By Dean Michaels, NFL Writer

Out of The Blocks

The Chicago Bears, who defeated the Indianapolis Colts 41-21 on Kickoff Weekend, have won 53 season openers, the most wins all-time on Kickoff Weekend.

The teams with the most wins on Kickoff Weekend:

Team Kickoff Weekend Wins
Source: NFL
Chicago Bears53
Green Bay Packers52
New York Giants49
Detroit Lions44
Pittsburgh Steelers40
Washington Redskins40

 

The Dallas Cowboys, who defeated the New York Giants 24-17, improved their NFL-best record in season openers to 35-17-1 (.673).

The teams with the highest winning percentage on Kickoff Weekend:

Team Kickoff Weekend Record Win Pct.
Source: NFL
Dallas Cowboys35-17-1.673
Denver Broncos33-19-1.635
Jacksonville Jaguars11-7-0.611
Chicago Bears53-35-5.602
New York Giants49-34-5.590

 

Streaking Patriots

The New England Patriots, who defeated the Tennessee Titans 34-13, have won nine consecutive games on Kickoff Weekend, the longest current streak in the NFL. The Patriots tied the Chicago Bears (1984-1992) for the fourth-most consecutive wins all-time in season openers.

The most consecutive games won all-time in season openers:

Team Years Streak
* Active streak Source: NFL
Dallas Cowboys1965-198117
Miami Dolphins1992-200211
Detroit Lions/Portsmouth Spartans1930-193910
New England Patriots2004-present9*
Chicago Bears1984-19929

 

On The Fast Track

New England quarterback TOM BRADY completed 23 of 31 passes (74.2 percent) for 236 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 117.1 passer rating at Tennessee. The victory was Brady's 125th in his career as a starter and he reached the milestone in the fewest starts (160) in NFL history. The previous mark was held by PEYTON MANNING (184).

The quarterbacks to reach 125 wins in the fewest starts:

Player Fewest Starts to 125 Wins
Source: NFL
Tom Brady160
Peyton Manning184
Brett Favre189
Dan Marino199
John Elway201

 

Brady's 125 wins are the fifth-most in NFL history among starting quarterbacks. He passed Pro Football Hall of Famer FRAN TARKENTON (124) and trails only BRETT FAVRE (186), Hall of Famers JOHN ELWAY (148) and DAN MARINO (147) and PEYTON MANNING (142).

Most Career Wins as Starter

Player Record Win Pct.
*Active Source: NFL
Brett Favre186-112.624
John Elway148-82-1.643
Dan Marino147-93.613
Peyton Manning*142-67.679
Tom Brady*125-35.781
Fran Tarkenton124-109-6.531

 

Climbing The Charts

Denver quarterback PEYTON MANNING completed 19 of 26 passes (73.1 percent) for 253 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 129.2 passer rating in the Broncos' 31-19 win over Pittsburgh. Manning (401) joined BRETT FAVRE (508) and Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (420) as the only players in NFL history to record 400 career touchdown passes. Manning reached the mark in the fewest games (209) in NFL history.

Player Fewest Games To Reach 400 TD Passes
Source: NFL
Peyton Manning209
Dan Marino227
Brett Favre228

 

Up-and-Coming

Detroit Lions quarterback MATTHEW STAFFORD completed 32 of 48 passes (66.7 percent) for 355 yards with one touchdown in his 30th career start as the Lions' defeated St. Louis, 27-23. Stafford has 8,195 passing yards, the third-most through 30 starts by a quarterback who began his career in the Super Bowl era. Only KURT WARNER (8,739) and Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (8,467) have more passing yards through 30 starts.

The quarterbacks with the most passing yards through 30 career starts who began their career in the Super Bowl era:

Player Passing Yards Through 30 Starts
Source: NFL
Kurt Warner8,739
Dan Marino8,467
Matthew Stafford8,195
Tony Romo8,044
Aaron Rodgers8,000

 

Stafford (61 TD passes) also surpassed TONY ROMO for the third-most TD passes among quarterbacks through 30 career starts in the Super Bowl era.

The most touchdown passes through 30 starts among quarterbacks who began their career in the Super Bowl era:

Player TD Passes Through 30 Starts
Source: NFL
Dan Marino73
Kurt Warner70
Matthew Stafford61
Tony Romo60
Dave Krieg58

 

Rookie QBs

Entering 2012, only two rookie quarterbacks had ever passed for at least 300 yards on Kickoff Weekend: PEYTON MANNING (302 yards, 1998) and CAM NEWTON (422 yards, 2011). That total was matched on Sunday when Washington's ROBERT GRIFFIN III (320 yards) and Indianapolis' ANDREW LUCK (309 yards) accomplished the feat.

The most passing yards among rookies in season openers in NFL history:

Player Team Year Passing Yards
Source: NFL
Cam NewtonCarolina Panthers2011422
Robert Griffin IIIWashington Redskins2012320
Andrew LuckIndianapolis Colts2012309
Peyton ManningIndianapolis Colts1998302
Mark SanchezNew York Jets2009272

 

A Look Back - NFL 2012 Week 1