Four teams that missed the postseason in 2018 – the BUFFALO BILLS (3-0), DETROIT LIONS (2-0-1), GREEN BAY PACKERS (3-0) and SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (3-0) – are undefeated through the first three weeks of the 2019 season.
2019 marks the fourth time that at least four teams have started the season undefeated through their first three games after missing the postseason the previous year since 1990 when the current playoff format was instituted, joining 2013, 2003 and 2002.
The NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS defeated the New York Jets, 30-14, in Week 3. New England is the first team to not allow a passing or rushing touchdown in each of their first three games of a season in the Super Bowl era.
Additionally, the Patriots are the first team to hold opponents scoreless in the first half of five consecutive games, including the postseason, the longest such streak in the Super Bowl era.
Patriots quarterback TOM BRADY, who passed for 306 yards and two touchdowns in the victory, has 71 career games with at least 300 passing yards and two touchdowns, surpassing PEYTON MANNING (70) for the second-most such games in NFL history. Only DREW BREES (93) has more such performances in league annals.
Appearing in his 20th career game, Kansas City quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES passed for 374 yards with three touchdowns and zero interceptions for a 132.0 rating in the Chiefs‘ 33-28 win over Baltimore. Through 20 career games, Mahomes has the highest marks by a quarterback in passing yards (6,576), passing touchdowns (60) and passer rating (115.3 – minimum 100 attempts) in NFL history.
Mahomes recorded his 13th career game with at least 300 pass yards, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer KURT WARNER (12 games) for the most by a player in his first 20 career games in NFL history.
Mahomes – who passed for 378 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions in Week 1 and 443 yards and four touchdowns and no interceptions in Week 2 – is the first player to record at least 350 passing yards, three touchdown passes and zero interceptions in three consecutive games in NFL history.
New York Giants rookie quarterback DANIEL JONES passed for 336 yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions for a 112.7 rating and added two rushing touchdowns in the Giants‘ 32-31 win at Tampa Bay.
Jones is the first rookie with at least 300 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns in a single game since 1970.
Buccaneers linebacker SHAQUIL BARRETT had four sacks in the loss. Barrett has eight sacks through the Buccaneers‘ first three games, tied with MARK GASTINEAU (1984) for the most by a player in his team’s first three games of a season since 1982.
Minnesota running back DALVIN COOK rushed for 110 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings‘ 34-14 win over Oakland.
Cook – who rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1 and 154 yards and a touchdown in Week 2 – is the fifth player in NFL history with at least 110 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in each of his team’s first three games of a season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers JIM BROWN (1958), CURTIS MARTIN (2004), O.J. SIMPSON (1975), and EMMITT SMITH (1995).
New Orleans running back ALVIN KAMARA had 161 scrimmage yards (92 receiving, 69 rushing) and two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving) in the Saints‘ 33-27 win at Seattle.
Kamara, who has 23 rushing touchdowns and 10 receiving touchdowns in 34 career games, is the fifth player in league annals with at least 20 rushing touchdown and 10 receiving touchdowns in his first three seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer MARCUS ALLEN, ROGER CRAIG, CHUCK FOREMAN and ABNER HAYNES.
Carolina running back CHRISTIAN McCAFFREY totaled 188 scrimmage yards (153 rushing, 35 receiving) and a rushing touchdown in the Panthers‘ 38-20 victory at Arizona.
McCaffrey, who had 209 scrimmage yards and two rushing touchdowns in Week 1, is the fourth player with at least 185 scrimmage yards and a touchdown in two of his team’s first three games of a season in NFL history, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer JIM BROWN (1963), ADRIAN PETERSON (2010) and BILLY SIMS (1980).
