NFL Season On Thrilling Pace

Six NFL teams enter Week 7 with less than two losses -- the New England Patriots (6-0), San Francisco 49ers (5-0), New Orleans Saints (5-1), Green Bay Packers (5-1), Seattle Seahawks (5-1), and the Buffalo Bills (4-1).

Week 7 began Thursday as the Chiefs (5-2) defeated the Broncos (2-5) 30-6 at Mile High Stadium in Denver.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was helped off the field after suffering an apparent injury to his right knee. The injury occurred in the second quarter when Mahomes scrambled for a first down. Mahomes was on pace to break the single-season NFL record held by former Denver quarterback Peyton Manning (5,477 in 2013). The extent of the Chiefs' star quarterback injury is unknown at this time.

On Sunday (4:25 PM ET, FOX), Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens take on Russell Wilson and the Seahawks in Seattle.

Wilson has a passer rating over 100 in each of Seattle's first six games and is on pace to break two single-season NFL records held by AARON RODGERS, his 122.5 passer rating in 2011 and his 0.34 interception percentage in 2018. Meanwhile, Jackson last week had 236 passing yards and a career-high 152 rushing yards with a touchdown in a 23-17 win over Cincinnati. His 152 rushing yards were the fourth-most by a quarterback in a single game in NFL history, including the postseason. Jackson, who registered his third career game with at least 115 rushing yards, is the first quarterback in the Super Bowl era to register at least 115 rushing yards in at least three games in his first two seasons.

To close Week 7 on Monday Night Football (8:15 PM ET, ESPN), the New England Patriots visit the New York Jets.

New England has held NFL quarterbacks this season to a 42.6 passer rating. Over a full season since 2000, the 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers have held opponents to the lowest passer rating, 48.4. New England also through six weeks has outscored opponents by 142 points. Since the 1970 merger, only the 1999 Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams (plus-154) had a higher point-differential through six weeks.

Players on a historic pace for Single-Season NFL records through six weeks:

Most Competitive NFL Games Ever

No other NFL season through six weeks has produced more games decided by seven-or-fewer points than 2019.

This season, 51 of 92 games (55.4 percent) have been decided by seven-or-fewer points, including nine of 14 games in Week 6. This season also is tied for the most one-point games through Week 6 since the 1970 merger.

100th of the 100th

One of the early games Sunday marks the 100th game of the NFL's 100th season. The league has completed 92 games entering this week. As the 100th kickoff approaches, several NFL players and teams are on pace to challenge some of the game's most esteemed records.

Sub-500 Teams Still Have a Chance

Hope is in plentiful supply across the NFL.

That's because in 2018 after Week 7, five of the 12 teams that qualified for the playoffs were either .500 or below in the NFL standings. After this week concludes on Monday night at MetLife Stadium, it's very likely that at least one team sitting at .500 or below will still make the playoffs. Since 2011, at least one team has qualified for the playoffs after beginning the year at-or-below .500 through Week 7.

The playoff teams that were at-or-below .500 through seven weeks, since 2011:

Barrett & Garrett

Tampa Bay linebacker SHAQUIL BARRETT and Cleveland defensive end MYLES GARRETT have earned their byes this week.

Both players are off in Week 7 after beginning the season on a torrid pace. Barrett and Garrett are tied for the NFL lead with nine sacks. The last time multiple players had nine-or-more sacks through six weeks was in 2013 (ROBERT MATHIS and JUSTIN HOUSTON each had 9.5).

Racking Up Rushing TDs

NFL teams have combined for 167 rushing touchdowns through six weeks this season. Only the 1979 and 1976 seasons had more in NFL history entering Week 7.

NFL quarterbacks have rushed for 31 touchdowns during the 2019 season, surpassing 2002 (28) for the most rushing touchdowns by quarterbacks through the first six weeks of a season since the 1970 merger. In Week 6, quarterbacks totaled 10 rushing touchdowns, surpassing Week 13 of the 2015 season (nine) for the most in a single week since 1970.

The most overall rushing touchdowns by NFL players through six weeks in NFL history:

Dominating Point Differential

The New England Patriots enter Week 7 as the lone undefeated team (6-0) in the AFC and lead the NFL in both points per game (31.7) and points allowed per game (8.0). Through six games, New England's point differential (+142) is the third-highest at this point of a season in the Super Bowl era, trailing only the 1999 St. Louis Rams (+154) and the 1968 Dallas Cowboys (+149).

Against the New York Jets on Monday Night Football (8:15 PM ET, ESPN), the Patriots can become the fifth team with a +150 point differential through a team's first seven games in the Super Bowl era.

The teams with the highest point differential through their first seven games of a season in the Super Bowl era:

"Dangeruss" - Russell Wilson

Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson passed for 295 yards and two touchdowns in the Seahawks' Week 6 victory. Wilson has passed for at least two touchdowns in five of his first six games in 2019 and now has 67 games with at least two touchdown passes in his eight-year career.

With at least 2 TD passes on Sunday against Baltimore (4:25 PM ET, FOX), Wilson would surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer BRETT FAVRE (67) for the third-most games with at least two touchdown passes through a player's first eight seasons in NFL history.

The quarterbacks with the most games with at least two touchdown passes in their first eight seasons in NFL history:

Wilson has 14 touchdown passes and zero interceptions for a league-leading 124.7 passer rating this season. With two touchdown passes and no interceptions on Sunday, Wilson would tie MILT PLUM (16 in 1960) for the fourth-most touchdown passes without an interception to begin a season in NFL history.

The quarterbacks with the most touchdown passes without an interception to begin a season in NFL history:​

Matt Ryan's Hot Start

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan leads the NFL with 15 touchdown passes this season and ranks second in the NFL with 2,011 passing yards entering Week 7.

Ryan, who has passed for at least 300 yards in each of his first six games, needs 300 passing yards on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams (1:00 PM ET, FOX) to become the first player with at least 300 passing yards in each of his team's first seven games of a season in NFL history.

The quarterbacks to pass for at least 300 yards in the most consecutive team games to begin a season in NFL history:

Additionally, Matt Ryan has passed for at least three touchdowns on four occasions in 2019. By throwing for at least 300 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday, Ryan would join PEYTON MANNING (2013) and Pro Football Hall of Famer STEVE YOUNG (1998) as the only players with at least 300 passing yards and three touchdowns in five of their team's first seven games of a season in NFL history.

The quarterbacks with the most performances of 300 passing yards and three touchdowns in their team's first seven games of a season in NFL history:

Top 10 Showdown

Arizona rookie quarterback KYLER MURRAY, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, and New York Giants rookie quarterback DANIEL JONES, the No. 6 overall selection, will face off Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX), for the first time in their careers.

Here's the most combined passing yards in a matchup featuring two rookie starting quarterbacks each selected in the top 10 of the NFL Draft in the common draft era:

New York Giants running back SAQUON BARKLEY, the No. 2 overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft, has 15 games with at least 100 scrimmage yards, the most in the NFL since entering the league.

Appearing in his 20th career game on Sunday, Barkley needs at least 100 scrimmage yards to tie EDGERRIN JAMES (16) for the most games with at least 100 scrimmage yards through a player's first 20 career games in NFL history.

The players with the most games of at least 100 scrimmage yards in their first 20 career games in NFL history:

Dallas' Dynamic Duo

Over his last four games against NFC East opponents, Dallas quarterback DAK PRESCOTT is 4-0 with 1,516 passing yards (379 yards per game) and 14 touchdowns for a 125.4 passer rating.

With three passing touchdowns against Philadelphia on Sunday Night Football (8:20 PM ET, NBC), Prescott would become the fifth quarterback to pass for at least three touchdowns in five consecutive games against divisional opponents since 1970.

The players with the most consecutive games with at least three touchdown passes against divisional opponents since 1970:

Dallas Cowboys running back EZEKIEL ELLIOTT leads the NFL with 5,877 scrimmage yards since entering the league in 2016.

Appearing in his 47th career game, Elliott needs 123 scrimmage yards against Philadelphia on Sunday Night Football to tie Pro Football Hall of Famer ERIC DICKERSON (47 games) and LE'VEON BELL (47) as the second-fastest player to reach 6,000 scrimmage yards in NFL history.

The players to reach 6,000 scrimmage yards in the fewest games in NFL history:

Scary Terry McLaurin

Washington wide receiver TERRY McLAURIN leads all rookies in receptions (23), receiving yards (408) and receiving touchdowns (five) in 2019, and has recorded at least 50 receiving yards in each of his first five career games.

With at least 50 receiving yards on Sunday against San Francisco (1:00 PM ET, FOX), McLaurin would join EARL McCULLOUCH (seven games in 1968) as the only players to with 50 receiving yards in each of their first six career games in NFL history.

Outstanding Week 6 Performances

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver STEFON DIGGS had seven receptions for 167 yards and three touchdowns in the Vikings' 38-20 win over Philadelphia.

Carolina Panthers running back CHRISTIAN McCAFFREY and wide receiver CURTIS SAMUEL each had a rushing and receiving touchdown in the Panthers' 37-26 win over Tampa Bay at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

McCaffrey and Samuel are the third pair of teammates to each record a rushing and receiving touchdown in the same game since 1980 and first since November 10, 2013, when New Orleans Saints running backs DARREN SPROLES and PIERRE THOMAS each had a rushing and receiving touchdown.

The Carolina Panthers recorded seven sacks and five interceptions in the win, becoming the first team with at least seven sacks and five interceptions in a single game since the MIAMI DOLPHINS (eight sacks, six interceptions) on December 6, 1998.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback LAMAR JACKSON had 236 passing yards and a career-high 152 rushing yards with a touchdown in the Ravens' 23-17 win over Cincinnati. His 152 rushing yards are the fourth-most by a quarterback in a single game in NFL history, including the postseason.

Jackson is the second quarterback to record at least 200 passing yards and 150 rushing yards in a single game in NFL history, including the postseason, joining COLIN KAEPERNICK on January 12, 2013 (263 passing yards, 181 rushing yards in NFC Divisional playoffs).

Jackson, who registered his third career game with at least 115 rushing yards, is the first quarterback in the Super Bowl era to register at least 115 rushing yards in at least three games in his first two seasons.

Seattle quarterback RUSSELL WILSON passed for 295 yards and two touchdowns with zero interceptions for a 117.6 passer rating and added a rushing touchdown in the Seahawks' 32-28 win at Cleveland.

Wilson, who has recorded a passer rating of 100 or higher in each of Seattle's first six games of the season, joined AARON RODGERS (12 games in 2011), TOM BRADY (eight in 2007) and CARSON PALMER (six in 2005) as the only quarterbacks with a passer rating of 100 or higher in each of their team's first six games of a season in NFL history.

Wilson, who is playing in his eighth NFL season, recorded his 67th career game with at least two touchdown passes and tied Pro Football Hall of Famer BRETT FAVRE (67 games) for the third-most such games in a player's first eight seasons in league annals. Only PEYTON MANNING (74 games) and Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (72) had more such games in their first eight seasons.

Houston quarterback DESHAUN WATSON passed for 280 yards and had three total touchdowns (two rushing, one passing) in the Texans' 31-24 win at Kansas City.

Watson has 7,508 passing yards in 29 career games and tied MARC BULGER (29 games), Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (29) and MATTHEW STAFFORD (29) as quarterbacks to reach 7,500 career passing yards in the second-fewest games in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer KURT WARNER (27 games) reached 7,500 passing yards in fewer games.

New York Jets quarterback SAM DARNOLD passed for 338 yards and two touchdowns, including a 92-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver ROBBY ANDERSON, in the Jets' 24-22 win against Dallas.

Darnold, at 22 years and 130 days old, is the youngest player in the Super Bowl era with a touchdown pass of at least 90 yards.

As the first half expired, Dallas kicker BRETT MAHER converted a 62-yard field goal, his second career field goal of at least 60 yards, and joined SEBASTIAN JANIKOWSKI (two) and GREG ZUERLEIN (two) as the only kickers with at least two career field goals of 60-or-more yards in NFL history.

​San Francisco quarterback JIMMY GAROPPOLO passed for 243 yards in the 49ers' 20-7 win at the Los Angeles Rams. San Francisco advanced to 5-0 for the first time since 1990.

Garoppolo, making his 15th career start, improved to 13-2 as a starting quarterback and became the eighth quarterback in the Super Bowl era to win 13 of his first 15 career starts.

 

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