NFL 2013 Week 6: What To Look For

Tied atop the AFC West with 5-0 records, the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs are two of three remaining undefeated teams in 2013. If both win this Sunday, it would mark the second time since the divisional structure was implemented in 1933 that two teams in the same division started 6-0.

In 1934, the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears, then members of the NFL's Western Division, each started 10-0. Chicago finished 13-0 before losing the 1934 NFL Championship game by a score of 30-13 to the New York Giants. The Lions (10-3) finished second in the Western Division.

Scoring in Bunches

NFL teams have combined for 3,566 points in 2013, tied for the most points through five weeks in NFL history (2011).

That total equates to 46.31 points per game. If the current average stays at this pace, it would rank as the second-highest of any season in history (1948, 46.48 points per game).

The seasons with the highest scoring average in NFL history:

Year Points Per Game
Source: NFL *Through Week 5
194846.48
195045.88
201245.51
196045.29
196245.21
2013*46.31

 

Climbing Back

Teams off to a slow start are justified in believing that they can turn it around. Since the current playoff format (12 teams) was instituted in 1990, 14 teams have rebounded from being at least three games under .500 after the season's first five weeks or later to qualify for the postseason. At least one team has done so in each of the past three seasons, including the 2012 Washington Redskins, who rebounded from a 3-6 start to win their final seven games en route to an NFC East title.

Since 1990, teams that were three or more games below .500 after Week 5 or later and made the playoffs:

Year Team Record Final Record Advanced To
Source: NFL
1990Saints2-58-8Wild Card
1992Chargers1-411-5Divisional
1993Oilers1-412-4Divisional
1994Patriots3-610-6Wild Card
1995Lions2-5, 3-610-6Wild Card
1995Chargers4-79-7Wild Card
1996Jaguars3-6, 4-79-7Championship Game
2002Titans1-411-5Championship Game
2002Jets1-4, 2-59-7Divisional
2004Packers1-410-6Wild Card
2008Chargers4-7, 4-8, 5-88-8Divisional
2010Seahawks6-97-9Divisional
2011Broncos1-4, 2-58-8Divisional
2012Washington3-610-6Wild Card

 

Denver Dominance

Denver has won 16 consecutive regular-season games, tied for the fifth-longest streak in NFL history. With a victory against Jacksonville this Sunday, the Broncos would tie the 1933-34 Chicago Bears for the fourth-longest win streak in NFL annals.

The 2008-09 Indianapolis Colts, who were also quarterbacked by PEYTON MANNING, won an NFL-record 23 consecutive regular-season games.

The longest regular-season winning streaks in NFL history:

Team Years Win Streak
Source: NFL * Active streak
Indianapolis Colts2008-0923
New England Patriots2006-0821
New England Patriots2003-0418
Chicago Bears1933-3417
Denver Broncos*2012-1316
Chicago Bears1941-4216
Miami Dolphins1971-7316
Miami Dolphins1983-8416
Pittsburgh Steelers2004-0516

 

Colt Club

Indianapolis wide receiver REGGIE WAYNE (996) needs four receptions against San Diego on Monday Night Football to become the ninth player in NFL history with 1,000 career catches.

The Colts can also become the first team in NFL history to have two players with 1,000 receptions each with the franchise. MARVIN HARRISON, who played his entire 13-year career with Indianapolis, ranks third in NFL history with 1,102 catches.

The top 10 players with the most catches in NFL history:

Player Team(s) Years Catches
Source: NFL * Active
Jerry Rice49ers, Raiders, Seahawks1985-20041,549
Tony Gonzalez*Chiefs, Falcons1997-20131,275
Marvin HarrisonColts1996-20081,102
Cris CarterEagles, Vikings, Dolphins1987-20021,101
Tim BrownRaiders, Buccaneers1988-20041,094
Terrell Owens49ers, Eagles, Cowboys, Bills, Bengals1996-20101,078
Isaac BruceRams, 49ers1994-20091,024
Hines WardSteelers1998-20111,000
Reggie Wayne*Colts2001-2013996
Randy MossVikings, Raiders, Patriots, Titans, 49ers1998-2012982

 

Sack Attack

Indianapolis linebacker ROBERT MATHIS (9.5) and Kansas City linebacker JUSTIN HOUSTON (8.5) currently rank No. 1 and 2 in the NFL in sacks.

In Week 6, both players can challenge to rank in the top three for the most sacks by any player through a team's first six games since sacks became an official statistic in 1982.

The players with the most sacks through a team's first six games:

Player Team Year Sacks
Source: NFL * Through 5 games
Keith MillardMinnesota Vikings198912
Kevin GreeneCarolina Panthers199811
Michael StrahanNew York Giants200110.5
Many tied  10
Robert MathisIndianapolis Colts20139.5*
Justin HoustonKansas City Chiefs20138.5*

 

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NFL 2013 Week 6: What To Look For