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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.
