NFL 2013 Week 15: 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 15 of the NFL 2013 season

The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Oakland Raiders 56-31 and clinched a playoff berth.

Kansas City running back Jamaal Charles scored five touchdowns in the Chiefs' win at Oakland. Charles is the first player in NFL history with at least four touchdown receptions and one touchdown run in a single game. His five total touchdowns are tied for the fourth-most in a game in league history and just one shy of the record. Three players scored six touchdowns in a game: ERNIE NEVERS (November 28, 1929), DUB JONES (November 25, 1951) and GALE SAYERS (December 12, 1965).

The Chiefs scored 35 first-half points in the team's victory. Last week, the Chiefs scored 38 first-half points in Kansas City's win at Washington. The Chiefs are the only team in NFL history to score at least 35 points in the first half of consecutive games and this is the second time the team has accomplished the feat (December 1 and 8, 2002).

Seattle Seahawks quarterback RUSSELL WILSON threw a touchdown pass in the Seahawks' 23-0 win at the New York Giants. Wilson, who now has 50 career touchdown passes, joined Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (68) and PEYTON MANNING (52) as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to pass for at least 50 touchdowns in their first two seasons.

Wilson has 23 wins, the most by a starting quarterback in his first two seasons in the Super Bowl era. He passed BEN ROETHLISBERGER (22) with today's victory.

Indianapolis quarterback ANDREW LUCK passed for 180 yards and two touchdowns in the Colts' 25-3 win over Houston. Luck has 7,673 career passing yards and joined CAM NEWTON (7,920) and PEYTON MANNING (7,874) as the only quarterbacks with at least 7,500 passing yards in their first two NFL seasons.

Atlanta tight end TONY GONZALEZ had six catches for 62 yards and a touchdown in the Falcons' 27-26 win over Washington. Gonzalez became the fifth player -- and first tight end -- in NFL history to reach 15,000 career receiving yards (15,008).

In his career, Gonzalez has 1,313 receptions for 15,008 yards and 110 touchdowns. He and Pro Football Hall of Famer JERRY RICE are the only two players in NFL history with at least 1,100 receptions, 15,000 receiving yards and 100 touchdown catches.

In Chicago's 38-31 win at Cleveland, Bears cornerback ZACK BOWMAN and Browns safety TASHAUN GIPSON each had two interceptions, including a touchdown. It marked the first game since December 12, 1965 in which opposing players each had two interceptions, including an interception-return touchdown, in the same game. In that contest, Philadelphia's JIM NETTLES (three interceptions, one touchdown) and Pittsburgh's MARV WOODSON (two interceptions, one touchdown) accomplished the feat.

Minnesota running back MATT ASIATA rushed for three touchdowns in the Vikings' 48-30 win over Philadelphia. Asiata, who made his first career start, is the first player since DAUNTE CULPEPPER in 2000 (September 3) to rush for his first three touchdowns in his first NFL start.

Scoring Highs

NFL teams combined to score 763 points, the most scored in a single day in NFL history. The previous high was 759 points on January 1, 2012.

Teams have combined to score 10,632 points this season, the most ever through Week 15 (10,236 in 2012).

Teams have also combined to score 1,190 TDs, the most at this point in NFL history (1,136 in 2012). Of the 1,190 touchdowns, 722 have been TD passes, the most through the first 15 weeks of any season. The previous high was 663 in 2010.

Comebacks Keep On Coming

In Week 15, the Green Bay Packers (trailed 26-3; won 37-36) overcame a 23-point deficit to win. With two weeks remaining in the regular season, there have been 18 comeback wins of at least 14 points, tied for the most in a season in NFL history (18 in 2011).

The most comeback victories of at least 14 points in a season in NFL history:

Season 14+ Point Comeback Wins
Source: NFL *Through Week 15
201318*
201118
199617
198717
198317
197917

 

Razor Thin Margins of Victory

Through Week 15, there have been 110 games decided by seven points or fewer, the second-most through the first 15 weeks of a season in NFL history (113 in 2002).

The most games decided by seven points or fewer through Week 15:

Season Games
Source: NFL
2002113
2013110
2003109
2012108
2011108

 

TD Passes in Bunches

Kansas City quarterback Alex Smith threw five touchdown passes in the Chiefs' 56-31 win over Oakland. That marked the seventh individual five-touchdown performance this season, already the fifth-most in a single season in NFL history (11 in 2004).

The most individual five-touchdown games in a single season in NFL history:

Season Games
Source: NFL *Through Week 15
200411
20118
19698
19628
20137*

 

Racking Up the Total Yards

Through Week 15, NFL games have averaged 703 total yards per game, which is on pace to surpass the single-season record set in 2012 (694.4 per game).

Three NFL teams -- Denver (453.4), Philadelphia (414) and Detroit (405.3) -- are averaging more than 400 total yards per game, which is on pace to tie for the most of any season in NFL history (2011 and 2012).

Denver can challenge the single-season record for total yards per game, which was set in 2011 by the New Orleans Saints (467.1).

The NFL teams with the most total yards per game in a single season:

Team Season Yards Per Game
Source: NFL * Through 14 games
New Orleans Saints2011467.1
Denver Broncos*2013453.4
Los Angeles Rams1951450.8
San Diego Chargers1982449.8
Houston Oilers1961449.1

 

Interception Returns

Teams have combined to score 56 interception-return touchdowns through Week 15, the second-most INT-TD returns through 15 weeks since 1970 (62 in 2012).

Five players -- Arizona cornerback ANTOINE CASON (20 yards), Carolina cornerback CAPTAIN MUNNERLYN (41), Chicago cornerback ZACK BOWMAN (43), Cleveland safety TASHAUN GIPSON (44) and Kansas City safety ERIC BERRY (47) -- returned interceptions for touchdowns in Week 15.

The most interception-return touchdowns through Week 15 since 1970:

Season Int TD Returns
Source: NFL
201262
201356
199953
200152
200350

 

Megatron Update

On Monday Night Football, Detroit wide receiver CALVIN JOHNSON recorded six catches for 98 yards in the Lions' 18-16 loss to Baltimore.

Johnson, who leads the NFL with 5,094 receiving yards since the start of the 2011 season, became the first player in NFL history to record 5,000-yards in any three-season span.

Colts Strong

Indianapolis linebacker ROBERT MATHIS recorded a sack in the Colts' 25-3 win over Houston, bringing his career total to 108 and season total to 16.5. Both totals surpassed DWIGHT FREENEY's club record for career sacks (107.5) and sacks in a single season (16 in 2004).

Peyton Manning Up the Stats

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning threw two touchdown passes in the Broncos' 27-20 loss to San Diego. Manning now has 47 touchdown passes in 2013, which is already the fourth-most in a season in NFL history.

With two games to play in the regular season, Manning needs four more TD passes to surpass TOM BRADY's single-season NFL record of 50 in 2007.

Manning has led the league in touchdown passes three times in his career and can tie DREW BREES, LEN DAWSON, BRETT FAVRE, JOHNNY UNITAS and STEVE YOUNG for the most seasons leading the league in touchdown passes (four).

The quarterbacks with the most touchdown passes in a season in NFL history:

Quarterback Team Season TD Passes
Source: NFL *Through 14 games
Tom Brady New England200750
Peyton Manning Indianapolis200449
Dan MarinoMiami198448
Peyton Manning*Denver201347
Drew BreesNew Orleans201146

 

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NFL 2013 Week 15: The Week That Was