- Four teams improved to 5-0 with victories today – the ATLANTA FALCONS (25-19 over Washington in overtime), CINCINNATI BENGALS (27-24 over Seattle in overtime), DENVER BRONCOS (16-10 over Oakland) and GREEN BAY PACKERS (24-10 over St. Louis). Two other teams have 4-0 records – the CAROLINA PANTHERS (bye) and NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (30-6 win over Dallas). The NFL record for the most 5-0 teams in a single season is five, which was set in 2009.
- The ATLANTA FALCONS improved to 5-0 with a 25-19 overtime win against Washington. The Falcons, who trailed in the fourth quarter against the Redskins, are the first team in NFL history to start 5-0 with four of those wins coming when trailing at some point in the fourth quarter.
Atlanta running back DEVONTA FREEMAN rushed for 153 yards and a touchdown in his third career start. Freeman, who previously rushed for six touchdowns in his first two career starts, is the first player in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) to rush for at least seven touchdowns in his first three starts to begin a career.
Falcons cornerback ROBERT ALFORD won the game in overtime with a 59-yard interception-return touchdown. It marked the longest interception-return touchdown in an overtime since 1995 (October 29, 1995; Arizona’s LORENZO LYNCH, 72 yards).
- Arizona rookie running back DAVID JOHNSON rushed for two touchdowns in the Cardinals‘ 42-17 win at Detroit. Johnson, who has three rushing touchdowns, two receiving TDs and a kickoff-return touchdown this season, is the first rookie since Pro Football Hall of Famer GALE SAYERS (1965) to have multiple rushing touchdowns, multiple receiving TDs and a kickoff-return touchdown in his team’s first five games of a season.
- Oakland safety CHARLES WOODSON had two interceptions in the Raiders‘ loss against Denver. Woodson, who turned 39 years old this past Wednesday (October 7), is the only player in NFL history with two interceptions in a game at age 39 or older. He is one of three players in NFL history with an interception at age 39 or older, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer DARRELL GREEN and CLAY MATTHEWS, JR.
Woodson now has 64 career interceptions, which is tied with ED REED for sixth on the all-time list.
- Green Bay quarterback AARON RODGERS threw two touchdown passes, including a 65-yarder to JAMES JONES, in the Packers‘ 24-10 win over St. Louis. Since becoming the starting quarterback in 2008, Rodgers has 31 touchdown passes of at least 50 yards, the most in the NFL over that span.
- Buffalo quarterback TYROD TAYLOR had 185 total yards (109 passing, 76 rushing) and accounted for two touchdowns (one passing, one rushing), including the game-winning two-yard touchdown pass to CHRIS HOGAN in the fourth quarter of the Bills‘ 14-13 win at Tennessee.
Taylor, who also had a reception on the game-winning drive, is the fifth player in NFL history – and only the second in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) – with 100+ passing yards (109), 70+ rushing yards (76) and a reception in the same game. Taylor is the first player to accomplish the feat since RANDALL CUNNINGHAM on November 15, 1987 against the New York Giants.
- Cleveland quarterback JOSH MC COWN passed for 457 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 111.3 passer rating in the Browns‘ 33-30 overtime win at Baltimore. McCown’s 457 passing yards are a single-game franchise record, and he is the first Browns quarterback with three consecutive 300-yard passing games.
