UNPREDICTABLE NFL : There are 23 teams still in contention for a trip to Super Bowl XLV in North Texas.
In a pivotal matchup in the AFC South this Sunday, the Jacksonville Jaguars can clinch the division crown with a win over the Indianapolis Colts. If the Jaguars win, 2010 will mark the eighth consecutive season that at least one team has gone from last place to first place in its division from one year to the next, the longest such streak in NFL history . Of the 32 teams to go from "worst-to-first" in NFL annals, 15 of them have done so in the past 10 years (2000-09), including the defending Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints last season.
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COACHING WINS : New England's BILL BELICHICK has a 174-99 (.637) record as a head coach. With 174 wins, Belichick is tied with MIKE HOLMGREN for 10th all-time. With a win this Sunday when the Patriots host the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football, Belichick can move into sole possession of tenth place in career victories by a head coach .
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SAM I AM : St. Louis Rams rookie quarterback SAM BRADFORD has 2,884 passing yards this season. With 116 yards this Sunday against Kansas City, Bradford can become just the third rookie quarterback in NFL history to pass for 3,000 yards.
The rookie quarterbacks to pass for 3,000 yards :
PLAYER
TEAM
YEAR
PASSING YARDS
Peyton Manning
Indianapolis Colts
1998
3,739
Matt Ryan
Atlanta Falcons
2008
3,440
Sam Bradford
St. Louis Rams
2010
*2,884
- Through Week 14
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NINE IS FINE : New York Jets running back LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON leads the team with 49 receptions this season.
With one reception this Sunday against Pittsburgh, Tomlinson would become the third running back in NFL history to record at least 50 receptions in nine seasons .
The running backs with the most 50 catch seasons in their careers :
PLAYER
SEASONS
Larry Centers
10
Marshall Faulk
9
LaDainian Tomlinson
*8
Tiki Barber
8
Keith Byars
7
John L. Williams
7
*49 receptions through Week 14
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PASSING FRENZY : Following are some passing milestones that can be reached in Week 15:
Indianapolis Colts quarterback PEYTON MANNING has thrown for at least 300 yards in 63 games in his career, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO for the most in league annals. With 300 yards Sunday against Jacksonville, Manning can become the all-time leader in 300-yard passing games.
PLAYER
YEARS
300-YARD PASSING GAMES
Dan Marino
1983-1999
63
Peyton Manning
1998-2010
*63
Brett Favre
1991-2010
62*
*Active
New Orleans Saints quarterback DREW BREES has 3,855 passing yards this season. With 145 passing yards on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, Brees would join Manning (1999-2004; 2006-2010) as the only quarterbacks in NFL history with at least five consecutive 4,000 yard passing seasons . Manning (4,028) reached 4,000 yards in Week 14 against Tennessee.
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TREMENDOUS TIGHT ENDS : New England's ROB GRONKOWSKI has seven touchdown receptions, the most among rookie tight ends and tied for most among all rookies (Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver MIKE WILLIAMS). With a touchdown catch this Sunday night, Gronkowski can move into sole possession of third place for the most touchdown receptions by a rookie tight end in NFL history .
PLAYER
TEAM
YEAR
TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS
Mike Ditka
Chicago Bears
1961
12
Junior Miller
Atlanta Falcons
1980
9
John Mackey
Baltimore Colts
1963
7
Raymond Chester
Oakland Raiders
1970
7
Eric Green
Pittsburgh Steelers
1990
7
Rob Gronkowski
New England Patriots
2010
*7
*Through Week 14
Through the first 14 weeks of the season, 13 tight ends have totaled at least 500 receiving yards, the most at this point of the season in NFL history.
In addition to the 13 tight ends who have already eclipsed the 500-yard mark, there are several others within striking distance, including Miami's ANTHONY FASANO (467), Indianapolis' JACOB TAMME (452) and Kansas City rookie TONY MOEAKI (451).
The seasons with the most tight ends with at least 500 receiving yards in NFL history :
YEAR
NO. OF TEs WITH 500 REC. YARDS
2009
20
2008
15
2005
14
1984
14
2010
*13
2007
13
1979
13
*Through Week 14
