Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning leads the NFL in passing yards (5,211), completions (425) and first-down completions (273) and can set NFL single-season records in each category this weekend when the Broncos travel to Oakland.
Manning, who set the single-season record for touchdown passes last week (51), can tie DREW BREES (four), BRETT FAVRE and Pro Football Hall of Famers Len Dawson, Johnny Unitas and Steve Young for the most seasons leading the NFL in touchdown passes in NFL annals. Manning has led the league in TD passes three times (2000, 2004, 2006).
All-time single-season passing records entering 2013 and Manning's totals through 15 games:
| NFL Records Entering 2013 | Peyton Manning | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Player | Team | Year | Total | 2013 Totals |
| Source: NFL *NFL record | |||||
| Passing yards | Drew Brees | Saints | 2011 | 5,476 | 5,211 |
| Completions | Drew Brees | Saints | 2011 | 468 | 425 |
| Passing touchdowns | Tom Brady | Patriots | 2007 | 50 | 51* |
| First-down completions | Drew Brees | Saints | 2011 | 278 | 273 |
Contenders
Entering Week 17, 18 teams remain in contention for a trip to Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium.
The 18 such teams ties for the fourth-most in Super Bowl contention with one week to play in NFL history (22 in 1982).
The seasons with the most teams in Super Bowl contention with one week to play:
| Season | Teams |
|---|---|
| Source: NFL | |
| 1982 | 22 |
| 2006 | 20 |
| 2002 | 19 |
| 2013 | 18 |
| 2008 | 18 |
| 1995 | 18 |
Unpredictable NFL
With one week remaining in the 2013 regular season, it has already been assured that at least three teams will advance to the playoffs after missing the postseason in 2012 -- CAROLINA (11-4), KANSAS CITY (11-4) and the eventual NFC East champion, DALLAS (8-7) or PHILADELPHIA (9-6).
Since the 12-team playoff format was adopted in 1990, at least four teams have qualified for the playoffs in every season that were not in the postseason the year before.
Six additional teams that missed the playoffs last season are still in contention for a trip to Super Bowl XLVIII -- ARIZONA (10-5), CHICAGO (8-7), MIAMI (8-7), NEW ORLEANS (10-5), PITTSBURGH (7-8) and SAN DIEGO (8-7).
The teams since 1990 to make the playoffs a season after failing to qualify the previous season:
| Season | Teams |
|---|---|
| Source: NFL *Through Week 16 | |
| 1990 | 7 (Bengals, Bears, Chiefs, Raiders, Dolphins, Saints, Washington) |
| 1991 | 5 (Falcons, Cowboys, Broncos, Lions, Jets) |
| 1992 | 6 (Dolphins, Vikings, Eagles, Steelers, Chargers, 49ers) |
| 1993 | 5 (Broncos, Lions, Packers, Raiders, Giants) |
| 1994 | 5 (Bears, Browns, Dolphins, Patriots, Chargers) |
| 1995 | 4 (Falcons, Bills, Colts, Eagles) |
| 1996 | 5 (Panthers, Broncos, Jaguars, Vikings, Patriots) |
| 1997 | 5 (Lions, Chiefs, Dolphins, Giants, Bucs) |
| 1998 | 5 (Cardinals, Falcons, Bills, Cowboys, Jets) |
| 1999 | 7 (Lions, Colts, Rams, Seahawks, Bucs, Titans, Washington) |
| 2000 | 6 (Ravens, Broncos, Saints, Giants, Raiders, Eagles) |
| 2001 | 6 (Bears, Packers, Patriots, Jets, Steelers, 49ers) |
| 2002 | 5 (Falcons, Browns, Colts, Giants, Titans) |
| 2003 | 8 (Ravens, Panthers, Cowboys, Broncos, Chiefs, Patriots, Rams, Seahawks) |
| 2004 | 5 (Falcons, Vikings, Jets, Steelers, Chargers) |
| 2005 | 7 (Panthers, Bears, Bengals, Jaguars, Giants, Bucs, Washington) |
| 2006 | 7 (Ravens, Cowboys, Chiefs, Saints, Jets, Eagles, Chargers) |
| 2007 | 6 (Packers, Jaguars, Steelers, Bucs, Titans, Washington) |
| 2008 | 7 (Cardinals, Falcons, Ravens, Panthers, Dolphins, Vikings, Eagles) |
| 2009 | 6 (Bengals, Cowboys, Packers, Patriots, Saints, Jets) |
| 2010 | 5 (Falcons, Bears, Chiefs, Steelers, Seahawks) |
| 2011 | 6 (Bengals, Broncos, Lions, Houston, Giants, 49ers) |
| 2012 | 4 (Colts, Vikings, Seahawks, Washington) |
| 2013 | 3* (Panthers, Chiefs, NFC East champion: Cowboys or Eagles) |
High Scores
Through Week 16, NFL teams have combined to score 11,322 points (47.18 points per game), the most at this point of the season in NFL history.
With 330 points in Week 17, the 2013 season will surpass the league record set last season (11,651 points).
The 47.18 average points per game of NFL teams is also on pace to be the highest of any season in NFL history (1948, 46.48 points per game).
The seasons with the highest scoring average in NFL history:
| Season | Points Per Game |
|---|---|
| Source: NFL *Through Week 16 | |
| 1948 | 46.48 |
| 1950 | 45.88 |
| 2012 | 45.51 |
| 1960 | 45.29 |
| 1962 | 45.21 |
| 2013 | 47.18* |
The Denver Broncos, who lead the league in scoring (572 points) this year, need 18 points on Sunday against Oakland to surpass the 2007 New England Patriots (589) for the most points scored by a team in a single season in NFL history. Denver (38.1) currently has the second-highest scoring average per game of any team in NFL history (1950 Los Angeles Rams, 38.8).
The teams to score the most points in a single season in NFL history:
| Team | Season | Total Points |
|---|---|---|
| Source: NFL *Through 15 games | ||
| New England | 2007 | 589 |
| Denver | 2013 | 572* |
| Green Bay | 2011 | 560 |
| New England | 2012 | 557 |
| Minnesota | 1998 | 556 |
| New Orleans | 2011 | 547 |
The New 30
In Week 17, San Diego's PHILIP RIVERS (29), Detroit's MATTHEW STAFFORD (28), Pittsburgh's BEN ROETHLISBERGER (27), Philadelphia's NICK FOLES (25) and Seattle's RUSSELL WILSON (25) can all reach 30 touchdown passes.
If at least two quarterbacks reach 30 touchdown passes on Sunday, 2013 will have the most quarterbacks with at least 30 TD passes of any season in NFL history. Denver's PEYTON MANNING (51), New Orleans' DREW BREES (35), Cincinnati's ANDY DALTON (31) and Dallas' TONY ROMO (31) have thrown 30+ TD passes this season.
| Season | 30+ TD Passes |
|---|---|
| Source: NFL *Through Week 16 | |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| Many tied | 4 |
| 2013 | 4* |
Johnson & Johnson
Houston wide receiver Andre Johnson (1,358) and Detroit wide receiver Calvin Johnson (1,492) each can reach the 1,500-yard receiving mark in Week 17.
With 142 receiving yards, Andre Johnson would join Pro Football Hall of Famer JERRY RICE (four) as the only players with four such seasons in NFL history.
With eight receiving yards, Calvin Johnson would join Rice (four), MARVIN HARRISON (three) and Andre Johnson (three) as the only players with at least three such seasons in NFL history and would be the first with three 1,500-yard season in a row.
The players with the most 1,500-yard receiving seasons in NFL history:
| Player | Team, Year | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Source: NFL **1,358 yards **1,492 yards | ||
| Jerry Rice | 49ers, 1986, 90, 93, 95 | 4 |
| Marvin Harrison | Colts, 1999, 2001-02 | 3 |
| Andre Johnson* | Texans, 2008-09, 2012 | 3 |
| Calvin Johnson** | Lions, 2011-12 | 2 |
NFL Football News & Analysis
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- NFL 2013 Week 16: What To Look For
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NFL 2013 Week 17: What To Look For