WHAT TO LOOK FOR – WEEK 16
TERRIFIC TURNAROUNDS: The PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (NFC East, first-round bye), MINNESOTA VIKINGS (NFC North) and JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (playoff berth) have clinched at least a playoff berth. All three teams finished in either third or fourth place in their divisions last year and missed the postseason.
Entering Week 16, five of the eight divisions have a team either in or tied for first place that finished in third or fourth place in the division last season.
This weekend, four clubs – the CAROLINA PANTHERS, LOS ANGELES RAMS, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS and TENNESSEE TITANS – have a chance to join Philadelphia, Minnesota and Jacksonville as teams who clinched a playoff spot after not qualifying for the postseason in 2016.
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.
Jacksonville can secure the AFC South division this weekend with a win or a Tennessee loss and join Philadelphia as teams to go from “worst-to-first” this season.
The teams to go from “worst-to-first” in their division since 2003:
SEASON |
TEAM |
RECORD |
PRIOR SEASON RECORD |
2003 |
Carolina |
11-5 |
7-9 |
2003 |
Kansas City |
13-3 |
8-8** |
2004 |
Atlanta |
11-5 |
5-11 |
2004 |
San Diego |
12-4 |
4-12** |
2005 |
Chicago |
11-5 |
5-11 |
2005 |
New York Giants |
11-5 |
6-10** |
2005 |
Tampa Bay |
11-5 |
5-11 |
2006 |
Baltimore |
13-3 |
6-10** |
2006 |
New Orleans |
10-6 |
3-13 |
2006 |
Philadelphia |
10-6 |
6-10 |
2007 |
Tampa Bay |
9-7 |
4-12 |
2008 |
Miami |
11-5 |
1-15 |
2009 |
New Orleans*** |
13-3 |
8-8 |
2010 |
Kansas City |
10-6 |
4-12 |
2011 |
Denver |
8-8 |
4-12 |
2011 |
Houston |
10-6 |
6-10** |
2012 |
Washington |
10-6 |
5-11 |
2013 |
Carolina |
12-4 |
7-9** |
2013 |
Philadelphia |
10-6 |
4-12 |
2015 |
Washington |
9-7 |
4-12 |
2016 |
Dallas |
13-3 |
4-12 |
2017 |
Philadelphia |
12-2* |
7-9 |
|
|
|
|
2017 |
Jacksonville |
10-4* |
3-13 |
* Through Week 15 |
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** Tied for last place |
THE BELL TOLLS: Pittsburgh Pro Bowl running back LE’VEON BELL, who leads the NFL with 1,849 scrimmage yards this season, has 7,899 scrimmage yards in 61 career games.
Bell, who plays at Houston on Monday, can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer ERIC DICKERSON (64 games) for the fewest games to reach 8,000 scrimmage yards in NFL history.
The players to reach 8,000 career scrimmage yards in the fewest games in NFL history:
PLAYER |
TEAM |
FEWEST GAMES TO 8,000 SCRIMMAGE YARDS |
|
Eric Dickerson^ |
LA Rams |
64 |
|
Edgerrin James |
Indianapolis |
65 |
|
LaDainian Tomlinson^ |
San Diego |
65 |
|
Jim Brown^ |
Cleveland |
67 |
|
Marcus Allen^ |
LA Raiders |
68 |
|
|
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Le’Veon Bell |
Pittsburgh |
61* |
|
*Has 7,899 career scrimmage yards |
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^Pro Football Hall of Famer |
JONES-ING FOR MORE: Atlanta Pro Bowl wide receiver JULIO JONES ranks third in the NFL with 1,215 receiving yards this season.
With 85 yards on Sunday at New Orleans, Jones will record his fourth consecutive season with at least 1,300 receiving yards, tying Pro Football Hall of Famer MARVIN HARRISON and DEMARYIUS THOMAS for the second-longest streak in NFL history. Only TORRY HOLT (six) from 2000-05 has a longer streak in league annals.
The players with the most consecutive seasons with at least 1,300 receiving yards in NFL history:
PLAYER |
TEAM |
SEASONS |
MOST CONSECUTIVE 1,300 REC. YARD SEASONS |
|
|
Torry Holt |
St. Louis |
2000-2005 |
6 |
|
|
Marvin Harrison^ |
Indianapolis |
1999-2002 |
4 |
|
|
Demaryius Thomas |
Denver |
2012-2015 |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Julio Jones |
Atlanta |
2014-2016 |
3* |
|
|
*Has 1,215 rec. yards through Week 15 |
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^Pro Football Hall of Famer |
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KEEP IT 100: Arizona Pro Bowl wide receiver LARRY FITZGERALD ranks second in the NFC with 92 receptions this season.
With eight receptions against the New York Giants on Sunday, Fitzgerald will record his fifth career season with at least 100 receptions, tying ANTONIO BROWN, ANDRE JOHNSON and WES WELKER for the second-most 100-catch seasons in NFL history.
Brown, who leads the NFL with 101 receptions this season, reached the 100-catch mark for the fifth time and trails only BRANDON MARSHALL (six) for the most such seasons all-time.
The players with the most 100-catch seasons in NFL history:
PLAYER |
TEAM(S) |
SEASONS WITH 100+ RECEPTIONS |
Brandon Marshall |
Denver, Chicago, New York Jets |
6 |
Antonio Brown |
Pittsburgh |
5 |
Andre Johnson |
Houston |
5 |
Wes Welker |
New England |
5 |
Larry Fitzgerald |
Arizona |
4* |
Marvin Harrison^ |
Indianapolis |
4 |
Jerry Rice^ |
San Francisco |
4 |
Reggie Wayne |
Indianapolis |
4 |
*Has 92 receptions through Week 15 |
||
^Pro Football Hall of Famer |
CLIMBING THE CHARTS: New York Giants quarterback ELI MANNING ranks seventh in NFL history with 51,287 career passing yards.
With 189 passing yards at Arizona onSunday, Manning would pass Pro Football Hall of Famer JOHN ELWAY (51,475) for the sixth-most passing yards in NFL history.
The players with the most passing yards in NFL history:
PLAYER |
TEAM(S) |
CAREER PASSING YARDS |
Peyton Manning |
Indianapolis, Denver |
71,940 |
Brett Favre^ |
Green Bay, New York Jets, Minnesota |
71,838 |
Drew Brees |
San Diego, New Orleans |
69,961* |
Tom Brady |
New England |
65,745* |
Dan Marino^ |
Miami |
61,361 |
John Elway^ |
Denver |
51,475 |
Eli Manning |
New York Giants |
51,287* |
*Active |
||
^Pro Football Hall of Fame |
New Orleans Pro Bowl quarterback DREW BREES, who plays against Atlanta on Sunday, has 69,961 career passing yards and needs 39 yards to join Pro Football Hall of Famer BRETT FAVRE (71,838) and PEYTON MANNING (71,940) as the only players in NFL history with at least 70,000 career passing yards.
PLAYER |
TEAM(S) |
CAREER PASSING YARDS |
Peyton Manning |
Indianapolis, Denver |
71,940 |
Brett Favre^ |
Green Bay, New York Jets, Minnesota |
71,838 |
Drew Brees |
San Diego, New Orleans |
69,961* |
*Active |
||
^Pro Football Hall of Fame |
— NFL —
ACE OF THE STAFF: Detroit quarterback MATTHEW STAFFORD, who plays at Cincinnati on Sunday, has thrown at least 25 pass attempts and completed 75 percent or better of his passes in each of his past three games. He can join TOM BRADY (2007) as the only quarterbacks in NFL history with four consecutive games with at least 25 pass attempts and a 75 or better completion percentage.
The players with the most consecutive games with at least 25 pass attempts and a 75 or better completion percentage in NFL history:
PLAYER |
TEAM |
SEASON |
WEEKS |
CONSEC. GAMES WITH 25+ PASSES & 75% COMP. PCT. |
|
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Tom Brady |
New England |
2007 |
1-4 |
4 |
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
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Matthew Stafford |
Detroit |
2017 |
13-15 |
3* |
|
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*Active streak |
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PROLIFIC PASSERS: Detroit quarterback MATTHEW STAFFORD ranks third in the NFL with 3,920 passing yards and New Orleans Pro Bowl quarterback DREW BREES ranks fourth in the league with 3,850 passing yards.
With 80 passing yards this weekend, Stafford will reach 4,000 passing yards for the seventh consecutive season and surpass PEYTON MANNING (six seasons, 1999-2004) and MATT RYAN (six, 2011-16) for the second-longest streak in NFL history.
Ryan, who has 3,490 passing yards this season, has recorded at least 4,000 passing yards in each of the past six seasons and can extend his streak to seven consecutive seasons with 510 passing yards over the next two weeks.
Brees needs 150 passing yards to extend his NFL-record streak to 12 consecutive seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards.
The quarterbacks with the most consecutive seasons of at least 4,000 passing yards in NFL history:
PLAYER |
TEAM(S) |
SEASONS |
SEASONS WITH 4,000+ PASS YARDS |
Drew Brees |
New Orleans |
2006-16 |
11* |
Peyton Manning |
Indianapolis |
1999-2004 |
6 |
Matt Ryan |
Atlanta |
2011-16 |
6* |
Matthew Stafford |
Detroit |
2011-16 |
6* |
*Active streak |
LIGHTS, KAMARA, ACTION: New Orleans Pro Bowl running back ALVIN KAMARA leads all NFL rookies and ties for second in the league with 12 total touchdowns this season.
With a touchdown reception on Sunday, Kamara, who has seven rushing touchdowns and five receiving touchdowns, can join Pro Football Hall of Famer GALE SAYERS (1965) as the only rookies in NFL history with at least six rushing and six receiving touchdowns.
PLAYER |
TEAM |
SEASON |
RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS |
RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS |
|
Gale Sayers^ |
Chicago |
1965 |
14 |
6 |
|
|
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Alvin Kamara |
New Orleans |
2017 |
7* |
5* |
|
*Through Week 15 |
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^Pro Football Hall of Famer |
GO THE DISTANCE: Kansas City wide receiver TYREEK HILL had a 64-yard touchdown catch in the Chiefs’ Week 15 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Since entering the league in 2016, Hill has 11 career touchdowns of at least 50 yards.
With a 50+ yard touchdown on Sunday against Miami, Hill would surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer GALE SAYERS (11) for the second-most touchdowns of at least 50 yards in a player’s first two seasons in NFL history. Only DEVIN HESTER (13) had more such touchdowns in his first two seasons.
The players with the most touchdowns of at least 50 yards in their first two seasons in NFL history:
PLAYER |
TEAM(S) |
50+ YARD TOUCHDOWNS IN 1ST 2 SEASONS |
Devin Hester |
Chicago |
13 |
Tyreek Hill |
Kansas City |
11* |
Gale Sayers^ |
Chicago |
11 |
*In second season |
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^Pro Football Hall of Famer |