By Dean Michaels, NFL Writer

Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning

PEYTON MANNING, Denver, needs 4,000 passing yards to become the first player in NFL history with 12 4,000-yard seasons.

Manning is the only quarterback to accomplish the feat in 11 seasons.

Manning needs 22 touchdown passes to surpass Dan Marino (420) for second place all-time. In 14 seasons, Manning has thrown 399 touchdown passes.

Manning needs 286 pass completions to surpass Dan Marino (4,967) for second place all-time. In 14 seasons, Manning has 4,682 completions.

Manning has 22 games with four or more touchdown passes and needs two such games to surpass Brett Favre (23) for the most games with four touchdown passes in NFL history.

Manning has passed for 300 yards in a game 63 times in his career, tied with Dan Marino for the most all-time. Manning needs one 300-yard passing game to attain sole possession of first place (see Brees note).

Manning has led the league in touchdown passes three times in his career and can tie Len Dawson, Brett Favre, Johnny Unitas and Steve Young (4) for the most seasons leading the league in touchdown passes (see Brady and Brees notes).

 

Drew Brees
Drew Brees

DREW BREES, New Orleans, needs to throw a touchdown pass in each of his next five games to surpass Johnny Unitas (47) for the most consecutive games with a touchdown pass in NFL history. Brees has thrown a touchdown pass in each of his past 43 games.

Brees can extend his NFL-record streak of consecutive games with 300 passing yards. He has passed for 300 yards in each of his past seven games, the longest streak in NFL history.

Brees needs four touchdown passes in each of his next three games to surpass Dan Marino (4) and Peyton Manning (5) for the most consecutive games with four touchdown passes in NFL history. Brees has passed for at least four touchdowns in each of his past three games.

Brees needs 4,000 passing yards to join Peyton Manning (11) as the only players in NFL history with at least seven 4,000-yard passing seasons. In 11 seasons, Brees has six 4,000- yard passing seasons, which is currently tied with Brett Favre and Dan Marino for the second most all-time.

Brees needs to pass for 300 yards in seven games to surpass Brett Favre (62), Peyton Manning (63) and Dan Marino (63) for the most 300-yard passing games in NFL history (see Manning note). In 11 seasons, Brees has 57 300-yard passing games.

Brees has led the league in touchdown passes three times in his career and can tie Len Dawson, Brett Favre, Johnny Unitas and Steve Young (4) for the most seasons leading the league in touchdown passes (see Brady and Manning notes).

Brees needs 20 touchdown passes to surpass Johnny Unitas (290), Warren Moon (291), Tom Brady (300) and John Elway (300) for fifth place all-time (see Brady note). In 11 seasons, Brees has 281 touchdown passes.

Brees needs 387 completions to become the fifth player in history with 4,000 career completions. In 11 seasons, Brees has 3,613 completions.

Brees needs 3,870 passing yards to surpass Kerry Collins (40,922), Dan Fouts (43,040) and Drew Bledsoe (44,611) for eighth place all-time (see Brady note). In 11 seasons, Brees has 40,742 passing yards.

 

Tom Brady
Tom Brady

TOM BRADY, New England, has led the league in touchdown passes three times in his career and can tie Len Dawson, Brett Favre, Johnny Unitas and Steve Young (4) for the most seasons leading the league in touchdown passes (see Brees and Manning notes).

Brady has 300 career touchdown passes, tied with John Elway for the fifth most all-time. He needs one touchdown pass to earn sole possession of fifth place (see Brees note).

Brady needs 4,000 passing yards to join Drew Brees (6), Brett Favre (6), Dan Marino (6) and Peyton Manning (11) as the only players in NFL history with at least five 4,000-yard passing seasons (see Rivers note). In 12 seasons, Brady has four 4,000-yard passing seasons.

Brady needs 4,633 passing yards to surpass Drew Brees (40,742), Kerry Collins (40,922), Dan Fouts (43,040) and Drew Bledsoe (44,611) for eighth place all-time (see Brees note). In 12 seasons, Brady has 39,979 passing yards.

PHILIP RIVERS, San Diego, 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 4,000 passing yards to join Drew Brees (6), Brett Favre (6), Dan Marino (6) and Peyton Manning (11) as the only players in NFL history with at least five 4,000-yard passing seasons (see Brady note). In eight seasons, Rivers has four 4,000-yard passing seasons.

STEVEN JACKSON, St. Louis, needs 1,000 rushing yards to join LaDainian Tomlinson (8), Thurman Thomas (8), Curtis Martin (10), Barry Sanders (10) and Emmitt Smith (11) as the only players in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in eight consecutive seasons. Jackson has rushed for 1,000 yards in each of the past seven seasons.

RAY RICE, Baltimore, can join Marshall Faulk (4) as the only players in NFL history to record at least 1,000 rushing yards and 700 receiving yards in three different seasons. In four seasons, Rice has accomplished the feat twice.

TONY GONZALEZ, Atlanta, needs 51 receptions to join Jerry Rice (1,549) as the only players in NFL history with 1,200 career catches. In 15 seasons, Gonzalez has 1,149 receptions -- the most ever by a tight end. Gonzalez needs 50 receptions to join Jerry Rice (17) as the only players in NFL history with 15 50-reception seasons. Gonzalez is the only player in NFL history with 14 consecutive 50-reception seasons. Gonzalez needs six touchdown catches to surpass Don Hutson (99), Steve Largent (100) and Tim Brown (100) for sixth place all-time. In 15 seasons, Gonzalez has 95 touchdown catches -- the most ever by a tight end.

Gonzalez needs 667 receiving yards to surpass Torry Holt (13,382), Henry Ellard (13,777), Cris Carter (13,899) and James Lofton (14,004) for seventh place all-time. In 15 seasons, Gonzalez has 13,338 receiving yards -- the most ever by a tight end.

RANDY MOSS, San Francisco, needs seven receiving touchdowns to become the second player in NFL history with 160 touchdown catches. Moss can join Jerry Rice (197) as the only players in NFL history with 160 receiving touchdowns. In 13 seasons, Moss has 153 touchdown receptions. Moss needs six touchdowns to become the fourth player with 160 touchdowns. Moss would join Jerry Rice (208), Emmitt Smith (175) and LaDainian Tomlinson (162) as the only players to accomplish the feat. In 13 seasons, Moss has scored 154 touchdowns.

Moss needs 351 receiving yards to surpass Tim Brown (14,934) and Isaac Bruce (15,208) for third place all-time. In 13 seasons, Moss has 14,858 receiving yards. Moss needs 46 receptions to become the ninth player in NFL history with 1,000 receptions. In 13 seasons, Moss has 954 receptions.

Moss has recorded 1,000 receiving yards in a season 10 times in his 13-year NFL career. Moss can join Jerry Rice (14) as the only players in NFL history with 11 seasons with 1,000 receiving yards.

WES WELKER, New England, needs 100 receptions to become the first player in NFL history with five 100-catch seasons. Welker, Marvin Harrison and Jerry Rice are the only players with four 100-reception seasons. Welker has led the league in receptions three times and can join Lionel Taylor (5) and Don Hutson (8) as the only players to lead the league in receptions at least four times. Welker needs three games with 10 receptions and 100 receiving yards to become the NFL's all-time career leader. Welker has 13 games with at least 10 catches and 100 receiving yards in his career and can surpass Andre Johnson (14), Marvin Harrison (14) and Jerry Rice (15) for the most such games in NFL history.

ANDRE JOHNSON, Houston, needs 1,500 receiving yards to join Marvin Harrison (3) and Jerry Rice (4) as the only players with three 1,500-yard seasons.

Johnson needs two games with 10 receptions and 100 receiving yards to become the NFL's all-time career leader. Johnson has 14 games with at least 10 catches and 100 receiving yards in his career and can surpass Marvin Harrison (14) and Jerry Rice (15) for the most such games in NFL history.

Johnson needs 100 receptions to become the fourth player in NFL history with four 100-catch seasons. Johnson can join Marvin Harrison, Jerry Rice and Wes Welker as the only players with four 100-reception seasons (see Marshall and Wayne notes).

BRANDON MARSHALL, Chicago, needs 100 receptions to become the fourth player in NFL history with four 100-catch seasons. Marshall can join Marvin Harrison, Jerry Rice and Wes Welker as the only players with four 100-reception seasons.

REGGIE WAYNE, Indianapolis, needs 100 receptions to become the fourth player in NFL history with four 100-catch seasons. Wayne can join Marvin Harrison, Jerry Rice and Wes Welker as the only players with four 100-reception seasons.

ROB GRONKOWSKI, New England, can become the first tight end in NFL history to score 10 touchdowns in three consecutive seasons. Gronkowski and Antonio Gates are the only tight ends to accomplish the feat in back-to-back seasons.

RAY LEWIS, Baltimore, needs 28 interception-return yards to surpass Derrick Brooks (530) for the most interception-return yards all-time by a linebacker. In 16 seasons, Lewis has 503 interception-return yards.

ED REED, Baltimore, needs 21 interception-return yards to surpass Rod Woodson (1,483) for the most all-time. In 10 seasons, Reed has 1,463 interception-return yards.

Reed is tied with Everson Walls (3) for the most seasons leading the league in interceptions and can become the first player in NFL history to lead the league in INTs four times. Reed needs seven interceptions to surpass Everson Walls (57), Johnny Robinson (57), Eugene Robinson (57), Bobby Boyd (57), Mel Blount (57), Emmitt Thomas (58), Dick LeBeau (62), Dave Brown (62), Darren Sharper (63) and Ronnie Lott (63) to move into sixth place all-time. In 10 seasons, Reed has 57 interceptions.

CHARLES WOODSON, Green Bay, needs two interception-return touchdowns to surpass Darren Sharper (11) and Rod Woodson (12) for the most all-time. In 14 seasons, Woodson has 11 interception-return touchdowns.

JARED ALLEN, Minnesota, 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 Ware note). Allen, who led the league in sacks in 2011, can join Mark Gastineau and Reggie White as the only players to lead the NFL in sacks in back-to-back years since 1982.

DEMARCUS WARE, Dallas, 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 Allen note).

DEVIN HESTER, Chicago, needs two return touchdowns to surpass Deion Sanders (19) for the most all-time. In six seasons, Hester has 18 return touchdowns (12 punt return, five kickoff return, one missed field goal return).

JOSHUA CRIBBS, Cleveland, needs two kickoff-return touchdowns to become the first player in history with 10 kickoff return TDs (see Washington note). In seven seasons, Cribbs is the all-time leader with eight kickoff-return touchdowns.

Cribbs needs 1,864 total return yards to surpass Desmond Howard (10,854) and Dante Hall (12,397) for fifth place all-time. In seven seasons, Cribbs has 10,534 total return yards. LEON WASHINGTON, Seattle, needs two kickoff-return touchdowns to surpass Joshua Cribbs (8) for the most all-time (see Cribbs note). In six seasons, Washington has seven kickoff return TDs.

JASON HANSON, Detroit, needs 47 points to surpass John Carney (2,062) for third place all-time. In 20 seasons, Hanson has 2,016 points.

JOHN KASAY, New Orleans, needs 93 points to surpass Jason Elam (1,983), George Blanda (2,002), Matt Stover (2,004), Jason Hanson (2,016) and John Carney (2,062) for third place all-time (see Hanson note). In 20 seasons, Kasay has 1,970 points.

What To Look for this Season in the NFL - NFL 2012