NFL 2014: NFL Week 6 What to Look For
NFL 2014: NFL Week 6 What to Look For

 

Here's what to look for during Week 6 of the NFL 2014 Regular Season

Ben Roethlisberger: Mr. Consistent

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has thrown seven touchdown passes this season.

With three touchdowns on Sunday, Roethlisberger will have passed for 10 or more touchdowns in each of his first 11 seasons, tying Pro Football Hall of Famer JIM KELLY for the fourth-most consecutive seasons with 10 or more touchdown passes to start a career in NFL history.

The most consecutive seasons with 10+ touchdown passes to start a career:

Player Teams Seasons Consecutive
Source: NFL *Active streak
Fran TarkentonMinnesota, Giants1961-7616
Peyton ManningIndianapolis1998-201013
Warren MoonHouston, Minnesota1984-9512
Jim KellyBuffalo1986-9611
Ben Roethlisberger*Pittsburgh2004-1310
Dan MarinoMiami1983-9210

 

Climbing Back

Since the current playoff system (12 teams) was instituted in 1990, 14 NFL 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. That includes six 1-4 teams that won their division.

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

Season Team Record Final Record Advanced To
Source: NFL
1990New Orleans Saints2-58-8Wild Card
1992San Diego Chargers1-411-5Divisional
1993Houston Oilers1-412-4Divisional
1994New England Patriots3-610-6Wild Card
1995Detroit Lions2-5, 3-610-6Wild Card
1995San Diego Chargers4-79-7Wild Card
1996Jacksonville Jaguars3-6, 4-79-7Championship Game
2002Tennessee Titans1-411-5Championship Game
2002New York Jets1-4, 2-59-7Divisional
2004Green Bay Packers1-410-6Wild Card
2008San Diego Chargers4-7, 4-8, 5-88-8Divisional
2010Seattle Seahawks6-97-9Divisional
2011Denver Broncos1-4, 2-58-8Divisional
2012Washington Redskins3-610-6Wild Card

 

Scoring In Bunches

NFL teams have combined for 3,524 points in 2014.

That total equates to 46.37 points per game, the highest points per game average through five weeks in the NFL since 1970.

The seasons with the highest scoring average since the merger:

Season Points / Game
Source: NFL *Through Week 5
201346.82
201245.51
201144.36
201044.07
200844.06
2014*46.37

 

San Diego Streak

San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers completed 20 of 28 passes (71.4 percent) for 288 yards and three touchdowns with one incerception for a 125.3 passer rating in the Chargers' 31-0 win over the New York Jets last week. It was the fourth consecutive game in which Rivers had a passer rating of 120 or better, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer JOHNNY UNITAS (1965) and KURT WARNER (2009) for the most such consecutive games in NFL history (minimum 15 attempts).

On Sunday against Oakland, Rivers can become the first player to record five consecutive games with a 120+ passer rating in NFL history (minimum 15 attempts).

TE Touchdowns

Denver tight end Julius Thomas, who leads all NFL players with seven touchdowns this season, had two touchdown catches in the Broncos' 41-20 win against Arizona last week. Thomas' seven touchdowns are the most ever by a tight end through his team's first four games in a season, surpassing the mark of six previously shared by ANTONIO GATES (2010) and JIMMY GRAHAM (2013).

Thomas' seven touchdowns are also already tied with Gates (2010) and Pro Football Hall of Famer MIKE DITKA (1963) for the most touchdowns by a tight end through his team's first five games in a season.

With a touchdown catch on Sunday against the New York Jets, Thomas would have the most touchdowns by a tight end through his team's first five games.

The tight ends with the most touchdown receptions through his team's first five games:

Player Team Season TDs
Source: NFL *Through 4 games
Julius Thomas*Denver20147
Antonio GatesSan Diego20107
Mike DitkaChicago19637
Jimmy GrahamNew Orleans20136
Julius ThomasDenver20136
Wesley WallsCarolina19996

 

Kick Club

Indianapolis kicker ADAM VINATIERI has scored 896 points since joining the Colts in 2006, the fifth-most of any active player during that span. Vinatieri scored 1,158 points in 10 seasons (1996-2005) with the New England Patriots before joining the Colts.

Vinatieri needs four points against Houston to become the first player in NFL history to score 900 career points with two different teams.

Vinatieri's career kicking numbers:

Team Seasons FGs Made PAs Made Other Total
Source: NFL *2-point conversion
Patriots1996 - 20052633671*1,158
Colts2006 - Present195311--896
Total1996 - Present45867812,054

 

In his 19th season, Vinatieri has 2,054 career points scored, the fifth-most in NFL history. With nine points on Thursday night, Vinatieri would surpass JOHN CARNEY (2,062) for the fourth-most points all-time.

The players with the most points in NFL history:

Player Seasons Points
Source: NFL *Active
Morten Andersen1982-20072,544
Gary Anderson1982-20042,434
Jason Hanson1992-20122,150
John Carney1988-20102,062
Adam Vinatieri*1996-present2,054

 

Monday Night Milestone

The Week 6 game featuring the San Francisco 49ers and the St. Louis Rams will mark the 700th game in the history of Monday Night Football, which debuted in 1970.

San Francisco has a 45-25 record (.643) on Monday Night Football, the most wins of any team in the history of the primetime series.

Team Wins
Source: NFL
San Francisco 49ers45
Dallas Cowboys43
Miami Dolphins40
Pittsburgh Steelers40
Oakland Raiders37

 

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NFL 2014 - NFL Week 6 What to Look For