NFL 2016: Player Milestones to Look For in 2016
NFL 2016: Player Milestones to Look For in 2016

Every season the NFL's best players set their sites on individual milestones and records. This season is no different. Here's a look at this season's player milsestones

Drew Brees, New Orleans

Drew Brees

New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees led the NFL with 4,870 passing yards in 2015 and became the first player to lead the league in passing yards six different times.

Drew Brees needs 459 passing yards to surpass Dan Marino (61,361) for the third-most all-time. In 15 seasons, Brees has 60,903 passing yards.

Brees can extend his NFL record streak of consecutive seasons with at least 30 touchdown passes. Brees has passed for at least 30 touchdowns in each of the past eight seasons.

Brees can become the first player to lead the league in passing yards seven times in his career. Sonny Jurgensen (5) and Dan Marino (5) are tied for the second-most such seasons in NFL history. Brees has led the NFL in passing yards six times.

Brees needs two 400-yard passing games to surpass Peyton Manning (14) for the most all-time. In 15 seasons, Brees has 13 400-yard passing games.

Brees can extend his NFL record of 300-yard passing games. In 15 seasons, Brees has 96 300-yard passing games.

Brees has led the league in touchdown passes four times in his career and can become the only player to lead the league in touchdown passes five times (see Brady note).

Brees has led the league in completions four times and can join Dan Marino (6) and Sammy Baugh (5) as the only players to lead the league in completions at least five times.

Brees has led the league in pass attempts three times in his career and can join Dan Marino (5) Sammy Baugh (4), Johnny Unitas (4) and George Blanda (4) as the only players to lead the league in attempts at least four times.

Unfortunately, the Saints finished missed the playoffs. Will Brees and the Saints bounce back this season?

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Tom Brady, New England

Tom Brady

Last season, Tom Brady guided the Patriots to their fifth consecutive AFC Championship Game and is the first starting quarterback in NFL history to win 13 division championships.

Tom Brady needs seven wins to surpass Peyton Manning (200) and Brett Favre (199) for the most overall (regular season and postseason) wins by a quarterback in NFL history. In 16 seasons, Brady has 194 overall wins.

Brady needs 3,334 passing yards to surpass Dan Marino (61,361) for the third-most all-time. In 16 seasons, Brady has 58,028 passing yards (see Brees note).

Brady has led the NFL in touchdown passes four times in his career and can become the only player to lead the league in touchdown passes five times (see Brees note).

Love him or hate him, Tom Brady is one of the all-time elites and his winning ways are sure to continue this season as well

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Eli Manning, New York Giants

Eli Manning of the New York Giants, needs six touchdown passes to become the eighth player in NFL history to reach 300 career touchdown passes. In 12 seasons, Manning has 294 touchdown passes (see Palmer, Rivers, Roethlisberger and Rodgers note).

Philip Rivers, San Diego

Philip Rivers has led the league in average yards per pass three times in his career and can join Steve Young (5) and Sid Luckman (7) as the only players in NFL history to do so in at least four seasons.

Rivers needs seven 400-yard passing games to surpass Peyton Manning (14) for the most all-time. In 12 seasons, Rivers has eight 400-yard passing games (see Brees, Palmer and Roethlisberger note). Rivers needs 19 touchdown passes to become the eighth player in NFL history to reach 300 career touchdown passes. In 12 seasons, Rivers has 281 touchdown passes (see Manning, Palmer, Roethlisberger and Rodgers note).

Carson Palmer, Arizona

Carson Palmer needs seven 400-yard passing games to surpass Peyton Manning (14) for the most all-time. In 13 seasons, Palmer has eight 400-yard passing games (see Brees, Rivers and Roethlisberger note).

Palmer needs 41 touchdown passes to become the eighth player in NFL history to reach 300 career touchdown passes. In 13 NFL seasons, Palmer has 259 touchdown passes (see Manning, Rivers, Roethlisberger and Rodgers note).

Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger needs seven 400-yard passing games to surpass Peyton Manning (14) for the most all-time. In 12 seasons, Roethlisberger has eight 400-yard passing games (see Brees, Palmer and Rivers note).

Roethlisberger needs 28 touchdown passes to become the eighth player in NFL history to reach 300 career touchdown passes. In 12 seasons, Roethlisberger has 272 touchdown passes (see Manning, Palmer, Rivers and Rodgers note).

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers needs 43 touchdown passes to become the eighth player in NFL history to reach 300 career touchdown passes. In 11 seasons, Rodgers has 257 touchdown passes (see Manning, Palmer, Rivers and Roethlisberger note).

Adrian Peterson, Minnesota

Adrian Peterson

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson led the NFL with 1,485 rushing yards last season becoming only the third player in NFL history to lead the league in rushing after their 30th birthday.

Adrian Peterson needs 10 rushing touchdowns to join LaDainian Tomlinson (9) as the only players in NFL history to rush for 10 touchdowns in at least nine different seasons. Peterson is currently tied with Emmitt Smith (8).

Peterson has six 200-yard rushing games, tied with O.J. Simpson (6) for the most all-time. Peterson needs one 200-yard rushing game to move into sole possession of first place in NFL history.

Peterson needs three rushing touchdowns to become the ninth player in NFL history with 100 rushing touchdowns. In nine seasons, Peterson has 97 rushing touchdowns.

Peterson needs 2,010 rushing yards to surpass LaDainian Tomlinson (13,684) for the fifth-most all-time. In nine seasons, Peterson has 11,675 rushing yards.

Peterson has led the league in rushing yards three times in his career and can become the sixth player to lead the league in rushing yards four times.

Peterson is a work-horse and barring injury should produce yet another substantive season.

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Frank Gore, Indianapolis

Frank Gore needs 1,000 rushing yards to join Curtis Martin (10), Barry Sanders (10), Walter Payton and Emmitt Smith (11) as the only players in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in at least nine different seasons. In 11 seasons, Gore has rushed for 1,000 yards eight times.

Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona

Arizona wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald recorded a franchise-record 109 catches for 1,215 yards and nine touchdowns last season. It marks Fitzgerald's third career season with at least 100 receptions and his seventh 1,000-yard season -- both team records.

Cardinals sensation Larry Fitzgerald needs 85 receptions to surpass Jason Witten (1,020), Isaac Bruce (1,024), Andre Johnson (1,053), Reggie Wayne (1,070), Terrell Owens (1,078), Tim Brown (1,094), Cris Carter (1,101) and Marvin Harrison (1,102) for the third-most all-time. In 12 seasons, Fitzgerald has 1,018 receptions (see Witten note).

Fitzgerald needs two touchdown receptions to become the 10th player in NFL history with 100 touchdown catches. In 12 seasons, Fitzgerald has 98 touchdown receptions.

Larry should continue to build on his legend again this season

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Brandon Marshall, New York Jets

Brandon Marshall can extend his NFL record of seasons with 100 receptions to seven. Andre Johnson and Wes Welker are the only other players with at least five 100-reception seasons.

Antonio Gates, San Diego

Chargers Tight End Antonio Gates needs eight touchdown receptions to surpass Tony Gonzalez (111) for the most career touchdown receptions by a tight end. In 13 seasons, Gates has 104 touchdown receptions.

Rob Gronkowski, New England

Rob Gronkowski has three seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards and can join Tony Gonzalez (4) and Jason Witten (4) as the only tight ends with at least four seasons with 1,000 receiving yards. Gronkowski can extend his NFL record of five seasons with at least 10 touchdown receptions by a tight end.

Jason Witten, Dallas

Jason Witten needs 83 receptions to surpass Isaac Bruce (1,024), Andre Johnson (1,053), Reggie Wayne (1,070), Terrell Owens (1,078), Tim Brown (1,094), Cris Carter (1,101) and Marvin Harrison (1,102) for the third-most all-time. In 13 seasons, Witten has 1,020 receptions (see Fitzgerald note).

Julius Peppers, Green Bay

Julius Peppers needs 14 sacks to become the fourth player with 150 sacks since the sack became an official statistic in 1982. In 14 seasons, Peppers has 136 sacks.

De Marcus Ware, Denver

De Marcus Ware has led the league in sacks twice in his career and can become the first player to lead the league three times since the sack became an official statistic in 1982 (see Watt note).

Ware needs 7.5 sacks to surpass Jared Allen (136), Julius Peppers (136), Richard Dent (137.5), John Randle (137.5), Jason Taylor (139.5) and Michael Strahan (141.5) for the fifth-most sacks since the sack became an official statistic in 1982. In 11 seasons, Ware has 134.5 sacks.

J.J. Watt, Houston

J.J. Wattcan increase his NFL record total of 20-sack seasons. In five seasons, Watt has two seasons with 20 sacks. Watt has also led the league in sacks twice in his career and can become the first player to lead the league three times since the sack became an official statistic in 1982 (see Ware note).

Aqib Talib, Denver

Aqib Talib needs two interception-return touchdowns to become the fourth player with 10 all-time. In eight seasons, Talib has eight interception-return touchdowns.

Adam Vinatieri, Indianapolis

Adam Vinatieri needs 36 field goals to surpass Gary Anderson (538) for the second-most all-time. In 20 seasons, Vinatieri has 503 field goals.

Vinatieri needs 44 field goal attempts to surpass George Blanda (641) for the third-most attempted field goals all-time. In 20 seasons, Vinatieri has 598 field goal attempts.

Vinatieri needs 182 points to surpass Gary Anderson (2,434) for the second-most points scored all-time. In 20 seasons, Vinatieri has 2,253 points (742-pat, 503-fg, 1 2-pt).

Stephen Gostkowski, New England

Stephen Gostkowski has led the league in scoring five times in his career and can surpass Don Hutson (5) and Gino Cappelletti (5) as the only player to lead the league in points scored at least six times.

Gostkowski has led the league in scoring for four consecutive seasons (2012-15) and can join Don Hutson (5) as the only players to lead the league in scoring for five consecutive seasons.

Gostkowski has led the league in field goals three times in his career and can join Lou Groza (5), Ward Cuff (4), Jack Manders (4) and Mark Moseley (4) as the only players to lead the league in field goals at least four times.

Sebastian Janikowski, Oakland

Sebastian Janikowski, Oakland, has 52 50-yard field goals, tied with Jason Hanson (52) for the most all-time. Janikowski needs one 50-yard field goal to move into sole possession of first place in NFL history.

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