WHAT TO LOOK FOR – A LOOK BACK

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SO CLOSE:With one game to play in Week 8, 67 games have been decided by eight points or fewer, the most through the first eight weeks of a season in NFL history. There have been 62 games decided by seven points or fewer, tied for the most during that span.

This season, 32 games have been determined by three points or fewer. That total is tied for the fourth-most such contests through the first eight weeks of any NFL season.

The most games decided by eight points, seven points and three points or fewer in a season's first eight weeks:

MOST GAMES DECIDED BY EIGHT POINTS OR FEWER		* *	MOST GAMES DECIDED BY SEVEN POINTS OR FEWER		* *	MOST GAMES DECIDED BY THREE POINTS OR FEWER
SEASON	THROUGH WEEK 8	* *	SEASON	THROUGH WEEK 8	* *	SEASON	THROUGH WEEK 8
*2012*	*67		*2012*	*62		1999	42
1999	66		1999	62		2010	33
2010	65		1983	60		2006	33
1983	62		2011	58		*2012*	*32
2011	61		1987	57		1988	32
2002	61		*One game to play			1983	32
*One game to play						*One game to play

-- NFL --

ABOVE AVERAGE:Quarterbacks have been historically efficient in 2012, combining for a league-wide passer rating of 86.3 and a completion percentage of 61.7. Both are on pace to be the highest of any season in NFL history and would surpass records set in 2011 (84.3 passer rating) and 2007 (61.2 completion percentage).

Three active quarterbacks rank among the top five all-time in career passing yards per game (minimum 100 games). The top two – New Orleans' DREW BREES(267.4 yards per game) and Denver's PEYTON MANNING(264.8) – competed on Sunday Night Football as the Broncos claimed a 34-14 victory in Denver. Manning passed for 305 yards with three touchdowns for a 138.9 passer rating while Brees passed for 213 yards with two touchdowns.

The quarterbacks with the most career passing yards per game (minimum 100 games):

PLAYER	TEAM(S)	PASS YD. PER GAME
*Drew Brees	*San Diego, New Orleans*	*267.4*
*Peyton Manning	*Indianapolis, Denver*	*264.8*
Kurt Warner	St. Louis, NY Giants, Arizona	260.8
Dan Marino	Miami	253.6
*Tom Brady	*New England*	*250.8*
*Active

New England's TOM BRADYpassed for 304 yards and four touchdowns for a 131.1 passer rating as the Patriots earned a 45-7 win in the NFL's International Series game in London, England. Brady registered the 50th 300-yard passing game of his career, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer WARREN MOON (49) for the seventh-most 300-yard passing games in NFL history.* *Manning has 68 career 300-yard passing games, the most in NFL history, and Brees ranks third with 62.

The players with the most 300-yard passing games in NFL history:

PLAYER	300-YARD GAMES
*Peyton Manning	68
Dan Marino	63
*Drew Brees	62
Brett Favre	62
Kurt Warner	52
Dan Fouts	51
*Tom Brady*	50
Warren Moon	49
Active

-- NFL --

NICE BREES:New Orleans quarterback DREW BREESpassed for 213 yards and two touchdowns at Denver on Sunday. Brees (301) recorded his 300th career touchdown pass in his 161st game, tying New England's TOM BRADY(161) for the third-fewest games to reach the mark in league annals. He also extended an NFL record by passing for at least one touchdown in his 50th consecutive game.

The players to reach 300 passing touchdowns in the fewest games in NFL history:

PLAYER	TEAM(S)	YEARS	GAMES TO 300 TD PASSES
Peyton Manning	Indianapolis	1998-2007	157
Dan Marino	Miami	1983-1994	157
Tom Brady	New England	2000-2011	161
*Drew Brees*	*San Diego, New Orleans*	*2001-2012*	*161*
Brett Favre	Green Bay	1991-2002	167
Fran Tarkenton	Minnesota, NY Giants	1961-1976	217
John Elway	Denver	1983-1998	234

-- NFL --

OCTOBER-BEST:Three quarterbacks – the New York Giants' ELI MANNING(27-5, .844), New England's TOM BRADY(34-11, .756) and Pittsburgh's BEN ROETHLISBERGER (25-8, .758) – improved their October*winning percentages *among starting quarterbacks (minimum 20 starts) in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) as all three led their teams to victory in Week 8.

The starting quarterbacks (minimum 20 starts) with the best October winning percentages in the Super Bowl era:

PLAYER	TEAM(S)	W-L-T	WIN PCT.
*Eli Manning	*NY Giants*	*27-5-0*	*.844*
Kordell Stewart	Pittsburgh, Chicago	16-4-0	.800
Daryle Lamonica	Buffalo, Oakland	18-5-3	.771
*Ben Roethlisberger	*Pittsburgh*	*25-8-0*	*.758*
*Tom Brady	*New England*	*34-11-0*	*.756*
Sonny Jurgensen	Philadelphia, Washington	21-7-3	.750
*Active

*Note: Prior to 1972, tie games were not included in winning percentage.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR – A LOOK BACK