Arizona (4-4; 5-11 in 2012) and New Orleans (6-2; 7-9 in 2012) -- can also match their 2012 win totals.

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 have byes this week, can also join the list.

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

Team 2012 Record 2013 Record Week 10 Opponent
Source: NFL * Need win in Week 10 to match 2012 win total
Detroit4-125-3at Chicago
Kansas City2-149-0Bye
Philadelphia4-124-5at Green Bay
Arizona*5-114-4vs Houston
New Orleans*7-96-2vs Dallas

 

Passing Fancy

NFL quarterbacks have been historically prolific and proficient in 2013. At the season's midpoint, games are averaging 485.1 passing yards per game, on pace to be the most of any season in NFL history (462.6 in 2012).

The leaguewide 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 (3.12) 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:

Year Passer Rating Year Passer Yards / Game Year TD Passes / Game
Source: NFL * Through Week 9
201386.5*2013485.1*19483.27
201285.62012462.619633.21
201184.32011459.419473.13
201084.12010443.120133.12*
200883.21995441.619623.09

 

Megatron

Detroit Lions wide receiver CALVIN JOHNSON has 8,657 yards in 99 career NFL games.

On Sunday at Chicago, Johnson needs 24 receiving yards to surpass RANDY MOSS for the second-most receiving yards in the first 100 games of a career in NFL history.

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

Player Receiving Yards
Source: NFL *99 games played
Lance Alworth9,019
Randy Moss8,680
Calvin Johnson*8,657
Torry Holt8,598
Jerry Rice8,488

 

 

NFL 2013 Week 9 Results

Byes: Arizona, Denver, Detroit, Jacksonville, NY Giants, San Francisco

MIAMI 22, Cincinnati 20 (OT)

Philadelphia 49, OAKLAND 20

SEATTLE 27, Tampa Bay 24 (OT)

CLEVELAND 24, Baltimore 18

DALLAS 27, Minnesota 23

NEW ENGLAND 55, Pittsburgh 31

NY JETS 26, New Orleans 20

Indianapolis 27, HOUSTON 24

Tennessee 28, ST. LOUIS 21

Kansas City 23, BUFFALO 13

CAROLINA, 34, Atlanta 10

WASHINGTON 30, San Diego 24 (OT)

Chicago 27, GREEN BAY 20

NFL 2013 Week 10 Schedule

(All times local)

Byes: Cleveland, Kansas City, New England, NY Jets

Washington at Minnesota 7:25 PM (NFLN)

Buffalo at Pittsburgh 1:00 PM

Jacksonville at Tennessee 12:00 PM

Carolina at San Francisco 1:05 PM

Seattle at Atlanta 1:00 PM

Houston at Arizona 2:25 PM

Cincinnati at Baltimore 1:00 PM

Denver at San Diego 1:25 PM

Detroit at Chicago 12:00 PM

Philadelphia at Green Bay 12:00 PM

St. Louis at Indianapolis 1:00 PM

Oakland at NY Giants 1:00 PM

Dallas at New Orleans 7:30 PM (NBC)

Miami at Tampa Bay 8:40 PM (ESPN)

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NFL 2013 Week 10: What To Look For