What To Look For – NFL Week 16

SECOND-YEAR STARS

Indianapolis running back JONATHAN TAYLOR leads the league with 1,854 scrimmage yards, 1,518 rushing yards, 19 scrimmage touchdowns and 17 rushing touchdowns. Last week, he became the fifth player with a rushing touchdown in 11 consecutive games within a single season. He can join Pro Football Hall of Famers JOHN RIGGINS (1983) and LADAINIAN TOMLINSON (2004) as the only players to do so in 12 straight games within a single season.

JONATHAN TAYLOR LOSES EVERYONE AND TAKES IT 67 YARDS TO THE HOUSE 💨

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/bxytCo7JJF

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 19, 2021

Additionally, with 146 scrimmage yards and a touchdown at Arizona on Christmas night (8:15 PM ET, NFLN), Taylor – who turns 23 on January 19, 2022 – will become the first player under the age of 23 with at least 2,000 scrimmage yards and 20 touchdowns in a single season all-time.

He would also join Pro Football Hall of Famer ERIC DICKERSON (1983) and DAVID JOHNSON (2016) as the only players with at least 2,000 scrimmage yards and 20 touchdowns in one of their first two career seasons in NFL history.

The players with at least 2,000 scrimmage yards and 20 touchdowns in one of their first two career seasons in NFL history:

Taylor led all rookies with 11 rushing touchdowns last season and now has 28 in his career. With two rushing touchdowns on Saturday, he will become the third player all-time with at least 30 rushing touchdowns in his first two seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers EARL CAMPBELL (32 rushing touchdowns) and ERIC DICKERSON (32).

Jonathan Taylor is a complete back.

Watch him pick up the blitz 👏 @JayT23

📺: #NEvsIND on @NFLNetwork
📱: https://t.co/DL75sQUMR5 pic.twitter.com/V9ejS5c7Xt

— NFL (@NFL) December 19, 2021

The players with the most rushing touchdowns in their first two seasons in NFL history:

Taylor isn’t the only player from the 2020 NFL Draft that can make history this week. Minnesota wide receiver JUSTIN JEFFERSON needs 21 receiving yards against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX) to surpass ODELL BECKHAM JR. (2,755) for the most receiving yards ever by a player in his first two seasons.

TD ➡️ Griddy

It's the routine for Justin Jefferson ⭐️

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/Z0AoHxQJpt

— ESPN (@espn) December 21, 2021

The players with the most receiving yards in their first two seasons in NFL history:

Additionally, with 133 receiving yards in Week 16, Jefferson – who turns 23 on June 16, 2022 – will surpass JUJU SMITH-SCHUSTER (2,867 receiving yards) for the most receiving yards by a player under the age of 23 in NFL history.

The players with the most receiving yards prior to their 23rd birthday in NFL history:

Jefferson ranks tied for sixth in the league with 89 receptions this season. He can join LARRY FITZGERALD (103 receptions in 2005), CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY (107 in 2018) and JUJU SMITH-SCHUSTER (111 in 2018) as the only players under the age of 23 to record at least 100 receptions in a single season.

CATCHING RECORDS IN LA

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver COOPER KUPP leads the league with 122 receptions, 1,625 receiving yards and 14 receiving touchdowns. Last week, he became the first player in the Super Bowl era with at least 90 receiving yards in 10 consecutive games within a single season. Overall, Kupp has eclipsed 90 receiving yards in 13 of 14 games this season.

COOOOP!

This @CooperKupp guy is pretty good. @RamsNFL lead 17-10. #RamsHouse

📺: #SEAvsLAR on FOX
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/akZfmlS2u9

— NFL (@NFL) December 22, 2021

With at least 90 receiving yards at Minnesota on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX), Kupp will become the first player ever with at least 90 receiving in 14 games within a single season.

The players with the most games with at least 90 receiving yards in a single season in NFL history:

Kupp also needs a touchdown reception to become the fourth player in league history to record at least 100 catches, 1,000 receiving yards and 15 receiving touchdowns in a single season. He will be joining Pro Football Hall of Famers MARVIN HARRISON (2001), RANDY MOSS (2003) and JERRY RICE (1995).

The players with at least 100 receptions, 1,500 receiving yards and 15 receiving touchdowns in a single season in NFL history:

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver KEENAN ALLEN, who also calls SoFi Stadium home, can join Kupp in making history this week. Allen ranks fifth in the league with 92 receptions this season and his 495 catches since 2017 are the most in the NFL.

Justin Herbert finds Keenan Allen for the TD

Chargers back on top‼️

(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/L9tjDZWPyJ

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 17, 2021

With three receptions at Houston on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Allen will become the second player ever to record at least 95 catches in five-or-more consecutive seasons, joining ANTONIO BROWN (six consecutive seasons).

The players with the most consecutive seasons with at least 95 receptions in NFL history:

65 FOR 85

Since entering the NFL in 2017, San Francisco tight end GEORGE KITTLE ranks second among tight ends with 4,429 receiving yards and third with 327 receptions. This season, he ranks third among tight ends with 850 receiving yards and fourth with 63 receptions and has totaled at least 90 receiving yards in each of the past three games.

GEORGE KITTLE WANTS ALL OF THE SMOKE pic.twitter.com/g5KO5inVbr

— Barstool Hawkeyes (@BarstoolUIowa) December 19, 2021

With 71 receiving yards at Tennessee on Thursday (8:20 PM ET, NFLN), Kittle – playing in his 65th career game – can join Pro Football Hall of Famer KELLEN WINSLOW SR. (4,546 receiving yards) as the only tight ends all-time with at least 4,500 receiving yards in their first 65 career games.

The tight ends with the most receiving yards in their first 65 career games in NFL history:

With three receptions, Kittle can surpass JORDAN REED (329 receptions) for the second-most receptions by a tight end in his first 65 career games all-time. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer KELLEN WINSLOW SR. (348) has more.

The tight ends with the most receptions in their first 65 career games in NFL history:

RUN, EAGLES, RUN

The PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (7-7) enter the week with the league’s leading rushing attack, averaging 165.6 rushing yards per game. Winners of four of their past five games and within one game of the final Wild Card spot in the NFC, the Eagles have recorded at least 175 rushing yards in each of their past seven games.

With 175 rushing yards against the New York Giants on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX), Philadelphia will become the third team in the Super Bowl era to record at least 175 rushing yards in eight consecutive games within a single season, joining the 1972 Miami Dolphins and 1972 Pittsburgh Steelers.

The teams with at least 175 rushing yards in the most consecutive games within a single season in the Super Bowl era:

Philadelphia quarterback JALEN HURTS leads all quarterbacks with 10 rushing touchdowns this season. Last week, he rushed for 38 yards and two touchdowns, his fifth career game with at least two rushing touchdowns, the most-ever by a quarterback in his first two seasons.

.@JalenHurts sneaks it in for 6!

We got a tie game. 👀 #FlyEaglesFly

📺: #WASvsPHI on FOX
📱: NFL App pic.twitter.com/drWXEza7zc

— NFL (@NFL) December 22, 2021

With two rushing touchdowns on Sunday, Hurts will tie STEVE GROGAN (15 rushing touchdowns) and KYLER MURRAY (15) for the third-most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in his first two seasons in NFL history. Only CAM NEWTON (22) and JOSH ALLEN (17) have more.

The quarterbacks with the most rushing touchdowns in their first two seasons in NFL history:

BALLHAWKING D IN BIG D

The DALLAS COWBOYS (10-4) have 31 takeaways this season, tied with Indianapolis for the most in the league. They enter Week 16 winners of three straight games and sit atop of the NFC East. In each of those wins, Dallas has recorded at least four takeaways.

With at least four takeaways against Washington on Sunday Night Football (8:20 PM ET, NBC), the Cowboys will become the fourth team since 1990 to force at least four turnovers in four consecutive games.

The teams to force at least four turnovers in the most consecutive games since 1990:

Last week, Dallas cornerback TREVON DIGGS recorded his league-leading 10th interception of the season. With three games remaining, Diggs has a chance to become the seventh player in the Super Bowl era, and first since Dallas’ EVERSON WALLS in 1981, with at least 11 interceptions in a single season.

TREVON DIGGS. 10TH INTERCEPTION. #DallasCowboys @TrevonDiggs

📺: #DALvsNYG on FOX
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/riEwC5UATA

— NFL (@NFL) December 19, 2021

The players with the most interceptions in a single season in the Super Bowl era:

SACK ATTACK

The MINNESOTA VIKINGS (7-7) enter the week leading the league with 44 sacks this season. Winners of two straight games and currently holding the final Wild Card spot in the NFC playoff picture. The Vikings have recorded at least two sacks in each of their 14 games.

With at least two sacks against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX), Minnesota will become the first team ever to record multiple sacks in each of their first 15 games of a season.

Pittsburgh linebacker T.J. WATT leads the league with 17.5 sacks in 2021, followed by Chicago’s ROBERT QUINN (16 sacks), San Francisco’s NICK BOSA (15) and Cleveland’s MYLES GARRETT (15). Cincinnati’s TREY HENDRICKSON (13), New England’s MATTHEW JUDON (12.5) and Dallas rookie MICAH PARSONS (12) also have at least 12 sacks with three weeks to play.

The 2021 season has a chance to become the seventh season since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic. First since 1998 to feature five-or-more players with at least 15 sacks.

The seasons with the most players with at least 15 sacks since 1982: