So Close

Through Week 8, there have been 67 games decided by eight points or fewer, the most through the first eight weeks of a season in NFL history. There have been 62 games decided by seven points or fewer, tied for the most during that span.

This season, 32 games have been determined by three points or fewer. That total is tied for the fourth-most such contests through the first eight weeks of any NFL season.

 

International Buzz

On Sunday, the NFL hosted its sixth regular-season International Series game in as many seasons as the New England Patriots defeated the St. Louis Rams 45-7 at London's historic Wembley Stadium.

The game was played in front of a sellout crowd of 84,004 fans, the third-largest audience to watch an NFL game this season.

 

Patriot Way

The NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS amassed 473 total net yards in their 45-7 win over St. Louis in the NFL's International Series game in London, England. The Patriots have posted at least 350 total net yards in 17 consecutive games, surpassing the Rams (1999-2000) for the longest such streak in NFL history.

New England currently leads the NFL in total offense with 440.8 yards per game in 2012.

New England quarterback TOM BRADY passed for 304 yards and four touchdowns in the NFL's International Series game in London, England. Brady joins BRETT FAVRE (72), PEYTON MANNING (67) and Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (62) as the fourth player in NFL history with 50 career games with at least three touchdown passes in NFL history.

Brady registered the 50th 300-yard passing game of his career, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer WARREN MOON (49) for the seventh-most 300-yard passing games in NFL history.

 

Giant Comeback

The NEW YORK GIANTS won their fourth consecutive game as they defeated division rival Dallas, 29-24. The Giants led 23-0 with 13:05 left in the second quarter before the Cowboys rebounded to seize a 24-23 lead in the third quarter. The Giants regained the lead and held on for a 29-24 victory, marking the fifth time since 1950 that a team led by at least 23 points in a game, gave up the lead and came back to win.

The last such game occurred on October 21, 2007 when the Tennessee Titans led the Houston Texans 32-7 before Houston took a 36-35 lead with 57 seconds remaining. The Titans then drove for a game-winning field goal as time expired to win 38-36.

 

Last One Standing

The Atlanta Falcons (7-0) remained undefeated after their 30-17 win at Philadelphia. Atlanta is the last undefeated team remaining in the NFL and improved to 7-0 for the first time in franchise history.

Atlanta quarterback MATT RYAN completed 22 of 29 passes (75.9 percent) for 262 yards with three touchdowns versus zero interceptions and a 137.4 passer rating. Ryan earned his 50th regular season win as a starter and tied BEN ROETHLISBERGER for the second-fewest starts (69) to reach the milestone among active players. New England's TOM BRADY reached 50 regular season wins in 65 starts.

Ryan is now 15-0 (4-0 in 2012) when he throws at least three touchdown passes in a game. Only DARYLE LAMONICA (19-0) has a better record in games with at least three touchdown passes. Ryan, who posted a 137.4 passer rating, is 28-0 (5-0 in 2012) in games with a 100+ rating.

 

Catching On

On Sunday, Dallas tight end JASON WITTEN recorded 18 receptions for 167 yards in the Cowboys' 29-24 loss to the New York Giants. Witten's 18 receptions are tied for the third-most by any player in a single game and the most by a tight end in a single game in NFL history.

Witten is only the third player in NFL history to record two games with at least 15 receptions (BRANDON MARSHALL and WES WELKER).

 

Mile-High Manning

Denver quarterback PEYTON MANNING completed 22 of 30 passes for 305 yards with three touchdown passes versus zero interceptions and a 138.9 passer rating in the Broncos' 34-14 win over New Orleans on Sunday Night Football. Manning now has 37 career games with at least three touchdown passes and zero interceptions, including three such games in 2012, surpassing BRETT FAVRE (36) for the most such games in NFL history.

 

Wild Monday

Here are some notes from last night's Monday Night Football game between the 49ers and Cardinals

The San Francisco 49ers held on to their lead in the NFC West with a 24-3 victory over Arizona on Monday Night Football. San Francisco's all-time record on Monday night is now 42-25 (.627), the second-most wins on Monday Night Football since 1970 (DALLAS, 43-31-0).

San Francisco wide receiver RANDY MOSS caught a 47-yard touchdown pass from quarterback ALEX SMITH in the victory. Moss now has 18 touchdown catches on Monday night in his career, the third-most receiving touchdowns on Monday night in NFL history (Pro Football Hall of Famer JERRY RICE, 34; TERRELL OWENS, 20). Moss' last touchdown reception on Monday night was with the Minnesota Vikings on October 11, 2010 against the New York Jets.

Moss now has 156 career touchdowns, tying Owens for the fourth-most in NFL history.

 

Also ...

Green Bay quarterback AARON RODGERS threw two touchdown passes in the Packers' 24-15 win over Jacksonville. Through eight games this season, Rodgers has 21 touchdown passes. Rodgers, who totaled 24 TD passes through eight games in 2011, is the first quarterback ever to have 20+ touchdown passes through his team's first eight games in consecutive seasons.

Chicago cornerback TIM JENNINGS had a 25-yard interception-return touchdown in the Bears' 23-22 win over Carolina. The Bears, who have six interception-return touchdowns this season, are the first team in NFL history to return six interceptions for touchdowns through the first seven games of a season.

Indianapolis rookie quarterback ANDREW LUCK passed for 297 yards and a touchdown in the Colts' 19-13 overtime win at Tennessee. Luck, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, has led the Colts to a 4-3 record, the highest winning percentage (.571) by a rookie quarterback who was a No. 1 overall pick through Week 8 in NFL history.

Cleveland rookie running back TRENT RICHARDSON rushed for 122 yards and a touchdown in the Browns' 7-6 win over San Diego. Richardson now has five rushing touchdowns, the most by a Browns' rookie in the team's first eight games since 1969 (RON JOHNSON, five).

 

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