Sixteen teams currently own or share a division lead, the most in one season through Week 3 since realignment in 2002. Twelve of those teams did not reach the postseason in 2010, including six – Buffalo (3-0), Dallas (2-1), Detroit (3-0), Houston (2-1), Tennessee (2-1) and Washington (2-1) – that finished in or tied for last place in their divisions.
At least one team has gone from "worst-to-first" in an NFL-record eight consecutive seasons, with the Kansas City Chiefs most recently accomplishing the feat by winning the AFC West in 2010 after finishing last the year before.
The most teams to hold or share a division lead through Week 3 and Week 4:
THROUGH WEEK 3
|
|
THROUGH WEEK 4
|
||
SEASON
|
NO. TEAMS
|
|
SEASON
|
NO. TEAMS
|
2011
|
16
|
|
2010
|
16
|
2010
|
15
|
|
2002
|
13
|
2002
|
14
|
|
2008
|
11
|
2003
|
13
|
|
2006
|
11
|
2008
|
12
|
|
2004
|
11
|
FOUR THE RECORD: Three teams, including the Super Bowl XLV champion Green Bay Packers, boast perfect 3-0 records through Week 3.
The Buffalo Bills and the Detroit Lions, whose records also remain unblemished this year, look to become the fifth and sixth clubs since the 12-team playoff format was adopted in 1990 to open a season 4-0 one year after a 0-4 start.
Three of the four teams to accomplish the feat qualified for the playoffs, with two reaching the Divisional Playoffs.
Teams to begin a season 4-0 following a 0-4 start the previous year:
TEAM |
YEAR |
PREV YEAR'S START |
SEASON'S START |
PLAYOFFS |
Tampa Bay |
1997 |
0-5 |
5-0 |
Advanced to Divisional Playoffs |
Minnesota |
2003 |
0-4 |
6-0 |
Did not qualify |
NY Jets |
2004 |
0-4 |
5-0 |
Advanced to Divisional Playoffs |
Tampa Bay |
2005 |
0-4 |
4-0 |
Advanced to Wild Card |
|
|
|
|||
Buffalo |
2011 |
0-8 |
3-0 |
??? |
Detroit |
2011 |
0-4 |
3-0 |
??? |
OFFENSES ARE ON: NFL clubs in 2011 registered the most points (2,157), net passing yards (23,560) and passing touchdowns (153) through the first three weeks of any season in NFL history.
Ten teams are averaging 400 or more yards of total offense, the highest such total through three games of a season since 1970. The previous best was six (1989).
If at least six teams reach 1,600 offensive yards through Week 4, it will mark the most teams to average 400+ yards of total offense through their first four games of a season since 1970.
2011 OFFENSIVE YARDS/GAME LEADERS
THROUGH WEEK 3
|
|
MOST TEAMS AVG. 400+ OFFENSIVE YARDS/GAME
THROUGH FIRST FOUR GAMES
|
||
TEAM
|
AVERAGE
|
|
SEASON
|
NO. OF TEAMS
|
New England Patriots
|
540.3
|
|
2009
|
5
|
New Orleans Saints
|
437.7
|
|
2008
|
4
|
Buffalo Bills
|
431.0
|
|
2010
|
4
|
San Diego Chargers
|
417.3
|
|
Many tied
|
3
|
Dallas Cowboys
|
412.3
|
|
|
|
Philadelphia Eagles
|
408.7
|
|
|
|
Carolina Panthers
|
405.7
|
|
|
|
Green Bay Packers
|
403.3
|
|
|
|
Houston Texans
|
400.7
|
|
|
|
Detroit Lions
|
400.0
|
|
|
|
BR-EAKING THROUGH: Quarterbacks TOM BRADY of the New England Patriots and DREW BREES of the New Orleans Saints rank in the top two of multiple passing categories this year. Among those, Brady leads the league in completions (93), and passing yards (1,327) while Brees (89 completions for 1,059 pass yards) ranks second in both.
Both passers are on pace to record top-five totals in each category among a quarterback’s first four games to start a season since 1970. Brady previously set the mark for the most completions (129) through a player’s first four games in 2002 while KURT WARNER passed for the most yards (1,557) in the St. Louis Rams‘ first four games of 2000.
Quarterbacks to register the most completions and passing yards through their teams‘ first four games:
PLAYER
|
TEAM
|
SEASON
|
COMP.
|
PLAYER
|
TEAM
|
SEASON
|
PASS YARDS
|
Tom Brady
|
New England
|
2002
|
129
|
Kurt Warner
|
St. Louis
|
2000
|
1,557
|
Peyton Manning
|
Indianapolis
|
2010
|
120
|
Kyle Orton
|
Denver
|
2010
|
1,419
|
Tony Romo
|
Dallas
|
2010
|
119
|
Drew Bledsoe
|
New England
|
1994
|
1,417
|
Drew Brees
|
New Orleans
|
2010
|
118
|
Steve Young
|
San Francisco
|
1998
|
1,382
|
Kyle Orton
|
Denver
|
2010
|
118
|
Dan Marino
|
Miami
|
1994
|
1,370
|
Drew Bledsoe
|
Buffalo
|
2002
|
116
|
Peyton Manning
|
Indianapolis
|
2010
|
1,365
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tom Brady
|
New England
|
2011
|
93*
|
Tom Brady
|
New England
|
2011
|
1,327*
|
Drew Brees
|
New Orleans
|
2011
|
89*
|
Drew Brees
|
New Orleans
|
2011
|
1,059*
|
*Through three games
|
|
|
*Through three games
|
|
|
||
SACKS AT THE CENTURY MARK: Dallas Cowboys linebacker DE MARCUS WARE, who has been selected to five consecutive Pro Bowls (2007-2011), will play in his 100th career game against Detroit. Ware has registered the second-most sacks (85) in NFL history through a player’s first 100 games, trailing only Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end REGGIE WHITE (105).
Players to accrue the most sacks through first 100 games:
PLAYER
|
SACKS
|
Reggie White
|
105
|
DeMarcus Ware
|
85*
|
Bruce Smith
|
84.5
|
Derrick Thomas
|
81.5
|
Leslie O'Neal
|
80.5
|
*Through 99 Games
|
|
RAPID RECEPTIONS: Houston Texans wide receiver ANDRE JOHNSON, who last year became the first player in NFL history to record at least 60 receptions in each of his first eight seasons, has 694 receptions through his first 118 career games.
With six receptions against Pittsburgh, Johnson will reach 700 receptions in the second-fewest games (119) in NFL history.
The receivers to reach 700 receptions in the fewest games:
PLAYER
|
TEAM(S)
|
SEASONS
|
GAMES TO 700 REC.
|
Marvin Harrison
|
Indianapolis
|
1996-2003
|
114
|
Torry Holt
|
St. Louis
|
1999-2006
|
125
|
Chad Ochocinco
|
Cincinnati
|
2001-2010
|
139
|
Terrell Owens
|
San Francisco/Philadelphia
|
1996-2005
|
139
|
Jerry Rice
|
San Francisco
|
1985-1993
|
139
|
|
|
|
|
Andre Johnson
|
Houston
|
2003-2011
|
118*
|
*694 career receptions |
|
|
|
STREAKING FOR SEVEN: Last week on Sunday Night Football, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver MIKE WALLACE registered a career-best 144 receiving yards with one touchdown on five catches (28.8 average) to record his sixth consecutive 100-yard receiving effort in regular-season games dating back to 2010.
Wallace is currently tied with four players, including Pro Football Hall of Famer RAYMOND BERRY (six, 1960), for the third-longest 100-yard receiving game streak in league annals. If Wallace totals 100 receiving yards or more at Houston, he will tie Pro Football Hall of Famer MICHAEL IRVIN (seven, 1995) and CHARLEY HENNIGAN (seven, 1961) for the most consecutive 100-yard receiving games ever.
Receivers with the most consecutive 100-yard games in NFL history:
PLAYER
|
TEAM
|
YEAR(S)
|
CONSEC 100-YRD REC.GAMES
|
Michael Irvin
|
Dallas
|
1995
|
7
|
Charley Hennigan
|
Houston Oilers
|
1961
|
7
|
Mike Wallace
|
Pittsburgh
|
2010-2011
|
6*
|
Isaac Bruce
|
St. Louis
|
1995
|
6
|
Pat Studstill
|
Detroit
|
1966
|
6
|
Bill Groman
|
Houston Oilers
|
1961
|
6
|
Raymond Berry
|
Baltimore Colts
|
1960
|
6
|
*Active
|
|
|
|
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NFL SUPPORTS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH WITH "A CRUCIAL CATCH" CAMPAIGN
The NFL and NFL Players will support October’s National Breast Cancer Awareness Month with their largest on-field presence and a national screening reminder and fundraising campaign. In collaboration with the American Cancer Society, the initiative, called "A Crucial Catch: Annual Screening Saves Lives," encourages annual mammograms for women over 40.
Beginning on October 2 and continuing throughout the month, NFL Breast Cancer Awareness games will feature footballs with pink ribbon decals, on-field pink ribbon stencils, and many pink items, including cleats, wristbands, gloves, chin straps, sideline caps, pins, helmet decals, eye shield decals, captains‘ patches, sideline towels and quarterback towels.
To learn more about the campaign, go to www.NFL.com/pink.
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