NOT CATCHING L’S

Through Week 5, scoring has been at an unprecedented level throughout the NFL, as seven teams are a​​​veraging at least 30 points per game, the most in a single season through Week 5 since 1970.

Three of those teams – the GREEN BAY PACKERS (38.0 points per game, 4-0), SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (33.8, 5-0) and TENNESSEE TITANS (30.5, 4-0) – are unbeaten entering Week 6. The PITTSBURGH STEELERS (4-0) are averaging 29.5 points per game and also have yet to lose this season.

If Green Bay (at Tampa Bay; 4:25 PM ET, FOX), Tennessee (vs. Houston; 1:00 PM ET, CBS) and Pittsburgh (vs. Cleveland; 1:00 PM ET, CBS) are all victorious in Week 6, 2020 will be the third season since 1970 (not including the shortened 1982 season) in which at least four teams are unbeaten through six weeks. Seattle has a bye in Week 6.

The seasons with the most unbeaten teams through six weeks since 1970 (not including the shortened 1982 season):
SEASON
TEAMS (RECORD THROUGH WEEK 6)
2015 5: Carolina (5-0), Cincinnati (6-0), Denver (6-0), Green Bay (6-0), New England (5-0)
2009 4: Denver (6-0), Indianapolis (5-0), Minnesota (6-0), New Orleans (5-0)
   
2020* 4: Green Bay (4-0), Pittsburgh (4-0), Seattle (5-0), Tennessee (4-0)
*Through five weeks  

THROW PACK THROW

Last season, Green Bay quarterback AARON RODGERS passed for 26 touchdowns, while throwing only four interceptions, tied for the fewest among qualified quarterbacks in 2019. Through his first four games in 2020, Rodgers is tied for third in the league with 13 touchdown passes, while being the only qualified passer to not throw an interception.​

With at least three touchdown passes and zero interceptions on Sunday at Tampa Bay (4:25 PM ET, FOX), Rodgers will tie MILT PLUM (16 touchdown passes before throwing his first interception in 1960) for the fourth-most touchdown passes by a player to begin a season before his first interception in NFL history.

The players with the most touchdown passes before throwing an interception to begin a season in NFL history:

PLAYER
TEAM
SEASON
TOUCHDOWN PASSES
Peyton Manning Denver 2013 20
Nick Foles Philadelphia 2013 19
Alex Smith Kansas City 2017 18
Milt Plum Cleveland 1960 16
       
Aaron Rodgers Green Bay 2020 13*
*Active streak      

With at least two touchdown passes and zero interceptions on Sunday, Rodgers would become the first player in NFL history with at least two touchdown passes and zero interceptions in each of his team’s first five games of a season.

FIRE THE CANNONS

Tampa Bay wide receiver MIKE EVANS ties for the league lead with six touchdown receptions in 2020, while being the only player with at least one touchdown reception in five games this season.

With a touchdown reception on Sunday against Green Bay (4:25 PM ET, FOX) Evans will become the fourth player with at least one touchdown reception in each of his team’s first six games of a season since 1970.

The players with a touchdown reception in the most games to begin a season since 1970:

PLAYER
TEAM
SEASON
GAMES
 
T.J. Houshmandzadeh Cincinnati 2007 8  
Plaxico Burress New York Giants 2007 6  
Wes Welker Denver 2013 6  
         
Mike Evans Tampa Bay 2020 5*  
*Active streak      

CHASING HISTORY

Last week, Pittsburgh wide receiver CHASE CLAYPOOL recorded seven receptions for 110 yards and scored four touchdowns (three receiving, one rushing), becoming the third rookie wide receiver to record four touchdowns in a single game in NFL history. Entering Week 6, Claypool leads all rookies with five touchdowns this season.

With a touchdown on Sunday against Cleveland (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Claypool will tie Pro Football Hall of Famer RANDY MOSS (1998), MARTAVIS BRYANT (2014), WILLIE GAULT (1983) and CALVIN RIDLEY (2018) for the most touchdowns by a rookie wide receiver in his first five career games since 1970.

The rookie wide receivers with the most touchdowns in their first five career games since 1970:

PLAYER
TEAM
SEASON
TOUCHDOWNS
Martavis Bryant Pittsburgh 2014 6
Willie Gault Chicago 1983 6
Randy MossHOF Minnesota 1998 6
Calvin Ridley Atlanta 2018 6
       
Chase Claypool Pittsburgh 2020 5*
*Through four games  

DONALD DOMINANCE

Last week, Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman AARON DONALD registered four sacks and a forced fumble in his team’s victory, his second-career game with four sacks. Entering Week 6, Donald leads the NFL with 7.5 sacks this season.

Since entering the league in 2014, Donald has 79.5 career sacks, tied with CHANDLER JONES for the most in the NFL over that span. With at least a half a sack at San Francisco on Sunday Night Football (8:20 PM ET, NBC), Donald will become the fourth player with at least eight sacks in each of his first seven seasons since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers DERRICK THOMAS and REGGIE WHITE, as well as DEMARCUS WARE.

The players with at least eight sacks in each of their first seven seasons since 1982:
PLAYER TEAM SEASONS
Derrick ThomasHOF Kansas City 1989-1995
DeMarcus Ware Dallas 2005-11
Reggie WhiteHOF Philadelphia 1985-91
     
Aaron Donald St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams 2014-2020*
*7.5 sacks in 2020    

STEEL CURTAIN

Entering Week 6, the PITTSBURGH STEELERS tie for the league lead with 20 sacks and tie for third with six interceptions. Last week, Pittsburgh registered five sacks and two interceptions in its victory, becoming the fourth team since 2000 to register at least three sacks and an interception in each of its first four games of a season.

With at least three sacks and an interception on Sunday against Cleveland (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Pittsburgh will join the 1985 NEW YORK GIANTS as the only teams in NFL history to record at least three sacks and an interception in each of their first five games of a season.

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