[
](http://careyindiana.com)
WHAT TO LOOK FOR – WEEK 10
IT'S HOW YOU FINISH:In every season since 1987, at least one team with a .500 or worse record through eight games has advanced to the postseason. Last year, three such teams – Cincinnati (3-5), Washington (3-5) and Seattle (4-4) – accomplished the feat.
Over the past five seasons, 12 teams started 4-4 or worse and rebounded to qualify for the playoffs. Six of those teams, including the 2012 Seattle Seahawks, won at least one playoff game.
The teams in the past five seasons (2008-2012) that started the season at .500 or below through eight games and earned a playoff berth:
YEAR
TEAM
RECORD
(8 GAMES)
FINAL
RECORD
PLAYOFF RESULTS
2008
Indianapolis
4-4
12-4
Advanced to Wild Card
2008
Miami
4-4
11-5
Advanced to Wild Card
2008
Minnesota
4-4
10-6
Advanced to Wild Card
2008
San Diego
3-5
8-8
Advanced to Divisional
2009
Green Bay
4-4
11-5
Advanced to Wild Card
2009
N.Y. Jets
4-4
9-7
Advanced to AFC Championship
2009
Baltimore
4-4
9-7
Advanced to Divisional
2010
Seattle
4-4
7-9
Advanced to Divisional
2011
Denver
3-5
8-8
Advanced to Divisional
2012
Cincinnati
3-5
10-6
Advanced to Wild Card
2012
Seattle
4-4
11-5
Advanced to Divisional
2012
Washington
3-5
10-6
Advanced to Wild Card
-- NFL --
TURNAROUND TEAMS I: At the midway point of the 2013 season, seven of eight divisions currently have at least one team in first place or tied for first place that did not win the division in 2012.
Three of the teams who currently own at least a share of first place in their respective divisions finished in last place or tied for last in 2012 – Detroit (5-3, NFC North), Kansas City (9-0, AFC West) and New Orleans (6-2, NFC South).
At least one team has finished in first place in its division the season after finishing in last place for 10 consecutive years, the longest streak in NFL history.
Here is a look at the 2013 division leaders through Week 9:
DIVISION
2012 CHAMPION
2013 LEADER(S) THROUGH WEEK 9
AFC East
New England
New England (7-2)
AFC North
Baltimore
Cincinnati (6-3)
AFC South
Houston
Indianapolis (6-2)
AFC West
Denver
Kansas City (9-0)
NFC East
Washington
Dallas (5-4)
NFC North
Green Bay
Chicago (5-3), Detroit (5-3), Green Bay (5-3)
NFC South
Atlanta
New Orleans (6-2)
NFC West
San Francisco
Seattle (8-1)
-- NFL --
TURNAROUND TEAMS II: Three teams – Detroit (5-3; 4-12 in 2012), Kansas City (9-0; 2-14 in 2012) and Philadelphia (4-5; 4-12 in 2012) – have already matched or surpassed their win totals from last season.
In Week 10, two more teams – Arizona (4-4; 5-11 in 2012) and New Orleans (6-2; 7-9 in 2012) – can also match their 2012 win totals.
Looking ahead to Week 11, the Cleveland Browns (4-5; 5-11 in 2012) and New York Jets (5-4; 6-10 in 2012), who both have byes this week, can also join the list.
The teams that have matched or exceeded their 2012 win totals:
TEAM
2012 RECORD
2013 RECORD
WEEK 10 OPPONENT
Detroit
4-12
5-3
at Chicago
Kansas City
2-14
9-0
Bye
Philadelphia
4-12
4-5
at Green Bay
*Arizona
5-11
4-4
vs. Houston
*New Orleans
7-9
6-2
vs. Dallas
- Need win in Week 10 to match 2012 win total
-- NFL --
PASSING FANCY:NFL passers have been historically prolific and proficient in 2013. At the season's midpoint, games are averaging 485.1 passing yards per game, on pace to be the most of any season in NFL history (462.6 in 2012).
The leaguewide passer rating (86.5) is also on pace for an all-time high (85.6 in 2012), and the average number of touchdown passes per game (3.12) is on pace to be the highest since 1963 (3.21).
A look at how the 2013 season is on pace to rank historically in three key passing categories – rating, yards per game and touchdowns per game:
* *
YEAR
PASSER RATING
* *
YEAR
PASSING YARDS
PER GAME
* *
YEAR
TD PASSES
PER GAME
2013
*86.5
* *
2013
*485.1
* *
1948
3.27
2012
85.6
* *
2012
462.6
* *
1963
3.21
2011
84.3
* *
2011
459.4
* *
1947
3.13
2010
84.1
* *
2010
443.1
* *
2013
*3.12
2008
83.2
* *
1995
441.6
* *
1962
3.09
- Through Week 9
-- NFL --
MEGATRON:Detroit Lions wide receiver CALVIN JOHNSON has 8,657 yards in 99 career NFL games.
On Sunday at Chicago, Johnson needs 24 receiving yards to surpass RANDY MOSS for the second-most receiving yards in the first 100 games of a career in NFL history.
The players with the most receiving yards through their first 100 career games:
PLAYER
RECEIVING YARDS
Lance Alworth
9,019
Randy Moss
8,680
Calvin Johnson
*8,657
Torry Holt
8,598
Jerry Rice
8,488
- 99 games played
-- NFL --
TONY TERRIFIC:Atlanta tight end TONY GONZALEZ leads the Falcons with 44 catches in 2013.
With six catches on Sunday against Seattle, Gonzalez would join Pro Football Hall of Famer JERRY RICE (17) as the only players in NFL history with at least 16 career 50-catch seasons.
Gonzalez is the only player in NFL history with 15 consecutive 50-reception seasons.
The players with the most 50-catch seasons:
PLAYER
TEAM(S), YEARS
50-CATCH SEASONS
Jerry Rice
San Francisco,1986-96, 1998-2000; Oakland, 2001-03
17
Tony Gonzalez
Kansas City,1998-2008; Atlanta, 2009-12
*15
Andre Reed
Buffalo,1986-94, 1996-99
13
Terrell Owens
San Francisco, 1997-2003; Philadelphia, 2004; Dallas, 2006-08; Buffalo, 2009; Cincinnati, 2010
13
Isaac Bruce
St. Louis, 1995-97, 1999-2004, 2006-07; San Francisco 2008
12
Marvin Harrison
Indianapolis, 1996-2006, 2008
12
- Active; 44 catches in 2013
