What to Look For: NFL 2012 Week 3 Preview

By Dean Michaels, NFL Writer

It's Still Early

History shows that 0-2 teams advance to the playoffs more often than people might think.

Since the current playoff format was instituted in 1990, 22 teams started 0-2 and still qualified for the postseason.

The 1993 Dallas Cowboys started 0-2 before winning Super Bowl XXVIII. The 0-2 New England Patriots of 1996 played in Super Bowl XXXI, and in 2001, the 0-2 Patriots won Super Bowl XXXVI. The 2007 New York Giants started 0-2 before winning Super Bowl XLII.

0-2 NFL teams since 1990 to qualify for the playoffs:

 

Great Starts

Six teams are undefeated through the first two weeks of the season -- Arizona, Atlanta, Houston, Philadelphia, San Diego and San Francisco -- and hope to move to 3-0 this weekend.

While no guarantee of future success, a strong start to the season is a good omen -- 75.7 percent of teams (84 of 111) that started 3-0 since 1990 made the playoffs.

Fresh Starts

And don't count out any of the 1-1 or 0-2 teams. Since realignment in 2002, 70 of the 120 playoff teams (58.3 percent) began the year at either 1-1 or 0-2, including eight teams last year. Among those eight were the Super Bowl XLVI champion New York Giants.

Point Taken

NFL teams combined for 1,556 points (791, Week 1; 765, Week 2) through the first two weeks of the 2012 season, the most points during the first two weeks of any NFL season. That total surpassed the previous high of 1,502 points in 2011, while the 765 points scored last week were the seventh-most scored in a single week in NFL history.

With 602 points this weekend, the 2012 season would feature the most points through the first three weeks of any NFL season. The current record was set last season with 2,157 points through Week 3.

Pass Time

There have been 18 individual 300-yard passing performances so far in 2012, the second-most ever through the first two weeks of a season (23, 2011). Net passing yards are at 15,232, also the second-most ever through the first two weeks (15,788, 2011).

In addition to being the second-most through Week 2, the 18 individual 300-yard passing games are already tied for the fourth-most through the first three weeks of any NFL season with a full slate of games still to play.

Elite Eli Manning

New York Giants quarterback ELI MANNING leads the league with 723 passing yards, including a career-high 510 yards in Week 2. When the Giants face the Carolina Panthers on Thursday Night Football, Manning can become the eighth player in NFL history with back-to-back 400-yard passing games.

With 400 passing yards Thursday, Manning could also become the second player in NFL history to follow a 500-yard passing performance with a 400-yard game (TOM BRADY, 517 yards in Week 1, 2011; 423 yards in Week 2, 2011).

Quarterbacks in NFL history to record consecutive 400-yard passing games:

Dan Fouts (San Diego Chargers)

12/11/82 vs. 49ers (444 yards); 12/20/82 vs. Bengals (435 yards)

Dan Marino (Miami Dolphins)

12/2/84 vs. LA Raiders (470 yards); 12/9/84 vs. Colts (404 yards)

Phil Simms (New York Giants)

10/6/85 vs. Cowboys (432 yards); 10/13/85 vs. Bengals (513 yards)

Billy Volek (Tennessee Titans)

12/13/04 vs. Chiefs (426 yards); 12/19/04 vs. Raiders (492 yards)

Matt Cassel (New England Patriots)

11/13/08 vs. NY Jets (400 yards); 11/23/08 vs. Dolphins (415 yards)

Tom Brady (New England Patriots)

9/12/11 vs. Dolphins (517 yards); 9/18/11 vs. Chargers (423 yards)

Cam Newton (Carolina Panthers)

9/11/11 vs. Cardinals (422 yards); 9/18/11 vs. Packers (432 yards)

Manning can also challenge the top five for the most passing yards in NFL history through a team's first three games.

The players with the most passing yards through their team's first three games:

 

Philip Rivers Charging

San Diego quarterback PHILIP RIVERS has passed for 24,800 yards in his career, including 515 this season. Rivers will play in his 103rd game this weekend when the Chargers host Atlanta in a matchup of 2-0 teams.

With 200 passing yards Sunday, Rivers would reach 25,000 for his career and tie New Orleans quarterback DREW BREES as the sixth-fastest player to reach the mark in NFL history. Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO holds the record, reaching 25,000 passing yards in 92 games.

The players to reach 25,000 passing yards in the fewest games all-time:

 

Larry Fitzgerald Legend

Arizona wide receiver LARRY FITZGERALD has recorded 698 receptions for 9,682 yards and 73 touchdowns in his career.

With two catches on Sunday against Philadelphia, Fitzgerald would become the youngest player in NFL history to reach 700 receptions. He will be 29 years and 23 days old at kickoff, over a year younger than the current record holder, Dallas tight end JASON WITTEN (30 years, 133 days).

Fitzgerald would also reach 700 receptions in the fifth-fewest games in NFL history (127). Former Indianapolis wide receiver Marvin Harrison holds the record, recording his 700th catch in his 114th game.

 

 

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What to Look For - NFL 2012 Week 3 Preview