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THE WEEK THAT WAS – WEEK 7
SO CLOSE:In Week 7, nine of 15 games were within seven points at some point during the fourth quarter. Through Week 7, 74 of 107 games (69.2 percent) have been within seven points in the fourth quarter, the most such games through the first seven weeks of a season in NFL history.
The most games within seven points at any time during the fourth quarter through Week 7:
SEASON
MOST GAMES WITHIN SEVEN POINTS IN FOURTH QUARTER
2013
74
2004
73
2007
71
1984
71
2011
70
1999
70
-- NFL --
PLAY 60:There have been many memorable comeback victories in the NFL so far this season – and it's only October. Through the first seven weeks, 29 of 107 games (27.1 percent) have been decided by a fourth-quarter comeback victory. That puts the 2013 season on pace for the second-highest percentage of games with a fourth-quarter comeback victory since 1970.
The seasons with the highest percentage of fourth-quarter comeback wins since 1970:
SEASON
GAMES
FOURTH-QUARTER COMEBACKS
PERCENTAGE
1989
224
70
31.3
2001
248
67
27.0
1982
126
33
26.2
2008
256
67
26.2
1999
248
64
25.8
2013
107
29
*27.1
* Through Week 7
-- NFL --
SCORING HIGHS:NFL teams have combined for 4,928 points in 2013, the most points through seven weeks in NFL history. The previous high was 4,803 points last season.
That record total equates to 46.10 points per game. If the current average stays at this pace, it would rank as the second-highest of any season in history (1948, 46.48 points per game).
Teams have combined to score 542 touchdowns, the most at this point in NFL history (529 in 2002). Of the 542 touchdowns, 331 have been TD passes, the most through the first seven weeks of any season. The previous high was 314 in 2012.
-- NFL --
RETURN TO SENDER: In Week 7, five teams – Buffalo, Carolina, Miami, New England and the New York Jets – all had interception-return touchdowns, contributing to a league-wide total of 30 this season, the second-most interception-return touchdowns through seven weeks since 1970 (31 in 2003).
-- NFL --
THANK DEVIN:Chicago Bears return specialist DEVIN HESTER returned a punt 81 yards for a touchdown against Washington. Hester now has 20 total return touchdowns, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer DEION SANDERS for the most return touchdowns in NFL history (including the postseason).
* *
The players with the most return touchdowns in NFL history (including playoffs):
PLAYER
MOST RETURN TDs, NFL HISTORY
Devin Hester
*20
Deion Sanders
19
Rod Woodson
17
Rondé Barber
15
Aeneas Williams
15
* Active
In his career, Hester has 18 combined kick-return touchdowns (13 punt, five kickoff), the most in NFL history.
PLAYER
PUNT-RETURN TDs
KICK-RETURN TDs
COMBINED KICK-RETURN TDs
Devin Hester
13
5
*18
Brian Mitchell
9
4
13
Dante Hall
6
6
12
Eric Metcalf
10
2
12
Joshua Cribbs
3
8
11*
* Active
Hester's 13 career punt-return touchdowns are the most in NFL history.
PLAYER
PUNT-RETURN TDs
Devin Hester
*13
Eric Metcalf
10
Brian Mitchell
9
Jack Christiansen
8
Desmond Howard
8
Rick Upchurch
8
* Active
-- NFL --
CHARGING RIVERS:San Diego quarterback PHILIP RIVERS completed 22 of 26 (84.6 percent) passes for 285 yards and a touchdown for a 125.2 passer rating in the Chargers' win over Jacksonville. Rivers has completed 20 passes while completing at least 80 percent of his pass attempts in three games this season, tying for the most such games in a season in NFL history (BRETT FAVREin 2009; DREW BREESin 2011).
Rivers (30,023) became the 37th player in NFL history to reach 30,000 career passing yards and reached the milestone in his 123rd game, the fifth fastest ever.
The players to reach 30,000 career passing yards in the fewest games in NFL history:
PLAYER
FEWEST GAMES TO REACH 30,000 CAREER PASS YARDS
Dan Marino
114
Kurt Warner
114
Peyton Manning
115
Drew Brees
120
Phillip Rivers
123