EXPECT MORE OF THE UNEXPECTED AS NFL ENTERS WEEK 11
When anything can happen, everything becomes significant.
Take, for instance, the National Football League, where in consecutive weeks, four teams that entered the weekend with .500-or-below records defeated opponents that began the week with at least a share of first place in their divisions. The eight such wins – .500-or-below teams defeating first-place clubs – are the most in Weeks 9-10 of a single season since 1970.
The teams that entered each of the last two weeks with .500-or-below records and beat opponents in first place:
WEEK 9
WEEK 10
WINNING TEAM*
FIRST-PLACE TEAM*
WINNING TEAM*
FIRST-PLACE TEAM*
Denver (4-4)
at Dallas (6-1)
at Miami (2-7)
Baltimore (6-2)
at Jacksonville (1-6)
Buffalo (5-2)
Carolina (4-5)
at Arizona (8-1)
at Kansas City (4-4)
Green Bay (7-1)
Minnesota (3-5)
at L.A. Chargers (5-3)
at N.Y. Giants (2-6)
Las Vegas (5-2)
at Washington (2-6)
Tampa Bay (6-2)
*Record entering game
This week, six of the eight division leaders are facing teams with .500-or-below records. Which first-place team will fall in Week 11? The field is wide open in each conference. Any team can beat any other team. Go ahead and try to predict the unpredictable.
The playoffs are only eight weeks away and each conference has only one first-round bye. Every play of every game matters, especially when the unexpected is more than merely expected.
BOUNCE-BACK TEAMS HAVE PLAYOFF HOPES: Through the first 10 weeks, two divisions have a team in first place that missed the postseason in 2020: The NFC West (ARIZONA, 8-2) and NFC East (DALLAS, 7-2). At least two teams have won their divisions the season after missing the playoffs in 17 of the past 18 years.
Entering Week 11, five teams that missed the postseason last year are in playoff position: ARIZONA, CAROLINA, DALLAS, the LOS ANGELES CHARGERS and NEW ENGLAND. Additionally, six teams – ATLANTA, CINCINNATI, DENVER, LAS VEGAS, MINNESOTA and SAN FRANCISCO – that missed the postseason last year are within one game of a playoff spot entering Week 11.
In each season since 1990 – a streak of 31 consecutive years – at least four teams that were not in the prior postseason have qualified for the playoffs.
COWBOYS-CHIEFS COULD BE MAIN EVENT ON SUNDAY CARD: The DALLAS COWBOYS (7-2), who have won three straight road games, make an interconference trip to face the KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (6-4) on Sunday (4:25 PM ET, FOX) in a battle of first-place teams.
The Cowboys lead the NFL in both total yards per game (433.9) and points scored per game (31.6). The last time Dallas finished a season leading the league in both categories was 1971, when the Cowboys won Super Bowl VI.
The Chiefs’ offense ranks fourth in the NFL in total yards per game (405.6).
Kansas City quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES, who grew up about two hours east of AT&T Stadium, meets the Cowboys for the first time (Dallas, Minnesota and Kansas City are the only NFL clubs he has not faced).
Last week, Mahomes passed for 406 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions, compiling a 127.6 rating in the Chiefs’ win. The performance was the 30th game in which Mahomes reached 300 yards, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer KURT WARNER (29) for the most such games in a player’s first five NFL seasons. Mahomes also became the first player in NFL history to reach three career games of 400-plus yards passing and five-or-more touchdown passes in his first five NFL seasons.
Each team has a standout rookie linebacker. The Cowboys’ MICAH PARSONS leads NFL rookies with six sacks while the Chiefs’ NICK BOLTON has 75 tackles, most among the league’s rookies.
In last week’s win, Dallas quarterback DAK PRESCOTT passed for 296 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions for a 127.9 rating and added a rushing touchdown, while cornerback TREVON DIGGS registered his eighth interception of the season.
Prescott, who enters with the NFL’s top-ranked passer rating (110.8) among qualified players this season, has 126 touchdown passes and 25 rushing touchdowns since entering the NFL in 2016 and joined DAUNTE CULPEPPER and CAM NEWTON as the only players with at least 125 touchdown passes and 25 rushing touchdowns in their first six seasons in league annals. Prescott also now has 17 career games with both a passing and rushing touchdown, the fourth-most such games by a quarterback in his first six seasons in NFL history. Only CAM NEWTON (35), DAUNTE CULPEPPER (20) and JOSH ALLEN (19) had more.
Diggs’ eight interceptions are tied with JAIRUS BYRD (eight in 2009) and TIM JENNINGS (eight in 2012) for the most by a player in his team’s first nine games of a season since 1990.
JACKSON STELLAR WHEN FACING OPPONENT FOR FIRST TIME: Two well-rested teams, the BALTIMORE RAVENS (6-3) and CHICAGO BEARS (3-6), will square off at Soldier Field on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS).
Baltimore quarterback LAMAR JACKSON will face his 28th NFL team. Jackson is 25-2 when facing a team for the first time (2018-21, including the postseason). Only the Chiefs in the 2018 regular season and the Titans in the 2019 playoffs earned wins over Jackson in their first meetings.
Baltimore enters having last played on Thursday, Nov. 11, and will have nine days between games. Meanwhile, Chicago is coming off its bye week, having last played on Monday, Nov. 8, and will have 12 days between games.
Each club also ranks in the top five among NFL teams in rushing. Baltimore leads the league with 154.1 rushing yards per game while Chicago ranks fifth with 136.6.
The Bears have kicked an overtime field goal to defeat the Ravens in each of the last two meetings, 2017 in Baltimore and 2013 in Chicago.
Before the bye week, Chicago rookie JUSTIN FIELDS threw for a season-high 291 yards, including a late, go-ahead touchdown pass to DARNELL MOONEY, in the Bears’ loss at Pittsburgh on Monday Night Football.
SUPER BOWL STRIKING DISTANCE: Every NFL team has multiple losses through 10 weeks. The last time the NFL entered Week 11 in a season in which every team had at least two losses was 2010, when the Green Bay Packers won the Super Bowl as a Wild Card team. Over the previous three seasons, the eventual Super Bowl champion entered Week 11 with at least three losses.
SUPER BOWL CHAMPION
SEASON
ENTERING WEEK 11
FINISHED
Tampa Bay
2020
7-3; second, NFC South
11-5; NFC Wild Card
Kansas City
2019
6-4; first, AFC West
12-4; AFC West champion
New England
2018
7-3; first AFC East
11-5; AFC East champion
CARDINALS BID FOR NFL HISTORY AT SEATTLE: When the ARIZONA CARDINALS (8-2) meet the SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (3-6) at Lumen Field on Sunday (4:25 PM ET, FOX), Arizona has a chance to accomplish something no NFL team has done: Score 30-or-more points in each of its first six road games of a season. Arizona is the fourth team in league history to reach 30 points in its first five road games of a season, joining the 2000 St. Louis Rams, 1983 San Francisco 49ers and 1966 Kansas City Chiefs.
Seattle quarterback RUSSELL WILSON is 35-10 (.778) with a 105.7 passer rating in regular-season games following Seahawks losses.
TITANS LOOK TO STAY HOT: The TENNESSEE TITANS enter the week with the AFC’s best record (8-2). Tennessee has won six straight, the league’s longest active winning streak, and bids to extend that streak when the Titans host the HOUSTON TEXANS (1-8) on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS).
Last week, Tennessee became the second team ever to win five consecutive games against opponents that earned playoff berths the prior season, joining the 2003 Philadelphia Eagles. Tennessee’s gauntlet consisted of victories over the Buffalo Bills (Week 6), Kansas City Chiefs (Week 7), Indianapolis Colts (Week 8), Los Angeles Rams (Week 9) and New Orleans Saints (Week 10).
With a win this week, Tennessee would have its longest winning streak (seven) since a 10-game streak to begin the 2008 campaign. A win would also make the Titans 9-2 in their first 11 games. In franchise history, the Titans/Oilers have won nine or more of their first 11 games five times (1991, 1999, 2000, 2003 and 2008).
A win would also guarantee the Titans a winning record for the sixth consecutive season (2016-21). The only previous stretch in which the Titans/Oilers achieved at least six straight winning records was a seven-year run from 1987-93.
COLTS CULTURE: The INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (5-5) have won four of their past five games heading into their trip to face the BUFFALO BILLS (6-3) on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS).
After dropping their first three games, the Colts are attempting to become just the seventh team in NFL history to make the playoffs after an 0-3 start. In the previous 22 seasons, only the 2018 HOUSTON TEXANS have made the playoffs after losing their first three games. Other teams to reach the playoffs after beginning a season 0-3: The 1998 BUFFALO BILLS, the 1995 DETROIT LIONS, the 1992 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS, the 1982 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS and the 1981 NEW YORK JETS.
Last week, Indianapolis running back JONATHAN TAYLOR rushed for 116 yards and one touchdown in the Colts’ win. He became the fourth player to register at least 100 scrimmage yards and a rushing touchdown in seven consecutive games in NFL history, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer LADAINIAN TOMLINSON (eight consecutive games in 2006), LYDELL MITCHELL (eight from 1975-76) and LARRY JOHNSON (seven in 2005).
The Bills (plus 14 with 24 takeaways) and Colts (plus 11 with 21 takeaways) rank first and second in the NFL, respectively, in both turnover margin and takeaways this season. The last time two teams leading the league in both categories met in Week 11 or later was Week 12 of the 2016 season, when Kansas City beat Denver, 30-27, in overtime.
Buffalo’s defense leads the NFL in both fewest total yards allowed per game (274.1) and fewest points allowed per game (15.0).
Sunday’s contest is also a rematch of a 2020 AFC Wild Card game, won by the Bills. To date, the 2021 schedule has featured six 2020 playoff rematches, and teams have avenged a playoff loss in four of those six games.
The 2021 rematches of 2020 playoff games, through Week 11:
2021 PLAYOFF REMATCH
WEEK
2020 PLAYOFF GAME
Kansas City 33, Cleveland 29
1
Kansas City 22, Cleveland 17 (AFC Divisional)
*Buffalo 38, Kansas City 20
5
Kansas City 38, Buffalo 24 (AFC Championship)
L.A. Rams 26, Seattle 17
5
L.A. Rams 30, Seattle 20 (NFC Wild Card)
*New Orleans 36, Tampa Bay 27
8
Tampa Bay 30, New Orleans 20 (NFC Divisional)
*Pittsburgh 15, Cleveland 10
8
Cleveland 48, Pittsburgh 37 (AFC Wild Card)
*Washington 29, Tampa Bay 19
10
Tampa Bay 31, Washington 23 (NFC Wild Card)
Indianapolis at Buffalo
11
Buffalo 27, Indianapolis 24 (AFC Wild Card)
*Avenged 2020 playoff loss
HARBINGER OF DEEP PLAYOFF RUNS: In recent history, whenever the GREEN BAY PACKERS (8-2) visit the MINNESOTA VIKINGS (4-5) – as they do on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX) – the winner is important. In three of the past four seasons, the team that won the Packers-Vikings game in Minnesota has advanced to the NFC Championship Game. The Vikings used a home victory over Green Bay to help them reach the NFC Championship Game in 2017 while the Packers picked up wins at U.S. Bank Stadium in both 2019 and 2020 en route to the game.
Last week, Minnesota quarterback KIRK COUSINS passed for 294 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 109.5 rating while wide receiver JUSTIN JEFFERSON recorded nine receptions for 143 yards in the Vikings’ win.
Cousins became the sixth player ever with at least two touchdown passes and a passer rating of 100-or-higher in seven consecutive road games, joining CARSON PALMER (eight games from 2004-05), TOM BRADY (seven from 2011-12), PATRICK MAHOMES (seven from 2018-19), TONY ROMO (seven in 2014) and AARON RODGERS (seven in 2011).
Jefferson played in his 25th career game and increased his career receiving yards to 2,175, surpassing VICTOR CRUZ (2,032) for the second-most by a player in his first 25 games in the Super Bowl era. Only ODELL BECKHAM JR. (2,625) had more. Jefferson also recorded his 10th-career game with at least 100 receiving yards and joined Beckham (15 games) as the only players in the Super Bowl era with 100-or-more receiving yards in at least 10 of their first 25 career games.
GIANTS, JONES RETURN TO TAMPA: The NEW YORK GIANTS (3-6) travel to face the TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (6-3) on Monday Night Football (8:15 PM ET, ESPN).
In their last visit to Raymond James Stadium, Week 3 in 2019, then-rookie quarterback DANIEL JONES made his first NFL start, passing for 336 yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions for a 112.7 rating and adding two rushing touchdowns in a 32-31 win. Jones became the first rookie with at least 300 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns in a single game since the league merger in 1970.
On their way to a Super Bowl XLII championship, the Giants opened the 2007 playoffs with a Wild Card victory at Tampa Bay. Including that game, New York has returned victorious in four of its last five trips to Tampa Bay.
The Giants also won Super Bowl XXV at Tampa Stadium, a 20-19 win over Buffalo.
Tampa Bay quarterback TOM BRADY leads the league with 27 touchdown passes. In each of his last five home games, he’s thrown at least four touchdowns.
EAGLES, SAINTS MAKE FOR INTERESTING CHESS MATCH: When the PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (4-6) have the ball against the NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (5-4) at the Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX), look for who controls the line of scrimmage. The Eagles enter the contest ranked third in the league with 144.3 rushing yards per game while the Saints (72.9 rushing yards allowed per game) rank first in the league against the run.
Philadelphia has at least 175 rushing yards in three consecutive games. The Saints have not allowed 175 rushing yards since giving up 179 to the Chiefs in Week 15 last season.
Eagles quarterback JALEN HURTS made his first NFL start against the Saints in Week 14 of last season, passing for 167 yards with one touchdown and zero interceptions and adding 106 rushing yards in the Eagles’ 24-21 win. Hurts joined LAMAR JACKSON (119 rushing yards in Week 11, 2018) as the only quarterbacks with at least 100 rushing yards in their first career starts in NFL history.
Last week on his 23rd birthday, Eagles rookie wide receiver DEVONTA SMITH caught a season-high two touchdowns among four receptions for 66 yards in Philadelphia’s win.
RIVERA VISITS PANTHERS, NEWTON: Both Washington head coach RON RIVERA and Panthers quarterback CAM NEWTON will make their return to Bank of America Stadium when the WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM (3-6) plays the CAROLINA PANTHERS (5-5) on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX).
Rivera and Newton spent nine seasons together (2011-19) in Carolina. In Newton’s 124 starts under Rivera, Carolina was 68-55-1 with four playoff appearances, including a 15-1 season in 2015 that ended with a berth in Super Bowl 50.
Newton is expected to make his first appearance in Charlotte since Sept. 12, 2019. Last week, days after re-signing with the team, Newton ran for a 2-yard touchdown to cap the Panthers’ first drive, then threw a 2-yard touchdown to ROBBY ANDERSON to give Carolina a 14-0 lead just six minutes into the game. Newton has 71 career rushing touchdowns and 43 career games with both a passing and rushing touchdown, both the most by a quarterback in NFL history.
Also in the win, Carolina running back CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY registered 10 receptions and 161 scrimmage yards (95 rushing, 66 receiving). McCaffrey now has 11 career games with at least 10 receptions, the most by a running back in NFL history, surpassing JULIO JONES (10 games) for the third-most such games by a player in his first five career seasons in league annals. Only MICHAEL THOMAS (18 games) and BRANDON MARSHALL (12) have more.
Meanwhile last week, Rivera’s Washington club defeated defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay, 29-19. After the Buccaneers cut the deficit to 23-19 in the fourth quarter, Washington quarterback TAYLOR HEINICKE engineered a 19-play, 80-yard touchdown drive, draining most of the final 11 minutes off the clock. Heinicke on the drive competed all six pass attempts for 45 yards, setting up a 1-yard touchdown run by ANTONIO GIBSON to put the game out of reach with 29 seconds left.
LIONS, BROWNS RENEW LAKE ERIE RIVALRY: From 1952-57, the Lions and Browns met in the NFL Championship Game four times over six seasons, with Detroit taking three of the four league titles (1952-53 and 1957). Cleveland won the world championship in 1954. This week, DETROIT (0-8-1) and CLEVELAND (5-5) meet for the 25th time, including the postseason, on Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium (1:00 PM ET, FOX).
WEEK 11 NFL SCHEDULE
(All times Eastern)
Thursday, November 18
New England at Atlanta
FOX/NFLN/Amazon
8:20
Sunday, November 21
Indianapolis at Buffalo
CBS
1:00
Washington at Carolina
FOX
1:00
Baltimore at Chicago
CBS
1:00
Detroit at Cleveland
FOX
1:00
San Francisco at Jacksonville
FOX
1:00
Green Bay at Minnesota
FOX
1:00
Miami at New York Jets
CBS
1:00
New Orleans at Philadelphia
FOX
1:00
Houston at Tennessee
CBS
1:00
Cincinnati at Las Vegas
CBS
4:05
Dallas at Kansas City
FOX
4:25
Arizona at Seattle
FOX
4:25
Pittsburgh at Los Angeles Chargers
NBC
8:20
Monday, November 22
New York Giants at Tampa Bay
ESPN
8:15
Byes: Denver, Los Angeles Rams
WHAT TO LOOK FOR – WEEK 11
ROOKIE TAKEOVER ON TNF: New England quarterback MAC JONES enters Week 11 leading all rookies with 2,333 passing yards, 13 touchdown passes and a 94.1 passer rating. In the Patriots’ victory last week, he completed 19 of 23 passes (82.6 percent) for 198 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions and a 142.1 rating. It marked the fifth-highest single-game rating by a rookie quarterback in the Super Bowl era (minimum 20 attempts).
Jones has led the Patriots to four straight wins and compiled a 102.6 rating over those four games. He can become the fourth rookie quarterback ever to win five straight games and have a 100-or-higher rating over the span of the winning streak, joining DAK PRESCOTT (twice in 2016), ROBERT GRIFFIN III (2012) and BEN ROETHLISBERGER (2004).
Jones has also won each of his four road starts this season. With a win at Atlanta on Thursday Night Football (8:20 PM ET, FOX/NFL Network/Amazon), he can join Prescott(six in 2016) and Roethlisberger(six in 2004) as the only rookie quarterbacks ever to win their first five road starts.
The rookie quarterbacks to win the most consecutive road starts to begin a career in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM
SEASON
GAMES
Dak Prescott
Dallas
2016
6
Ben Roethlisberger
Pittsburgh
2004
6
Mac Jones
New England
2021
4*
*Active streak
Atlanta tight end KYLE PITTS enters Thursday leading rookie tight ends with 40 catches and ranks second among all rookies with 606 receiving yards. With four receiving yards against New England, Pitts can surpass CHARLE YOUNG (609 receiving yards in 1973) for the second-most receiving yards ever by a rookie tight end in his first 10 games. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer MIKE DITKA (869 in 1961) had more.
With six receptions, Pitts will surpass JORDAN REED (45 receptions in 2013) for the second-most receptions ever by a rookie tight end in his first 10 games. Only KEITH JACKSON (54 in 1988) had more.
The rookie tight ends with the most receptions in their first 10 games in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM
SEASON
RECEPTIONS
Keith Jackson
Philadelphia
1988
54
Jordan Reed
Washington
2013
45
Jermaine Gresham
Cincinnati
2010
42
Jeremy Shockey
N.Y. Giants
2002
42
Charle Young
Philadelphia
1973
42
Kyle Pitts
Atlanta
2021
40*
*In first nine games
— NFL —
TOP-5 OFFENSES MEET IN KC: The DALLAS COWBOYS (7-2) enter Week 11 with the top offense in the league (433.9 yards per game), while the KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (6-4) ranks fourth (405.6). When the teams meet at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday (4:25 PM ET, FOX), it will mark the sixth-most combined total yards per game between opposing teams in a matchup entering Week 11 or later since 1950.
The games with the most combined total yards per game between opposing teams entering a matchup Week 11 or later since 1950:
WEEK, SEASON
TEAMS (YARDS PER GAME)
COMBINED YARDS PER GAME
Week 11, 2018
Kansas City (423.1) at L.A. Rams (448.0)
871.1
Week 15, 2013
San Diego Chargers (400.5) at Denver (465.6)
866.1
Week 17, 2011
Carolina (395.7) at New Orleans (457.1)
852.8
Week 12, 2011
New England (426.7) at Philadelphia (415.5)
842.2
Week 13, 2014
New Orleans (433.6) at Pittsburgh (406.4)
840.0
Week 11, 2021
Dallas (433.9) at Kansas City (405.6)
839.5
Each team enters Sunday coming off games in which it each scored at least 40 points. Kansas City defeated Las Vegas, 41-14, and Dallas defeated Atlanta, 43-3, in Week 10. This will mark the first game this season in which each team scored at least 40 points the previous week.
Dallas quarterback DAK PRESCOTT leads qualified passers with a 110.8 passer rating through 10 weeks, while Kansas City quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES’ 106.3 career passer rating is the highest in league history, minimum 1,500 attempts.
This will mark the fourth game since 1990 featuring a current season’s passer rating leader against the career passer rating leader and first since 1995.
The games featuring the season passer rating leader against the career passer rating leader since 1990:
WEEK, SEASON
SEASON PASSER RATING LEADER
CAREER PASSER RATING LEADER
RESULT
Week 11, 2021
Dak Prescott
Patrick Mahomes
???
Week 7, 1995
Jim Harbaugh
Steve YoungHOF
IND 18, SF 17
Week 3, 1993
John ElwayHOF
Joe MontanaHOF
KC 15, DEN 7
Week 13, 1990
Phil SimmsHOF
Joe MontanaHOF
SF 7, NYG 3
Kansas City wide receiver TYREEK HILL ranks tied for third in the league this season with eight touchdown receptions. Hill, who has totaled at least seven overall touchdowns in each of his first six seasons, has 66 touchdowns (55 receiving, six rushing, five return) in 84 games. With a touchdown on Sunday, he will tie Pro Football Hall of Famer RANDY MOSS (67 touchdowns) for the second-most touchdowns by a player in his first 85 career games since 1970. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer JERRY RICE (81) had more.
Last week, Kansas City tight end TRAVIS KELCE recorded his third game this season and 28th career with at least 100 receiving yards. With at least 100 receiving yards against Dallas, Kelce will tie ROB GRONKOWSKI (29 games) for the second-most such games ever by a tight end. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer TONY GONZALEZ (31 games) has more.
Both Hill and Kelce will be going up against a Dallas defense that features the league’s interception leader in cornerback TREVON DIGGS. Diggs’ eight interceptions are tied for the most by a player in his team’s first nine games of a season since 1990.
With an interception on Sunday, Diggs can join DOUG EVANS (2001) as the only players in the Super Bowl era with an interception in eight of their team’s first 10 games of a season.
— NFL —
HOME COOKING: Tampa Bay quarterback TOM BRADY leads the league with 27 touchdown passes this season and ranks third with 2,870 passing yards.
On Monday Night Football against the New York Giants (8:15 PM ET, ESPN), Brady can mark the sixth time ever that a player has recorded 3,000 passing yards and 30 touchdown passes through his team’s first 10 games of a season. Four of the past five times this has occurred, the player has gone on to win Associated Press Most Valuable Player that season.
The players with at least 3,000 passing yards and 30 touchdown passes in their team’s first 10 games of a season in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM
SEASON
PASSING YARDS
TOUCHDOWN PASSES
Patrick Mahomes#
Kansas City
2018
3,150
31
Peyton ManningHOF
Denver
2014
3,301
30
Peyton ManningHOF#
Denver
2013
3,572
34
Aaron Rodgers#
Green Bay
2011
3,168
31
Tom Brady#
New England
2007
3,059
38
Tom Brady
Tampa Bay
2021
2,870*
27*
*Through nine games
#Named AP Most Valuable Player
If Brady reaches the 3,000-yard mark, he will register his 19th such season and surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer BRETT FAVRE (18 seasons) for the most seasons with 3,000 passing yards by any player in NFL history.
He can also tie Favre (nine seasons) and Pro Football Hall of Famer PEYTON MANNING (nine) for the second-most seasons ever with at least 30 touchdown passes. Only DREW BREES (10) has more.
Going back to Week 17 of last season, Brady has passed for at least four touchdowns in five consecutive home games. He is the first player to ever record at least four touchdown passes in each of his first four home games of a season and will look to extend the streak on Monday night.
— NFL —
FULLY CHARGED: Los Angeles Chargers quarterback JUSTIN HERBERT has 6,881 passing yards and 50 touchdown passes in his career and is scheduled to make his 25th career start in Week 11.
With 119 passing yards against Pittsburgh on Sunday Night Football (8:20 PM ET, NBC), Herbert will become the fourth player ever to record 7,000 passing yards in his first 25 career starts, joining PATRICK MAHOMES (8,007 passing yards) and Pro Football Hall of Famers KURT WARNER (7,333) and DAN MARINO (7,054).
The quarterbacks with the most passing yards in their first 25 career starts in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM
PASSING YARDS
Patrick Mahomes
Kansas City
8,007
Kurt WarnerHOF
St. Louis Rams
7,333
Dan MarinoHOF
Miami
7,054
Justin Herbert
L.A. Chargers
6,881*
*Scheduled to make 25th start on Sunday
With three touchdown passes on Sunday night, Herbert will surpass TONY ROMO (52 touchdown passes) for the fourth-most ever by a quarterback in his first 25 career starts.
The quarterbacks with the most touchdown passes in their first 25 career starts in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM
TOUCHDOWN PASSES
Patrick Mahomes
Kansas City
68
Dan MarinoHOF
Miami
65
Kurt WarnerHOF
St. Louis Rams
59
Tony Romo
Dallas
52
Justin Herbert
L.A. Chargers
50*
Deshaun Watson
Houston
50
*Scheduled to make 25th start on Sunday
Herbert’s top target this season has been wide receiver KEENAN ALLEN, who leads the team with 65 catches and 698 receiving yards. Allen has 689 receptions in 109 career games and his 14 games with at least 10 receptions are the fifth-most since he entered the league in 2013.
With 11 receptions on Sunday night, Allen will surpass ANTONIO BROWN (111 games) as the fastest player to ever reach 700 career receptions.
The players to reach 700 career receptions in the fewest games in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM
GAMES
Antonio Brown
Pittsburgh
111
Julio Jones
Atlanta
112
Marvin HarrisonHOF
Indianapolis
114
Keenan Allen
San Diego/L.A. Chargers
109*
*Has 689 receptions
— NFL —
NFC DOMINANCE: Since entering the NFL in 2018, Baltimore quarterback LAMAR JACKSON has started 12 games against the NFC and has won each contest, totaling 3,282 yards (2,167 passing, 1,115 rushing) and 26 touchdowns (20 passing, six rushing) in those starts.
With a win at Chicago on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Jackson can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer KEN STABLER (12 wins) for the second-most consecutive wins by a starting quarterback against one conference to begin his career in NFL history. Only BOBBY HEBERT (15 games) had a longer such streak to begin his career.
The most consecutive wins by a starting quarterback against one conference to begin a career in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM
SEASONS
OPPOSING CONFERENCE
CONSECUTIVE WINS
Bobby Hebert
New Orleans
1987-92
AFC
15
Lamar Jackson
Baltimore
2018-21
NFC
12*
Ken StablerHOF
Oakland Raiders
1971-76
NFC
12
*Active streak
Additionally, with a win, the Ravens can tie the NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (1987-90) and MIAMI DOLPHINS (1978-81)for the second-most consecutive wins ever by one team against the opposite conference. Only the NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (2005-09) had a longer such streak.
The teams to win the most consecutive games against the opposite conference in NFL history:
TEAM
SEASONS
OPPOSING CONFERENCE
CONSECUTIVE WINS
New England Patriots
2005-09
NFC
17
New Orleans Saints
1987-90
AFC
13
Miami Dolphins
1978-81
NFC
13
Baltimore Ravens
2018-21
NFC
12*
Tennessee Titans
2007-10
NFC
12
*Active streak
— NFL —
HISTORY IS IN THE CARRDS: Entering Week 11, Las Vegas quarterback DEREK CARR ranks fourth in the league with 2,826 passing yards and his five games with at least 300 passing yards this season are tied for the most in the NFL.
With 174 passing yards against Cincinnati on Sunday (4:05 PM ET, CBS), Carr will become the fourth quarterback ever to pass for at least 3,000 yards in each of his first eight seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer PEYTON MANNING, CAM NEWTON and RUSSELL WILSON.
Carr has 29,722 career passing yards and can become the fifth quarterback ever to reach 30,000 passing yards in his first eight seasons.
The quarterbacks with the most passing yards in their first eight seasons in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM
PASSING YARDS
Peyton ManningHOF
Indianapolis
33,189
Matt Ryan
Atlanta
32,757
Dan MarinoHOF
Miami
31,416
Matthew Stafford
Detroit
30,303
Russell Wilson
Seattle
29,734
Derek Carr
Oakland/Las Vegas
29,722*
*In eighth season
— NFL —
JUMPING AROUND THE RECORD BOOK: Indianapolis running back JONATHAN TAYLOR is tied for the league lead with 937 rushing yards this season and ranks third with nine rushing touchdowns. Last year, Taylor led all rookies with 1,169 rushing yards and tied for the lead among rookies with 11 rushing touchdowns.
With 63 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown at Buffalo on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Taylor will become the fourth player since 2000 and first since ADRIAN PETERSON (2007) to record at least 1,000 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns in each of his first two seasons.
The players with at least 1,000 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns in each of their first two seasons since 2000:
PLAYER
TEAM
SEASONS
Adrian Peterson
Minnesota
2007-08
Clinton Portis
Denver
2002-03
LaDainian TomlinsonHOF
San Diego Chargers
2001-02
Jonathan Taylor
Indianapolis
2020-21*
*Has 937 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns in 2021
Taylor enters Sunday having recorded at least 100 scrimmage yards and a rushing touchdown in seven consecutive games. If he accomplishes the feat again in Buffalo, he will become the third player ever to do so in eight straight games, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer LADAINIAN TOMLINSON (2006) and LYDELL MITCHELL (1975-76).
Taylor can join Tomlinson, who won Associated Press Most Valuable Player in 2006, as the only players to do so in a single season.
